Hot weather: Why you should never sleep naked
As the UK experiences a back-to-school heatwave, how our sleep will be affected in this hot weather is a common concern.
The predicted highs of 33C will no doubt be coupled with sticky nights and with very few homes having air conditioning, we could be in for some uncomfortable sleeping conditions.
There are numerous helpful hacks that do the rounds each time the mercury spikes (chilled pillows, frozen hot water bottles, not opening the curtains or windows during the day...) but there’s one way to cool down that experts advise against: sleeping naked.
Sure sleeping sans clothes might seem like a good idea, but science suggests it actually makes you hotter.
Watch: UK weather: Amber heat-health alert issued for most of England as temperatures rise
"Sleeping naked always seems to be the answer for most people when it comes to uninterrupted sleep in the heat, but this is actually a myth," explains Christabel Majendie, resident sleep expert at Naturalmat.
"When you sleep naked, sweat collects on the body and remains there," Majendie continues. "The fabric in pyjamas will wipe the moisture away from the body so sleeping naked doesn’t help you to cool down at all."
UK heatwave: Read more
Amber heat health alert issued across England as heatwave brings 30C-plus temperatures (Evening Standard, 4-min read)
UK weather: What happens to your body when it gets too hot? (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Amazon's best-selling desk fan will see you through the September heatwave (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Not all nightwear is suitable for hot weather sleeping, however, with experts recommending you stick to lightweight, loose-fitting, cotton pyjamas or a nightie to help combat the sweat, ultimately leaving you cooler and drier throughout the night.
This particular non naked sleep rule doesn’t apply to babies, however, with The Lullaby Trust advising parents that babies will be fine to sleep in just a nappy during hot weather.
Other tips for sleeping on hot nights
The Sleep Charity suggests keeping curtains or blinds closed during the day will block the sun out and keep your room cooler at night.
It also suggests having a cool shower or bath before bedtime to lower your core body temperature and ditching the duvet or blankets to sleep with cotton sheets.
Sounds simple but opening windows – and doors – to create a cool draught through your bedroom could also keep temps down.
As well as not sleeping naked there are some other things you should steer clear of in warmer than average weather.
Avoiding too much caffeine, alcohol or a big meal before bedtime could also help with a better night's sleep as these can all make you feel hot in the middle of the night because of dehydration and over-active digestion.
It’s also worth considering that sleeping with a fan on all night might be bad for your health. According to Sleep Advisor, doing so can spread allergies, cause dry skin and contribute to sore muscles.
Read more: Heatwave insomnia: 32 tips and tricks to help you sleep during hot weather (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read)
