Many people want to know if it's bad to sleep in a sports bra, said Constance M. Chen, board-certified plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction specialist. "It's not", she assured. "It won't stunt breast growth the way some people believe".
But contrary to those 'old wives' there is no medical evidence that states it is bad to sleep in a bra or sports bra. In fact, for some women, it can help limit breast movement leading to a better night's sleep. Especially for the more well-endowed.
Better hygiene. Wearing a bra to bed (particularly in warm weather) can lead to a hotter, sweatier night. The accumulation of sweat in your bra can lead to body odor and acne. Help keep your skin clear by avoiding wearing a bra when you sleep.
Technically, there's no downside to wearing a looser, less restricting sports bra overnight, again, as long as it's not super tight. Wearing the extra layer while sleeping won't make your boobs perkier or keep them from sagging—but it also won't stunt growth (a common misconception).
Most sports bras come in three main style and you can choose one that suits the type of support you're looking for. Compression: These sports bras flatten your chest to prevent bouncing, meaning they will make your breasts appear smaller. They are generally better for low-impact workouts.
And believe it or not, wearing your sports bra all day can lead to skin issues. "Any tighter compressive garment that isn't taken off can lead to some irritation such as a rash and even a fungal infection," Dr. Tutela says.
Is it OK to sleep in my bra? There's nothing wrong with wearing a bra while you sleep if that's what you're comfortable with. Sleeping in a bra will not make a girl's breasts perkier or prevent them from getting saggy. And it will not stop breasts from growing or cause breast cancer.
While wearing a bra to bed can't lead to serious health problems, okko CEO and founder, Phoebe Kunitomi, points out that doing so can cause potentially skin issues. “Wearing a dirty bra can accumulate oil, sweat, and bacteria and result in skin irritation or acne—during the day and at night,” she says.
Blake says wearing a bra doesn't prevent your breasts from sagging and not wearing one doesn't cause your breasts to sag. “Wearing a bra doesn't affect the risk of breast sagging, or what is called 'breast ptosis,'” she says. It also won't impact the shape of your breasts.
You can totally wear a sports bra all day, as long as:
2You change out of it after excessive sweating to avoid skin irritation and bacteria. 3You keep these two keywords in mind: comfort and support. Both can coexist in the right design for your needs and body type!
Sleeping on your back is your best bet, for two reasons: First, your breasts won't be underneath you or in between your arms, where they'll get in the way and make it harder to sleep comfortably, says Reverie Sleep Advisory Board Member Amelia Bailey, MD.
As long as it fits properly, it's totally fine, says Tia Guster, MD, an OB/GYN based in Georgia. "The conversation really just comes down to personal preference for overall comfort and support," she says. "Generally, well-supporting undergarments are great at reducing the downward pull that breasts have on our chest."
Sleeping and Breast Health
While Dr Adams himself does not believe that sleeping on your side or your stomach is causing enough damage to be the sole cause of sagging breasts, the idea stems from the lack of support and lack of blood flow that can come from these two sleeping positions.
Stimulating, caressing or simply holding breasts sends nerve signals to the brain, which trigger the release of the 'cuddle hormone' called oxytocin, a neurochemical secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland in the brain.
Pressing your breasts against the mattress for hours on end won't do them any favours, while lying on your side will cause the ligaments to stretch over time. If you want to maintain uplift in your cleavage, then sleeping on your back is the best position.
Squeezing into your regularly fitting bra may result in some light bruising around the bra line or some more intense markings due to the water retention, puffiness, and whatever else you experience during that time. That is okay.
Hair is at its most fragile when wet, so if you go to bed with it damp and proceed to toss and turn against a pillow, you run a higher risk of breakage. But aside from being rough on your delicate strands, hitting the pillow with damp hair puts you at risk of developing skin infections, primarily on your scalp.
The term “uniboob” refers to the situation in which breasts are pushed together so tightly they appear as one.
How Many Sports Bras Should a Person Own? If you're a relatively active person you'll need at least a few sports bras. For a person who works out twice a week, two sports bras will sufficiently cover you. If you work out 3 or more times a week you'll probably want to invest in at least 3 bras.
The band rolls, not due to the size being too small, but due to a combination of our shape and build. This means that it happens to women of all shapes and sizes because a woman's body typically has a “softer” area around her rib cage and when we move, the body can push against areas of the bra, causing it to “roll”.
Snug, but not too tight: A sports bra should fit tighter than a regular bra but shouldn't restrict breathing; you should be able to fit two fingers between the straps and your shoulders. Wrinkles are bad: The fabric of the cup should be smooth. Wrinkles in the fabric are usually an indication that the cup is too big.
Another possible sports bra stand-in: a bathing suit top. Not a string bikini, of course, but if you have a two-piece sporty swimsuit that's more for swimming than for sunning, it may have enough sports-bralike qualities to keep things in place.