It is a question that never fails to divide opinion: is it better to sleep naked or in pyjamas? While some people swear that stripping off is the only way to get a good night's rest, others cannot catch a wink without their favourite sleepwear. Now, scientists have finally settled the debate once and for all, and it is not good news for nude sleepers.
Why Pyjamas Are Better for Warm Weather
As the weather gets warmer and the UK swelters under tropical nights, it might be tempting to beat the heat by sleeping in the buff. However, experts say that a good pair of pyjamas could actually leave you cooler, less sweaty, and more well-rested. While sleeping nude is not intrinsically less hygienic, experts also warn that it could make your bedding dirtier in hot weather.
Dr Faheem Latheef, of the British Association of Dermatologists, told the Daily Mail: 'Loose, well-ventilated sleepwear made from natural fabrics such as cotton, bamboo or silk may help absorb sweat and keep it away from the skin longer during warm weather.'
The Great Debate on Social Media
The question of whether you should sleep in pyjamas or ditch your clothes altogether has raged on social media. On Reddit, where the topic sparked intense debate, one commenter wrote: 'I sweat less when I wear pants; it seems like my bare skin touching bare skin is what makes me sweat.' Another added: 'If I have skin-to-skin contact I get really overheated, so I will be hotter in shorts than in long pants based on how I sleep.' A pyjama fan chimed in: 'I used to sleep nude, but started sweating at random times when I hit my 40s. Now I sleep in lightweight merino base layers.'
While sleepwear advocates claim that pyjamas help them sleep easy, nude sleepers are just as adamant that their method is best. 'Why would you not? There is no benefit to wearing clothes while you sleep,' one commenter claimed. Another wrote: 'I always find clothes in bed restrictive. It does not matter what I wear, it ends up bunched or twisted up somehow.'
Hygiene Benefits of Pyjamas
Although sleeping naked might seem like a good idea in the heat, scientists suggest that a good pair of pyjamas are more hygienic. Dr Latheef says that sleeping naked is not inherently unhygienic, but when overnight conditions are unusually warm, this habit can become an issue. 'Overnight, the body naturally sheds skin cells, oil, bacteria, and yeast with or without pyjamas,' he said. 'However, pyjamas serve as a small barrier between the body and the bedding, so people sleeping naked will transfer more sweat and skin cells directly onto the bed linen, particularly during hot weather or if they sweat heavily.'
Studies have found that we typically shed thousands of skin cells and produce about half a pint of sweat overnight. Without pyjamas to act as a natural barrier, all of that dirt and grime gets rubbed straight onto your sheets, where it provides a feast for bacteria and fungi. Dr Latheef warns: 'If bedding becomes heavily soiled and is not changed for a prolonged period, warm and moist bedding may lead to body odour, acne mechanica – spots triggered by sweating and rubbing on the skin – folliculitis or flare-up eczema.' This is not necessarily a problem if your sheets stay clean, but it does mean that nude sleepers could be at risk of skin problems if they do not change their sheets regularly and shower before bed.
Temperature Regulation and Sleep Quality
Nude sleepers might still argue that ditching pyjamas helps them get a better night of sleep by keeping them cool. Dr Sophie Bostock, an independent sleep scientist, told the Daily Mail: 'Every night as it gets dark, a steep drop in body temperature coincides with the release of the hormone melatonin, and these signals cue the body that it is time to fall asleep. This natural nightly drop in body temperature is usually achieved by sending more blood flow to the skin. However, once the outside temperature gets too hot, our skin cannot radiate as much heat into the environment, and our natural sleep cycle starts to feel disrupted.'
Studies have shown that being in a warmer environment interferes with falling asleep and staying asleep. 'We tend to have less of the deep, slow wave sleep, which is very physically restorative,' says Dr Bostock. 'We also miss out on REM or rapid eye movement sleep, which is important for keeping us feeling balanced emotionally.' While you might assume stripping off would help you stay cool and promote better sleep, research shows that this is not actually the case.
Scientific Evidence: Wool Pyjamas Keep You Cooler
Scientists in Australia found that wearing woollen sleepwear helped the body stay in the thermal comfort zone by wicking away sweat and regulating body temperature. The researchers discovered that people in their 20s nodded off four minutes faster on average wearing merino wool rather than cotton, while those in their 60s fell asleep twice as fast. Ben Dancer, founder of pyjama brand Zed, which uses materials designed with scientists and tested in partnership with Loughborough University, told the Daily Mail: 'The instinct in a heatwave is to strip off – because more fabric must mean more heat. But sleeping fully naked is often the worse option. When you are bare, sweat has nowhere to go: it pools on the skin and against the sheets, leaving you damp, clammy and actually warmer.'
Mr Dancer explains that, while it is important for the bedroom to remain around 16 to 19°C (60–66°F), people often overlook the importance of the microclimate right next to the skin. 'That ideally stays around 30–32°C and, crucially, dry and stable,' he said. While tight or restrictive pyjamas trap hot, humid air next to your skin, breathable materials like wool or other moisture-wicking fabrics actually lift sweat off the skin. This helps your sweat evaporate naturally and keeps your body cool and dry throughout the night.
