Winter is coming, the nights are getting colder and many of us look forward to spending the evenings snuggled up in our pyjamas.

But it turns out sleeping in the nude could be a lot better for us.

Searches for "is sleeping naked healthy?" recently surged by 400%, and some experts gave their thoughts on the matter.

READ MORE:The positive impact journaling, mindfulness and meditation could have on your sleep

Mattress and bed retailer Happy Beds teamed up with sleep expert Dr Katherine Hall to answer the questions Brits are asking about whether sleeping completely starkers is good for us or not.

Surprisingly only 20% of the UK sleep naked, but Dr Hall revealed snoozing in the nude can benefit you in more ways than one.

Dr Hall said: "There are definitely benefits that come with sleeping naked, perhaps the biggest being that it improves blood circulation.

"When you sleep your blood circulation increases regardless, but sleeping naked stops any clothing like socks or tight pyjamas from restricting blood flow.

"Remember that good blood circulation is crucial for your heart and muscles."

There are said to be a number of health benefits of sleeping in the nude.

It's that time of year when the flu and nasty illnesses are everywhere, but it’s proven sleeping naked can regulate your body temperature, which is always higher when you're ill.

If you avoid wearing tight underwear when you go to bed, this can also be good for both men and women.

For men, it can increase fertility, and for women, it will lower your chance of any infections caused by uncomfortable underwear.

While these are solid reasons to get your kit off, Dr Hall also said it can have quite an impact on your relationship.

This is because skin-on-skin contact with your partner can boost your oxytocin levels, which could help combat feelings of SAD in the winter.

But there are a few things to consider before you bare all under the sheets, as it also leads to leaving more bacteria on your bedsheets.

This can be fixed by washing your bedding more regularly, but more bacteria means you could be more susceptible to picking up germs and bugs while you're asleep.

Dr Hall said: "Sleeping naked is great, but it’s always better in your own bed.

"When sleeping somewhere else such as a hotel, stick to pyjamas!"

If you're part of the 20% who choose to sleep naked you should wash your sheets more often.

Some studies have revealed that after one week, bed sheets can have 17 thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

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