While there are tons of cozy pajamas that promote better sleep, there’s also a gamut of research about the benefits of sleeping naked, such as potentially improving your self-image, supporting your reproductive health, and enhancing intimacy. After all, where else in the world — outside your own bed — can you really feel so comfortable? There’s nothing quite like peeling off your pants and peeling back the covers.
So we asked mental health experts, sex therapists, and sleep specialists to dig into the biggest benefits of sleeping sans pajamas, as well as the potential drawbacks of baring all in bed. Here’s what they had to say.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Jessi Gholami is a licensed therapist and clinical social worker.
Ketan Parmar, MD, is a psychiatrist, sexologist, and mental health expert at ClinicSpots.
Nick Bach, PsyD, is a psychologist and the CEO of Grace Psychological Services.
Amelia Woods, PhD, is a sleep specialist at Order Your Supplies.
Niloufar Esmaeilpour is a registered clinical counselor and the founder of Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre.
Isabelle Uren is a certified sex expert, trainee sex and relationship therapist, and the manager of Bedbible.com.
7 Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Sleeping Naked Improves Self-Image
There’s something to be said about seeing yourself naked — especially in a safe setting, like the comfort of your own bed. And research backs this up, suggesting that nude activities have proven to boost body image, self-esteem, and overall life satisfaction.
“For some, sleeping naked can be a way to feel more at ease with their body, promoting acceptance and a positive sense of self,” says Jessi Gholami, a licensed therapist and clinical social worker.
Ketan Parmar, MD, a psychiatrist, sexologist, and mental health expert at ClinicSpots, explains that this positive sense of self often comes over time. “Removing clothing really puts one in close physical contact with the body and helps one feel much more comfortable; thus, there are little or no condemnations about the body and related pressures,” he says. “Over time, this simple practice can shift focus from judging appearance to simply feeling at home in one’s own skin.”
His patients who embrace the habit of sleeping naked often report feeling more comfortable and self-assured. He’s noticed them gradually develop healthier and kinder views of their bodies. Still, self-acceptance is a journey, and it may be a long road for some people, says Nick Bach, PsyD, a psychologist and the CEO of Grace Psychological Services. But sleeping without clothes can be a “gentle way” to guide that journey and lead to even greater changes.
“I’ve noticed in my practice that when individuals make small choices that enhance self-esteem, it often leads to broader positive changes in their mental health,” Dr. Bach adds.
Sleeping Naked Decreases Body Temperature (Which Increases Sleep Quality)
Amelia Woods, PhD, a sleep specialist at Order Your Supplies, explains that clothes — especially tight or heat-retaining items — can disrupt the body’s natural thermoregulation. So sleeping without them allows your body to more effectively regulate its temperature, which can help you fall asleep faster and stay deeply asleep for longer.
“Our bodies naturally cool down during sleep, and maintaining a lower body temperature can help facilitate deeper, more restful sleep,” she says. “Research has shown that cooler body temperatures can promote the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. By sleeping naked, you may help enhance this natural process.” After all, the body naturally lowers its temperature to enter REM sleep stages, Dr. Bach explains. So helping it cool down can only help it reach REM.
Sleeping Naked May Reduce Stress
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of unbuttoning your pants or unhooking your bra after a long day. It isn’t just a physically freeing feeling either. For many people, stripping down before slipping between the sheets can also feel mentally liberating.
Niloufar Esmaeilpour, a registered clinical counselor and the founder of Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, says that removing your clothing before bed can relieve stress and release pressure associated with everyday social life. “[Sleeping naked] reduces tension and [relaxes you], therefore making it easier on the mind to unwind before bed,” she says, adding that sleeping naked and the intimacy with ourselves that it provides can, in and of itself, improve emotional health. “Being more aware of our physical bodies during such a tranquil, sensitive state in life is grounding; it makes us feel more centered and at ease within our own space. This alone can have us feeling less anxious, leading to better coping with daily stress and improving our mental health.”
