We all have our preferences, and a worldwide divide is formed between people who sleep with their socks on and those who are strictly bare-footed at night time! The public could argue until they're blue about this lifestyle choice, but the final decision always boils down to personal preference – until now.
There are scientific side effects to wearing your socks while sleeping, which may be why many people opt for socks when sleeping instead of enjoying how they feel. For years, we may have been unable to understand why some would restrict themselves to wearing socks to bed until scientific research provided the true benefits behind wearing your socks to bed – it may shock you!
Wearing socks in bed to avoid cold feet
Before we dive in, let's not forget why someone might want to wear socks to bed - cold feet at night. If you often question, "Why are my feet always cold in bed?" it could be due to poor circulation of the extremities. Exercise, stopping smoking and managing your stress levels are all ways to improve blood circulation. Or, you know, continue wearing socks to bed!
Socks can help you get a better sleep
Ever heard of 'thermoregulation'? If you skipped that science lesson in school, thermoregulation is how humans regulate their temperature. It is how we stay warm when it is freezing weather and naturally cool ourselves down in the blazing sun - it's one of the many wonderful things our bodies can do. As humans, our bodies need to stay around 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) to be healthy, regardless of temperature and surroundings. Thermoregulation works to maintain this temperature and keep our bodies happy.
So, what does this have to do with wearing socks to bed? Well, your feet and hands are essential to thermoregulation, and the environment in which they are in directly affects your regulated body temperature when sleeping. This means that when you wear socks, you are influencing your thermoregulation, which could be the secret behind a better night's sleep.
If you regularly struggle with hot flushes or night sweats, wearing socks could be a surprising yet effective solution to your sleeping problems. Keeping your socks on throughout the night can provide the essential warmth to your feet needed to maintain healthy temperature control. Science dictates that cold feet have poorer blood circulation than warm feet, meaning less heat loss through the skin and possibly a higher core body temperature.
Therefore, pulling on a pair of sleeping socks for adults will improve blood flow, regulate overall temperature and help your body relax before sleep.
Socks can keep your feet protected
Also, socks can protect the moisture in your feet to prevent dry skin and cracking – a little pampering for your toes and heels during the night, which your skin will thank you for throughout the day.
This may mean that those who sleep with their socks on have healthier and smoother feet – sock sleeping may not be so strange after all! If you suffer from dry skin, sock-sleeping might answer all your worries. Add some moisturiser to your feet before bed, and put on a pair of socks to help lock the moisture in – this is especially useful for those suffering from cracked feet! However, it is advised that night-time sock-wearers change their socks before sleep and ensure that their feet are completely dry to prevent bacteria buildup and keep things clean and beneficial.
With the right pair of socks and cleanliness, you could be doing the world of good for your feet and skin as you sleep; how effortless!
Will wearing socks to bed be too warm?
Of course, wearing socks while sleeping has some disadvantages, the most evident being overheating. However, a breathable cotton pair should help wick away sweat and help, or you could kick them off after a few hours! And, of course, there is the dreaded idea that you'll have more washing to do. However, I'd take a better night's sleep over a bit of washing any day.
There are also several old wives' tales and sleeping with socks on superstition. For example, some people believe sleeping in socks will cause nightmares, or that wearing wet wool socks will cure a fever. However, there is no scientific evidence that these are little more than myths.
Another way to avoid overheating when wearing socks to bed, is to choose a cooling mattress. If you're determined to be part of the sock-wearing sleep community, then reducing the risk of getting too warm in bed is a must. Opt for a lighter tog duvet, or invest in a mattress with cooling features such as a natural mattress or a gel mattress.
