Surprising reason experts say you shouldn’t sleep naked during a heatwave

Sleeping naked might seem like the obvious answer when your bedroom feels approximately the temperature of the sun.

But according to a sleep expert, stripping off completely could actually make it harder to get a decent night's sleep during a heatwave.

"It can be tempting to sleep with no clothes on to keep yourself cool, but this may worsen your sleep," Julius Patrick, Lead Sleep Physiologist at Bupa’s Cromwell Hospital, explained to Cosmopolitan.

"When you sleep naked, sweat actually collects on the body and then remains there," he adds.

So, despite what your overheated brain might be telling you at 2 am, Patrick suggests keeping a layer on at night, opting for 'light bedclothes' instead.

An expert has explained why it may not be such a good idea to sleep naked during a heatwave (Getty Stock Images)

"If you’re wearing light clothes to sleep in, it soaks up any sweat you have, which can cool you down," he says.

Yes, putting clothes on when you're already melting into your mattress sounds mildly offensive. But apparently, it could help.

Patrick also has a reminder for anyone who thinks they need to spend the entire night trying to stay as cold as possible: "However hot it is when you drift off, remember your body temperature will drop during the night."

There are a few other things you can do to make a sweaty night's sleep slightly more bearable.

The expert also shared a surprisingly simple pre-bed trick that could help you drift off during a sweaty heatwave (Getty Stock Images)

Keeping your bedroom cool during the day is a good place to start.

Patrick recommends closing the curtains or blinds throughout the day to stop sunlight heating up the room.

Then, if the temperature outside has dropped below the temperature indoors, get those windows open before bed.

"If it’s warmer inside than outside, you can also open all of the windows before you get into bed to create a breeze before you get your head down. This should bring down the room temperature slightly to make it easier to fall asleep," he suggests.

And while you might want to launch your duvet straight out of the window, Patrick does recommend keeping some bedding nearby.

"Keep covers handy," says the sleep physiologist. "Thin cotton sheets will absorb sweat."

Cotton sheets can also help to absorb sweat (Getty Stock Images)

There’s also a surprisingly simple pre-bed trick that could help.

Patrick recommends taking a shower around half an hour before you hit the sheets.

"A quick rinse before bed can help you cool down, and it doesn’t have to be a cold shower. Some people find a hot shower or bath can help as this drops the core body temperature, helping to promote faster and deeper sleep," says Patrick.

So, if you're currently lying awake, sticking one leg out from under the duvet and wondering whether to sleep in your birthday suit, you might want to grab some lightweight pyjamas instead.

Your sweaty self might thank you in the morning.