Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSleeping Naked and HealthSkin-to-Skin ContactEmotions Around Sleeping NakedSleeping Half-Naked
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sleeping Naked and Health
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Emotions Around Sleeping Naked
Sleeping Half-Naked
This article discusses how sleeping naked may help your core body temperature, possibly leading to skin, reproductive, and other health improvements.
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Does Sleeping Naked Improve Health?
While most available research hasn’t explicitly focused on the potential health benefits of sleeping nude, some existing reports point to ways this habit may help improve certain parts of your health and well-being.
Sleep Duration
Sleep Quality
Your core body temperature can also impact thequality of your sleep. Wearing pajamas to bed and crawling under the covers in a warm room may interrupt sleep. While sleeping in a colder environment didn’t interrupt sleep the same way, researchers believe using bed covers and PJs helps support thermoregulation (the body’s way of balancing its core temperature).
Skin Health
One study looked into how adequate sleep may benefit the skin’s wound-healing abilities, finding that recovery happened more quickly in people who got enough sleep.While more evidence is needed, researchers suggest that if sleeping naked helps you resist more peacefully for longer periods, your skin health could also reap the benefits.
Vaginal Health
Vaginal yeast infectionsoccur when there’s an overgrowth of the naturally occurring fungusCandida.Infections can develop when insufficient airflow circulation, like when tight underwear or clothing, restricts the area.Eliminating underwear and bottoms while sleeping may prevent this infection from forming overnight.
Male Reproductive Health
Tight underwear and clothing can cause the temperature of thescrotumto rise, impacting sperm concentration. Researchers believe this may lowersperm count and sperm vitality, which is why boxers are often recommended over tighter-fitting underwear.
Sleeping naked overnight may keep body temperature cooler overall, impacting sperm health in a positive way.
Self-Esteem
Some research shows that eliminating clothing may affect body appreciation, suggesting that in certain cases, partaking in activities sans clothes may lead to an improved positive body image.While more scientific evidence is needed, study results may provide an initial look into how this sleeping habit could affectself-esteem.
Anxiety and Stress Reduction
Studies show that people withmental healthconditions likedepressionare prone tosleep issues.Sleeping in a way that helps yousleep more soundlyand for extended periods, which, for you, may be while naked, may help balance out stress, depression, andanxiety levelsthat may be triggering the sleep issues in the first place.
Weight Management
Getting adequate sleep can help lower the levels ofghrelin(the hunger hormone) in the body, which may help control potentialweight gain.
Other research suggests that sleeping with exposure to cooler temperatures (such as while donning less clothing in a cool bedroom) might support activecalorie burningthrough brown fat, the fat (brown adipose tissue) that keeps you warm when you’re cold. This could lead to shedding weight.However, more research is needed.
Muscle Recovery
It’s no secret that sleep is key formuscle recoveryand other fitness markers.Research shows that the body releases growth hormones when asleep, particularly in the deep sleep stages needed for rest and restoration.If sleeping nude allows you to sleep deeply, you may be on the path to bettermuscle growthand stamina.
Chronic Disease Prevention
People who don’t get enough quality sleep may be at a higher risk ofdiabetesand, consequently, at a higher risk for heart disease.Several studies looked into the link between sleeping fewer hours and the greater chance of developing a chronic disease like diabetes.
While a connection between chronic disease prevention and sleeping naked hasn’t been made, it’s possible that if sleeping nude helps you fall into a deep slumber faster and stay asleep longer, you might be supporting your overall health.
A Word From VerywellA big factor when it comes to sleep is your comfort level. If sleeping naked improves the quality of your sleep because you feel more relaxed without clothes rather than with them on, consider this strategy to improve your sleep health.—VALERIE CACHO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
A big factor when it comes to sleep is your comfort level. If sleeping naked improves the quality of your sleep because you feel more relaxed without clothes rather than with them on, consider this strategy to improve your sleep health.—VALERIE CACHO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A big factor when it comes to sleep is your comfort level. If sleeping naked improves the quality of your sleep because you feel more relaxed without clothes rather than with them on, consider this strategy to improve your sleep health.
—VALERIE CACHO, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
What About Skin-to-Skin Contact With Someone Else?
In theory, this could mean that if you and/or a partner sleep in the nude in the same bed, there is potential oxytocin exposure, leading to the overall bonding and calming health benefits that the hormone is known for.
Some people may not feel comfortable sleeping without any clothes on, and that’s perfectly OK.
Modesty, often defined as shyness or fear of body exposure around another person, can cause embarrassment or other similar emotions. For others, a past trauma or a religious or cultural belief may be the reasoning behind not wanting to sleep nude.
Know that it’s completely normal to feel uncomfortable sleeping naked, just like it’s also normal to feel comfortable doing so. If you’re curious about the potential health benefits of sleeping in the buff, bring up with your healthcare provider i any questions, concerns, or emotions you may have or are experiencing.
Sleeping Half-Naked Is Possibly Beneficial Too
Not ready to make the jump from PJs to nothing? Ditching some articles of clothing and leaving on, say, an oversized shirt may reap some of the same health benefits, too.
This may be a solid option for people whosleepwalkand live with others or may need to jump out of bed at a moment’s notice to care for an infant or other family member.
Summary
Sleeping naked may be one way to fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night, due to how the body self-regulates its core temperature without the extra clothing layers. While more research is needed, this improved sleep factor may be key for your physical and emotional health and well-being.
If sleeping in the nude is not for you, eliminating a few articles of clothing at night may be beneficial, as well.
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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