DavidWolfe.comOn average, how many nights in a row do you wear the same pajamas to bed? When polled, men said they waited an average of 13 days to change their pj’s, while women admitted waiting an average of 17 days to switch it up! Many of us don’t think twice about throwing on the same pair of pajama pants a few nights in a row. But it turns out that wearing the same pair of pj’s is a habit that could affect our health.
Here are seven reasons why you should change your pajamas more frequently:
1. Bad Odors
If you wanted to stay clean and avoid bad odors, you probably wouldn’t go a week without showering, right? A similar concept applies when wearing the same pajamas night after night. Dirty pj’s tend to absorb sweat during the night, along with bacteria that thrives in moist, dark spots. This allows bacteria to grow and create bad odors. If you shower at night, then change into dirty pajamas, your shower was pretty much pointless!
2. Staph Infections
Staph is a very common microbe that most people carry a small amount of on their skin. We pick it up through our nose, mouth and skin. Most of the time, it doesn’t cause a problem. But if you wear the same piece of fabric over and over again, staph bacteria can start to collect in your clothing. Over time, staph can find its way inside the skin through cuts, ingrown hairs or other breaks in the body’s defense system. Changing and washing your pajamas frequently helps kill off staph bacteria and prevent life-threatening infections.
3. Trouble Sleeping
Would you rather crawl into bed wearing dirty and sweaty pj’s or a nice, clean set of sleepwear? It’s a no-brainer! Sleeping in clean pajamas makes you feel refreshed, cozy and ready to get a good night’s sleep. Climbing into bed in dirty jammies can keep you up at night if you don’t feel comfortable, or if you’re feeling itchy or oily.
4. Feeling Less Than Fresh
Wearing dirty pj’s to bed can make you feel less than fresh in the morning. This is especially true for those who shower at night. Changing out of your pj’s and directly into your work clothes in the morning can make you feel grimy and smelly! If your pajamas are dirty, you’ll end up feeling dirty too.
5. Pimples And Cysts
When you don’t change your pajamas, you’re allowing bacteria, oil and dead skin cells to build up in the fabric. All of that yucky stuff gets pressed up against your pores while you sleep, blocking your pores and causing pimples and cysts. The worst pimples are often the ones you know that you could’ve prevented!
6. Allergies and Dust Mites
Sleeping in old pajamas can cause your allergies to worsen, especially if you’re allergic to dust. Allergies, asthma and other respiratory disorders already tend to be worse at night, so the extra build-up of dust mites and dead skin cells won’t help. Dust mites eat dead skin, so they’re attracted to your bed and pajamas, which are full of dead skin cells. If you’re allergic to dust, you should change your pajamas out at least every other night.
7. More Bugs!
If you contract the flu or a stomach bug, your dirty pj’s might be to blame. When you wear dirty pajamas, you’re causing your immune system to constantly fight off staph bacteria, upper respiratory problems, germs and oils. All of these factors can weaken the body’s defenses, making you more susceptible to illness.
Sources:
Daily Mail
Mother Nature Network
Glamour
Huffington Post