Sleeping naked will actually make you hotter at night, expert claims

12 July 2022, 13:35

UK set for a hot start in latest Met Office weather report

By Mared Parry

@maredparry

An expert has warned that sleeping naked during a heatwave can actually make you hotter.

Brits look set to bake in scorching heat this week, with potentially record-breaking temperatures expected in the coming days.

With the warmth carrying on into the evenings, many of us have been stripping down to get a good night's rest.

Listen now on Global Player: Love Island: The Morning After Podcast

• Holiday hotspot in Italy bans bikinis with £425 fine
• This is how much it costs to leave your fan on all night

But according to an expert, this isn't a good idea and should be avoided as it makes us unnecessarily hotter.

Consultant neurologist and sleep physician, Dr Guy Leschziner, told the Today Show last year: “People may be better off sleeping in clothing rather than sleeping naked.

“If you’re wearing a natural fabric like cotton it acts as a wick for your sweat and it can increase the surface area for the sweat to evaporate, thus may make you feel much cooler."

• The two-second fan trick that could help you sleep during the heatwave

Sleeping in the nude could also be the reason behind feeling hot and sweaty too, would you believe?!

Dr Leschziner continued: “In many ways feeling hot, being overheated, is a form of discomfort and just like any other form of discomfort or pain, that is likely to have negative consequences on both getting off to sleep and staying asleep.

“So the quality of sleep will be poorer, particularly in the first half of the night when your bedroom is likely to be even warmer than perhaps later on in the night.

“Essentially what’s happening is you are somewhat sleep deprived - the quality of your sleep is poor and the amount you are getting is limited.”

So how do we cool down in this blazing heat? Well, Dr Leschziner has recommended some cotton pyjamas.