Is Sleeping In A Bra Bad For You?

At the end of a long day of work, the only thing us girls want to do is have fun. And by "fun," I mean go home, take off our bras, put our sweats on, and watch Pretty Little Liars. Removing one's bra is the best, most relaxing part of the day for some of us, but why is sleeping in a bra bad for you exactly? While some experts would encourage bra-goers to shed their bras off at night, others would suggest that you not remove your bra while you sleep. The verdict? There is no outstanding evidence anywhere that says that you should or shouldn't wear a bra to sleep, so the best course of action when deciding whether to wear it or not is to review all the facts.

One of the good things about wearing a bra to bed is that it may provide you with more comfort, paticularly if you are well endowed. Some women swear that wearing a bra to bed helps to improve the shape of their breasts themselves and also insist that it helps prevent sagging. Still, even the best push-up bra in the world can't help your body defy gravity. However, Douglas McGeorge, a cosmetic surgeon, says that nightly bra-wearing may help with stretch marks, especially if your breasts are larger than the average B or C cup.

If you are sleeping in the wrong kind of bra, then you could really run into some serious problems. Professor Kefah Mokbel, lead breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute, says, "Wearing a constrictive bra to sleep affects the physiology of the breast. It can impair the blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which, at worst, can lead to chronic inflammation, oedema (fluid retention) and discomfort." If you find marks on your body from your bra strap or the side panel of your bra, then you might be wearing a bra that is too tight and constrictive for you.

It's also important to consider the material and make of the bra that you are sleeping in. Bras with underwire can push on your chest when you are laying down and this can result in cysts over time. Something a little softer, like a sports-bra, is much better. Most underwire bras are made of a synthetic polyester material. This is a material to be wary of when choosing the right bra to sleep in because they can raise the temperature of your breasts.

Your breasts are external organs that meant to work best at a lower temperature than the rest of your body. There isn't a ton of research to back this up yet but there are some theories that this may cause breast cancer. Look for a stretchy bra that's ninety eight percent cotton.

So, here's my advice: it's OK to wear a bra to sleep if you feel like it. Just make sure that it is the right one.

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