Are you a person who likes to wear underwear at night? Or do you prefer to wear as little clothing as possible at night to be more comfortable? In this article, I’ll tell you what the experts say. Whether you should wear underwear to bed or not.
Wearing underwear while sleeping has pros and cons. Not wearing underwear will help your private areas breathe better at night and reduce the chance of bacteria accumulating in your private areas. If you wear underwear, it will protect your pajamas or bed linen from sweat and urine leakage.
Underwear is more important than you think. If you wear it all day, do you need to wear it at night? The answer varies according to gender. So I suggest you continue reading to find out whether men and women should wear underwear to bed.
Should I wear underwear to bed?
Most people wear underwear throughout the day, so it makes sense to wear it when we sleep. But is this the best and healthiest solution? At night, a dark and warm environment is created, which is ideal for various bacteria to build up on our skin and intimate areas.
People have different habits when it comes to how they dress for sleep. Some people like to wear underwear and pajamas, and others like to sleep in underwear and a T-shirt, and some sleep in underwear only or even without underwear. There are many possibilities.
The biggest problem arises when we are very hot at night and sweat a lot. Bacteria start to form on the skin when sweat comes into contact with impurities on the skin. If sweat accumulates on the skin, this increases perspiration. That’s why you should wear underwear made of natural materials that absorb sweat and wick it away from the skin. This keeps our skin dry for longer. Natural materials such as cotton, bamboo, and silk have these properties and are very breathable.
You can find a wide range of underwear in the shops, made of different materials (polyester, cotton, nylon). Most of the time, we don’t pay much attention to the choice of materials, but it is important for our health. To give you a better understanding of the difference between the different underwear materials. I have made a detailed comparison between polyester and nylon and between polyester and cotton. You can access the comparisons by clicking on the link.
Should women wear underwear to bed?
It is better for women to sleep without underwear at night. Women’s private areas are extra sensitive and need thorough care. A dark and warm environment is created at night, which is ideal for yeast infections, skin irritation, and increased PH value due to bacteria formation.
Women’s intimate areas are sensitive, and many experience a build-up of negative bacteria in the vaginal area. This is most common in older women but it can happen at any age. Carla Toft, CNM, A.P.N.P. from Mayo Clinic, says that bacteria are more likely to form when we wear underwear that allows little air to reach our private areas. And that excessive sweating creates an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply.
Most women wear underwear throughout the day and wear tight-fitting yoga pants when working out. These do not allow enough air to reach their private areas. It is therefore recommended not to wear underwear, at least during sleep. Some women who are used to wearing underwear even at night are advised to wear cotton underwear during the day and at night. Cotton breathes well and allows enough air to reach the private parts. It also absorbs moisture so that it doesn’t stay on the skin.
Excessive moisture retention on the skin and intimate areas further accelerates perspiration. To prevent the formation of negative bacteria in the intimate area, doctors from Mayo Clinic advise that:
- reduce the number of sexual partners, and use a condom when having sex. Sexual intercourse increases the PH value of the intimate areas,
- avoid additional douching of the private parts, as washing with water is enough, and the vagina cleans itself,
- not using soaps with a high antibacterial value when showering.
Should men wear underwear to bed?
Men can go to bed without underwear because it helps their private areas breathe better. If they want to wear underwear, they should wear boxer briefs or boxer briefs underwear made of cotton. Cotton underwear will absorb sweat, so it does not stay on the skin.
In men, the intimate areas are not as sensitive as in women. Therefore, wearing underwear at night does not have as big an impact on health as it does for women. The main reason whether or not a man will wear underwear at night is comfort. I personally prefer to wear underwear than to be without. Because underwear absorbs sweat, so it doesn’t build up on my skin, and I don’t sweat excessively.
Some men prefer to feel more free and therefore do not wear underwear. Either way, the decision is yours. If you decide to wear underwear, I advise you not to wear briefs. Because wearing this form of underwear for a long time reduces fertility. You can read more about why it is better to wear loose underwear here.