Self: There isn’t much data specifically looking at the health benefits of sleeping naked, but if you find that sleeping in the nude leads to better quality or quantity of sleep for you, then it can absolutely improve your health.

So what about those claims that sleeping sans underwear will help your vaginal health? While it’s true that spending too much time in tight-fitting or restrictive clothes can be a risk factor for yeast infections, there’s no data to show that people who sleep naked get fewer vaginal infections. Again, if it works for you, great! But if you’re prone to yeast infections, keep getting them, and wonder if changing up your sleeping gear could help you out, a good bet would be making sure you’re wearing cotton underwear and checking in with a health care provider to find out what’s going on. 

If you have an inflammatory skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, it’s possible that sleeping naked can be helpful for your skin, particularly if you have lesions (dry or scaly patches) in areas where your clothes rub. “Sleeping in the nude may give your skin a break, allowing it to breathe and repair while you sleep,” board-certified dermatologist Rhonda Q. Klein, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.D., partner and co-owner at Modern Dermatology PC in Connecticut, tells SELF. Just make sure you clean your sheets with hypoallergenic detergent as often as you would your pj’s.

Finally, let’s talk relationship health. The sleeping-nude-is-good-for-your-bond claim typically hinges on the role of skin-to-skin touch, which has been shown to increase the release of oxytocin, according to research published in Psychosomatic Medicine.2 But every couple is going to have their own comfort levels when it comes to sleeping naked. Maybe it’s what feels most natural to both of you, so there’s no question you’ll sleep naked and cuddle basically all night long. Maybe you get your best rest in loose, comfy pj’s, but your partner loves to sleep naked. Maybe you sleep in separate beds so what you each wear to bed has less of a physical impact on the other! When it comes to your relationship, what you wear to bed is just one potential factor that contributes to the strength of your bond.

Get the full story at self.com.