Not sleeping naked in the middle of a heat wave isn’t the best way to cool off and here’s why

Night sweats, feeling of the sheets stuck to your skin… Even if we try to prevent the heat from entering the house by closing the blinds and running the fan all day, it’s hot. And this is especially noticeable at night. And if the idea of ​​sleeping naked has crossed your mind, know that this is not necessarily the right thing to do in the event of a heat wavealthough at other times of the year this practice can have many benefits.

Sleeping naked, sweat is not evacuated properly

The reason why sleeping without clothes is not recommended is simple. It is also explained in Cosmopolitan by Dr Julius Patrick, Chief Sleep Physiologist at Cromwell Hospital London in Bupa: “When you sleep naked, sweat builds up on your body and stays there.” But why should it accumulate? Sleep expert Sophie Bostock interviewed by the American magazine Women’s health has his own idea about it:

“I’ve seen a lot of advice on how to sleep naked. But that doesn’t help much, because if sweat builds up on your body and isn’t wicked away by moisture-wicking material, like in the case of clothing, it won’t help keep you cool.”

In other words, the key to lowering your body temperature is to get rid of sweat. Dr. Neil Stanley, a participant in the British Sleepstation program, explains it simply Daily Mail Plus : “ If the moisture stays on the skin, it prevents the body from losing heat”.

But what to wear in the evening?

Lightweight cotton or linen pajamas are the best option for a comfortable night’s sleep. On the other hand, synthetic materials such as polyester are strongly discouraged. Non-absorbent and not very breathable, they retain heat on the skin. Lastly, don’t forget to keep a bed sheet nearby, it could help you wick moisture away from your body to maintain body temperature.

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