Sleeping in a bra: is it bad to wear a bra to bed?

Sleeping in a bra is a habit that can be comfortable for some women, especially those with very large breasts, but it also carries certain drawbacks. Many rumors circulate about whether or not to wear a bra during night sleep, from that it helps prevent sagging or sagging breasts, to that it can make it difficult to breathe or contribute to the development of breast cancer, but in many cases it is it deals with false myths without scientific evidence. We explain the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping in a bra.

Advantages of sleeping in a bra

The main benefits or advantages that you can get if you sleep with your bra on are:

• Avoid discomfort to women with very large or sensitive breasts by limiting their movement. Supporting the breast during sleep can also help reduce neck and back pain when the breasts are larger.

• Helps relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. It is quite common that in the days before menstruation the breasts swell and become more sensitive due to the increase in estrogen levels and the decrease in progesterone (sex hormones). Even a touch can cause pain and wearing a bra in bed helps to avoid it.

• Protect piercings. If you have nipple piercings, the bra will prevent them from getting caught when you move at night, preventing injuries or tears.

• It can help reduce or delay the loss of firmness. Pregnancy or lactation, practicing sports without adequate support, weight changes or menopause–which affect the texture and quality of the skin–, among other factors, contribute to sagging breast tissue and breast sagging. Wearing a bra while you sleep reduces movement of the breasts, preventing the tissues from sagging too much, which is why some plastic surgery experts recommend that women with a lot of chests don’t take them off to sleep. However, over time your chest will sag and lose firmness, even if you wear a bra to sleep.

Disadvantages or risks of sleeping with a bra

Regarding the inconveniences or possible risks of sleeping with a bra, these are the most notable:

• Discomfort. You may feel uncomfortable wearing a tight garment, which can also make you hot or make you sweat more. Excess sweat, in turn, not only causes bad odor, but can irritate your skin or even promote a fungal infection. If you don’t find it comfortable, don’t let it interfere with your good quality sleep and sleep without it.
• Irritations or marks on the skin. If the bra is too tight, especially if it has underwire, it can cause skin irritation and leave marks.
• Respiration problems. A garment that fits too tightly to the chest or abdomen can make it difficult to breathe, especially while we sleep and remain still. Also, bras are designed to be worn in a standing or sitting position, not lying down, so they can dislodge and squeeze the ribcage, preventing it from expanding properly. This can interfere with sleep and rest and make you wake up more tired. And remember that a bra that is too tight could also hinder blood circulation.
• It does NOT contribute to the appearance of breast cancer. There is a rumor circulating that the underwire in some bras can block lymphatic drainage in the lower breast area, but there is no scientific evidence for this.

The bottom line is that sleeping in a bra isn’t harmful (except if it’s too tight), but it also doesn’t provide any extra benefits beyond your preferences. Therefore, use it if you feel more comfortable, but not as a beauty technique to prevent breast sagging.

What bra to choose for sleeping

If you prefer to sleep with a bra, it is best to choose one that is as comfortable as possible, since you would not wear pajamas of a size smaller than yours that would reduce your freedom of movement, or with a waistband that would tighten you and leave a mark on your chest. the skin. These are the characteristics that the ideal bra to wear in bed should have:

• Made with a soft and breathable fabric, like cotton.
• No rings, no seams, no decorations that can leave marks.
• With wide straps that do not dig in.
• Make it the right size.
• Clean. Do not go to bed with the one you have been wearing during the day, one that has just been washed is more hygienic to spend the whole night with.