Sleeping in panties: good or bad idea?

While some have a mania for sleeping with socks on, others like to spend their nights in panties. Be careful, this habit is not without risk. Wearing underwear while sleeping can cause irritation, cystitis, and even fungal infections.

And for good reason, underwear, and particularly synthetic ones, increase the heat of the vulva and retain moisture. This promotes the development of microorganisms such as fungi.

Cystitis: polyester panties promote maceration

"This is especially true for polyester-cotton panties, explains Professor Stéphane Gayet, infectious disease specialist and hygienist at the Strasbourg University Hospital. Polyester is irritating to the skin, promoting inflammation of the sweat and pilosebaceous glands, thus perspiration and the production of sebum, while the inguinal folds, the pubic region, the inter-gluteal groove, the anal region and the genitals are very rich in glands".

According to our expert, polyester panties promote maceration, in which anaerobic bacteria participate that produce gas and can harm the health of the skin and mucous membranes when they are very abundant.

For clarification, anaerobic bacteria are part of all human microbiota. When they leave their original territory, they can become pathogenic and be responsible for severe infections.

If you are prone to repeated cystitis (urinary tract infections), take your panties off before going to bed.

Ideal: pajamas without panties underneath

"It is best to wear 100% cotton panties and above all not tight, but rather loose. In a way, the best is to have panties reserved for the night, teaches us Professor Gayet. However, the ideal, so that the inter-gluteal furrow, the anal region, the inguinal folds and the genitals are well ventilated and do not macerate, is to wear pajamas without panties underneath.

Obviously, these tips do not apply to the menstrual period during which women are obliged to protect themselves effectively against blood flow. During menstruation, panties should therefore be tighter.

"The body is self-cleaning"

Be careful if you tend to opt for too energetic an intimate wash. "There are women who, aware of maceration during the night, strive to vigorously wash their private parts during their morning toilet, which can aggravate the situation due to the irritation caused by too aggressive washing. , warns the infectious disease specialist.

Remember that the body is self-cleaning.

"The body is self-cleaning" overall. It is of course necessary to wash and in particular the mouth, the teeth and the anal region, as well as the armpits because of the odors and the hair because of their aspect, but for the rest, one tends to exaggerate", underlines the Professor Gayet.