Why would anyone sleep naked on fine quality, Egyptian cotton sheet sets? Simply put, they help you stay comfortable throughout the night; which is paramount for a good rejuvenating night of sleep.

Most any fine quality sheet set will provide the comfort of a soft, smooth surface against the skin; so why cotton? And what happens during the night to make a person uncomfortable enough for a miserable night’s sleep? These questions are what this article explores.

Your skin "breaths" or perspires in small amounts as a person sleeps. This perspiration typically causes the body to experience an uncomfortable wet and damp feeling, but also chilling may result from any slight air movement in the room. Air movements within a room can occur from forced air units of home air conditioning and heating, a window or two slightly open or ceiling fans. Even radiator type heaters cause a natural air movement in a room. For whatever reason any slight air movement is present within the bedroom, it increases the discomfort level of a damp, resting person.

Just visualize how uncomfortable a person could become during the night as perspiration dampens their body. In your mind, see the image of a sleeping person damp with perspiration, and feeling that dampness and wetness. Now, as most all rooms have some air movement, add the evaporative cooling effect of air movement across the damp body; resulting in a chilling sensation on the skin. Are you visualizing the discomfort of this sleeping person? The discomfort may be enough to wake the person, or it may only be enough to cause the person to "toss and turn" all night. Either way, the result is definitely not a rejuvenating night’s sleep.

How much do you perspire as you sleep? Have you ever measured it? Incredibly, a medical study printed in the Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation actually measured the perspiration losses of a naked subject resting in a temperature controlled environment. This medical study obtained perspiration quantities for a day (24 hour) long period. After converting the measurement values in the medical study into English units, and dividing the perspiration quantities by three to adjust for an eight hour rest or sleep period, the amount of perspiration may surprise you. At roughly seventy two (72) degrees Fahrenheit, a person perspires four point three (4.3) fluid ounces over an eight (8) hour rest period. To place this quantity of perspiration into perspective, it represents a little more than one third (1/3) of a standard twelve (12) fluid ounce beverage can. At a rest temperature of roughly eighty one (81) degrees Fahrenheit, this same medical investigation measured about five point nine (5.9) fluid ounces over an eight hour rest period, which is almost equivalent to one half (1/2) of a twelve (12) fluid ounce can of liquid. Think of pouring one third to one half of a twelve (12) fluid ounce can of water on your bed sheets, and see how comfortable you are during the night.

To solve the perspiration problem while sleeping, a person could dress themselves in some variety of night garbs in the hope of absorbing the perspiration, and warding off the damp, and chilly feelings. From personal experience, the night garbs become uncomfortably wrapped around a person after a couple of turns in your sleep. Again, a less than satisfactory night’s sleep is achieved.

A better solution to the perspiration problem is a set of fine quality, Egyptian cotton sheets. This means a person does not have to wrap themselves up like a mummy for bed, but instead enjoy the comfort of some of the finest and softest cotton in the world against the skin. Why cotton? Cotton is a marvelous material that has characteristics well suited for sleeping with it against the skin. Cotton sheets will absorb the normal perspiration a person gives off during a night of rest, and keep that damp and chilly feeling away. Cotton sheets also "breathe", allowing any dampness absorbed by the sheet to dissipate into the air.

According to Fabrics.net, cotton can absorb roughly twenty five (25%) or one quarter of its weight in moisture. To put that into perspective, a four (4) pound cotton sheet set could absorb up to one whole pound of moisture. Salt water; and perspiration is typically salty, has a density of roughly sixty four (64) pounds per cubic foot. This one pound of perspiration absorbed in the cotton sheet set then translates into fifteen (15) fluid ounces of perspiration. The fifteen (15) fluid ounces of cotton sheet set absorption capacity may be thought of as one and a quarter (1-1/4) cans of a standard twelve fluid ounce beverage.

As noted earlier, a resting person for an eight hour time period perspires more typical quantities of one third to one half of a twelve fluid ounce beverage can. Fortunately, a person does not perspire anywhere close to the absorption capacity of cotton sheets which is about one and a quarter (1-1/4) of a typical twelve fluid ounce beverage can. With quality Egyptian cotton sheets absorbing and wicking a person’s perspiration away from them during the night, one can maintain a dry and comfortable bed environment very conducive to a good night’s sleep.

Yes--sleeping naked in fine quality Egyptian cotton bed sheets works for me. Please try a set for yourself, and have a great night’s sleep!

Sources Cited:

Lamke, L-O. & Nilsson, G. E. "Insensible Perspiration from the Skin under Standardized Environmental Conditions." Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation Vol. 37 No. 4 (1997) : 325-331. 26 Oct. 2009 < http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00365517709092637 >.

Fabrics.net. "Cotton Fabrics." Fabric Information and Facts 5 Nov. 2009 < http://www.fabrics.net/cotton.asp >.