Nearly 40% of Britons sleep in pyjamas, while just under a third prefer to sleep naked, according to a survey of 1,200 UK adults. The findings have reignited the debate over whether wearing nightwear is healthier than sleeping in the buff, but experts say the evidence is surprisingly thin.
One common myth is that skin needs to breathe, but in fact it does not. However, keeping cool is crucial for good sleep. The optimal temperature for sleeping is around 20C, and overheating can disrupt the body's natural temperature drop, which is needed to trigger the sleep mechanism. For those prone to cold feet, a hot water bottle is better than bed socks, which tend to get hotter through the night.
There are also potential reproductive health implications. For women, wearing underwear in a warm bed can encourage infections such as yeast, particularly for those with conditions like vulvitis. For men, a study in the journal Andrology found that those who wore boxers during the day and nothing at night had a 25% lower risk of sperm DNA fragmentation than those who wore tight pants night and day. However, the study did not show any difference in pregnancy rates, and research in the Journal of Urology concluded that underwear has no significant effect on male fertility.
Overall, experts say the choice between sleeping naked and wearing pyjamas is not a health issue. But the survey did reveal one concerning habit: some people wear tracksuits in bed, which are definitely not designed for a good night's sleep.
