On the 2026 Met Gala red carpet, influencer Emma Chamberlain did what she does best: turned a formal fashion moment into a surprisingly relatable conversation. In a quick interview, she asked singer Doja Cat what she wears to bed and what kind of pajamas she prefers. Doja’s answer was refreshingly unfiltered: she said she loves sleeping in just her skin, aka completely naked. You’ve probably wondered at some point: Is sleeping naked actually good for you, or is it just a personal preference that sounds cooler than it is?
Between TikTok sleepmaxxing hacks, wellness influencers swearing by breathable fabrics, and the ongoing debate over whether socks in bed are genius or criminal, sleepwear has somehow become a full-on internet discourse topic. It’s especially relatable for Gen Z students juggling dorm rooms with mystery AC settings, inconsistent heating, late-night study crashes, and whatever laundry situation they’re currently pretending doesn’t exist. At this point, getting a good night’s sleep can feel less like a basic routine and more like a DIY science experiment that’s not for the STEM girlies.Â
But beyond the trends and viral “this changed my life” sleep routines, there’s actual science behind how your sleep environment affects your body. Things like temperature regulation, skin barrier health, stress levels, and even sleep cycles all play a role in how rested you feel the next day. So what actually happens when you ditch the pajamas and go commando for the night? I asked a range of experts, from sleep specialists to relationship therapists, to break down whether sleeping naked comes with real benefits, or if it’s just another overhyped wellness trend that sounds better than it performs.
Does sleeping naked actually improve sleep quality?
According to neuroscientist and sleep expert Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, there can be real physiological benefits, especially if you’re someone who runs hot at night (or constantly wakes up kicking off your blanket). She explains that night sweats are more common than people think, and when sweat gets trapped in fabric, it can create that uncomfortable, damp feeling that subtly disrupts sleep without you fully realizing it. “Increased body temperature is associated with poor sleep quality, insomnia, and sleep fragmentation,” she tells Her Campus, pointing out that even small fluctuations in heat can interfere with how deeply your body rests.
From a practical standpoint, she adds, sleeping with less clothing can help your body better regulate its temperature throughout the night. That matters because sleep isn’t just “off time.” It’s when your body is actively doing maintenance work, from hormone regulation to recovery processes that depend on stable internal conditions. She also notes a skin angle that doesn’t always get talked about online. “Sleeping naked may promote better skin hygiene as hot, sweaty clothes and airflow restriction can lead to clogged pores, oil buildup, and other skin issues,” says Rohrscheib. “Additionally, temperature regulation is important for biological processes that occur during sleep, such as hormone release.”
Can sleeping naked help you feel more comfortable in your body?
It might sound like a stretch at first, but some experts say the answer has less to do with “wellness hacks” and more to do with how we relate to our own bodies when no one is watching. Certified sex therapist Ilana Grines explains that something as simple as sleeping without clothes can become a small, daily form of body exposure in a low-pressure setting. As she puts it, “Sleeping naked is a small daily act that a lot of individuals could integrate to learn how to be comfortable in their own body.”Â
She also points out that for many people, especially Gen Z women, nudity often carries a lot of social meaning that goes beyond comfort. “A lot of women I work with have a complicated relationship, not only with nudity, but what it means to be naked outside of having sex,” Grines says. “Sleeping naked alone, or partnered, can allow for the meaning of nakedness to shift from being something that is attached to a performance, attraction, to just existing in your body.”
In that sense, it’s less about whether sleeping naked is inherently “better,” and more about whether it can quietly reframe how comfortable you feel just being in your own skin — literally — when the world isn’t part of the equation.