The term ‘sleeping in socks’ has gone up 86 percent in the past three months, according to Get Laid Beds, showing there are more and more people trying to find out whether this is good or bad for you.
Additionally, the term ‘sleeping in underwear’ has gone up 40 percent, showing people are considering wearing a few extra layers to keep their private parts warm.
Layers are key when trying to stay warm during winter time. But wearing additional items of clothing to bed could impact circulation and risk of infections.
Dr Deborah Lee, working alongside the company, discussed what clothing items are bad for you when it comes to wearing them through the night.
Wearing socks
Wearing socks to bed, especially as you’ll be in them for a long period of time, may decrease blood circulation especially when they’re too tight, said Dr Lee.
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She advised: “The best thing to do would be to ensure that your pyjamas, or whatever you sleep in, aren’t tucked between the socks, making them even tighter. Another option would be to wear socks that are a size-up from normal, definitely ensuring that blood circulation continues like normal.
“In a recent study, as many bacteria – such as E.Coli and pseudomonas – were found to be present on socks as on the doormat. Many people wear their socks all day and get into bed with the same socks on. This is very inadvisable. It is likely to increase the risk of a variety of infections including UTIs. Wearing socks in bed increases the risk of fungal infections of the feet such as Athlete’s Foot (Tinea pedis).”
Underwear
There is no reason to wear underwear to bed, especially knickers, said Dr Lee. She continued: “Not only can this be uncomfortable, but it’s good to let your private parts air out, as it keeps it happy and healthy. By letting the air circulate, you’re letting less moisture around the genitals, meaning less chance of yeast infections and bacteria growth.”
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Tight pyjamas
Similar to the socks situation, tight clothing can restrict circulation and blood flow, leading to a worse night’s sleep, and discomfort potentially waking you up.
Dr Lee said: “The tighter the clothing, the less likely you’ll be able to move around in your sleep, meaning you might not be able to get comfortable during your snooze.
“Pyjamas may also raise the body temperature, which sounds like a dream in this cold weather, but you may overheat, again disrupting your sleep. While you’re asleep, your temperature should naturally rise, so you need a solution that will be warm enough to get you to sleep, but not too warm while you sleep. If you wear pyjamas, avoid fleece and opt for something cotton instead.”
So what’s the perfect snooze outfit?
To get the best sleep, avoid wearing underwear completely, and settle for pyjamas that are made from breathable fabrics such as cotton or silk, said Dr Lee.
She added: “Ensure that the pyjamas aren’t too tight for you, but also not too loose either in case you get yourself tangled in the night, waking you up.
“If you want to wear socks to bed, then I suggest wearing them right until you fall asleep, or wearing a pair that’s slightly too big for you or extremely lightweight.”
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