Why You Shouldn’t Sleep in Warm Pajamas, Even in the Winter

Almost 40% of us wear pajamas to bed, and there’s nothing cozier than your favorite winter PJs. But what we choose to wear to bed can actually affect our sleep, our looks, and even our health. If your fluffy jammies cause you to overheat at night, it may be one of the reasons you’re not drifting off as easily and end up waking up feeling tired in the morning.

We at Bright Side also love to throw on our comfy pajamas and hide under a warm blanket when it’s chilly outside. So we decided to find out why warm PJs may not be the best choice of sleepwear.

1. It affects the quality of your sleep.

Sleeping in pajamas that are too warm means you could be in for a restless night since your body needs to maintain the right temperature throughout the night. The ideal fabric for bedtime is cotton, as it lets your skin breathe and helps you to stay comfy. Another great choice for nightwear material is linen, which is breathable and absorbent — but it may be not as soft as cotton.

2. It might give you pimples.

When you’re sweating in your sleep, it may lead to a specific type of breakout known as sweat pimples. The combination of heat and friction from your sweaty pajamas can cause clogged pores, which in turn, will give you more skin irritation. Choosing nightwear made from bamboo fabric may help prevent acne, as this fabric has antimicrobial properties. It’s even softer and more absorbent than cotton and may be just what you need to sleep well.

3. It may trigger infections.

If you’re sweating at night, you have a higher chance of developing a skin infection. Bacteria grow better in moist and dark places, and when you’re covering up with layers of warm clothes and a blanket, you can actually create the perfect breeding ground for microbes.

4. It might affect reproductive health.

Men who don’t wear pants at night may improve the quality of their sperm, according to a study. When you go to bed wearing tight underwear or warm pajamas, your genital region is more likely to get sweaty. It can also affect women’s fertility as excess sweat may lead to inflammation and infections.

5. It keeps your body from regulating its temperature naturally.

If you’re too hot in bed, your core temperature won’t be able to fall, keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep. Having a lower temperature at night helps your body to recover better and can even boost your metabolism. If you’re looking to wear something other than cotton pajamas, silk might be a good choice. It’s a natural thermal regulator and can keep you warm on cold winter nights thanks to the heat that is kept between the silk threads, creating an isolation effect.

What’s your favorite type of nightwear? Do you prefer to sleep in warm or light pajamas?