Sleeping Naked May Boost Mood
The improved sleep quality that comes with sleeping in a cooler environment is linked to being in a better mood. “Quality sleep supports better mood, focus, and emotional resilience, which are all essential for mental wellness,” Gholami says. “For those dealing with stress, anxiety, or even body-image concerns, [sleeping naked]… can create a sense of freedom and comfort that extends beyond just the nighttime hours, potentially influencing how one feels throughout the day.”
Plus, according to the Sleep Foundation, sleeping without clothes and with a partner can induce the release of oxytocin by facilitating skin-to-skin contact. Known as the “feel-good” hormone, oxytocin naturally lowers cortisol, our main stress hormone. (More benefits of oxytocin coming.)
Sleeping Naked Deepens Intimacy
“Sleeping naked [can] increase affection and emotional bonding in relationships,” Dr. Parmar says. That same oxytocin that can boost mood also “triggers feelings of bonding, trust, and security,” he says, “which are immensely beneficial for relationship satisfaction.”
Of course, hopping in bed naked with a partner can also set the tone for physical intimacy. “Sleeping naked… can help increase your desire for sex and arousal by creating the right environment for physical intimacy,” says Isabelle Uren, a certified sex expert, trainee sex and relationship therapist, and the manager of Bedbible.com.
Sleeping Naked May Support Sexual Health
For both men and women, sleeping without tight clothing can also allow the body to “breathe” and reduce moisture buildup, which can be beneficial for sexual health, according to Dr. Bach. “For men, cooler temperatures have been linked to improved sperm health, which is particularly relevant for those thinking about fertility,” he says. Studies have shown that the testes need a cool environment for sperm production and quality.
Meanwhile, for women, research shows that tight-fitting clothing or underwear can take a toll on vaginal pH balance and cause candidiasis. Wearing loose clothing — or forgoing clothing altogether — can, therefore, promote ventilation and keep bacteria at bay. “Sleeping without clothing can support vaginal health by reducing the buildup of moisture, which can lead to fungal infections or bacterial imbalances,” Dr. Woods says.
Sleeping Naked Enhances Skin Health
“Another often-overlooked benefit of sleeping naked is improved skin health,” Dr. Woods says. “Wearing tight-fitting or non-breathable clothing to bed can trap sweat, dirt, and bacteria against the skin, which can contribute to skin irritation, acne, or other dermatological issues.”
Sleeping free of constrictive clothing allows your skin to “breathe” while you sleep and reduces irritation. This may be especially important for people with skin sensitivities or conditions like eczema, Dr. Woods says.
What Are the Drawbacks to Sleeping Naked?
Despite these upsides to sleeping nude, there are also some cons to going commando. Most obviously, you might feel cold. And if you feel too cold, it could keep you from falling or staying asleep, which would, of course, counteract the aforementioned benefits of sleeping in a cool environment.
Moreover, if you sleep with a partner, skin-on-skin contact — especially in areas that are prone to sweating or that have prickly hair — can cause irritation.
“There could be physical reasons a person might not want to sleep naked, such as skin conditions involving itchy or broken skin, sweating during the night, or other health conditions,” says Uren. “Also, some people find it uncomfortable to have their breasts or penis free-range in the night.”
Other practical reasons to sleep clothed rather than naked include having small children or other people you care for during the night, Uren adds. And even though sleeping naked can be beneficial for your sex life, she says, if you are tired from not sleeping, sexual desire is likely to be one of the first things to go.
“Whether you sleep naked or clothed, good quality sleep is foundational to well-being and should always be the priority,” Uren says. Even solo, sleeping directly on your bedding potentially exposes you to allergens like dust. Plus, your own natural body oils, sweat, and dead skin can more easily transfer to your sheets without clothing as a barrier, which means you may have to clean them more often than every one to two weeks.
It’s also worth mentioning that if you have a middle-of-the-night emergency — as in the fire alarm goes off or you need to quickly evacuate for another reason — being stark naked could be. . . highly inconvenient.
AnnaMarie Houlis has 15 years of writing and editing experience in women’s wellness and travel, although she has covered the gamut — from business and technology to fashion and finance. Since kicking off her career at lifestyle magazines in New York City, she has spent the last decade traveling as a nomadic freelancer with thousands of bylines.