What To Wear Under Scrubs: The Ultimate Guide
If you’re wearing scrubs almost daily, you definitely need to know all the best options for what to wear under scrubs. Scrubs are usually required for sanitary reasons for medical professionals and healthcare workers, or as a uniform for administrative staff in a doctor’s office.
Medical offices are known for pumping the air conditioning, so you may be looking for ways to stay warm in your scrubs, or maybe you’re in search of comfortable underwear to wear under your scrubs. Either way, this guide will show you your best options.
Before choosing layers to wear under your scrubs or different scrub colors, it’s a good idea to check your department’s dress code. Some healthcare professionals have strict rules for both sanitary reasons and professionalism.
What to Wear Under Scrubs
What to Wear Under Scrubs Shirts:
Although you can wear any type of shirt under your scrubs for extra layers, there are scrub undershirts that are specifically designed to be worn under scrubs.
These shirts are typically a performance material that is breathable, easy to move in, and keeps you warm or cool.
Long-sleeve undershirts
Long-sleeve t-shirts like this Natural Uniforms Women’s Under Scrub Tee Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt are a great choice for layering under your scrubs.
Many people are looking for a long-sleeved shirt option because they aren’t allowed to wear a jacket. If this is the case for you, a long-sleeve shirt like this is a good choice.
Short sleeve undershirts
Some employers will not allow a long sleeve layer under your scrubs t-shirt. In this case, you may opt for a short sleeve undershirt like this Natural Uniforms Women’s Short Sleeve Round-Neck Under Scrub T-Shirt.
If the rule is for sanitary reasons such as working in an operating room, you may not be allowed to wear an undershirt at all. If it’s just for appearance, you can likely pass with this short sleeve option as long as your scrub top’s sleeves are long enough to cover the scrub t-shirts’ sleeves.
Tank tops
A tank top is a good option for layering under your scrub shirt if you don’t like the layered look but want to stay warm or you aren’t allowed to have another shirt showing under your scrubs.
Something like this scoop neck Amazon Essentials Women’s Slim-Fit Tank should be low cut enough to stay hidden underneath. It’s a slim fit so it won’t be bulky and it’s long enough to comfortably tuck it inside your scrub pants.
What to Wear Under Scrub Pants
It’s easier to hide most underclothes under your scrub pants, but it can be difficult to avoid panty lines. If you’re looking to stay warm in winter months or a cold working environment, you may want to add additional layers under your scrub pants.
It’s important to use materials that are made to regulate your body temperature. Those are the moisture-wicking fabrics that are meant to keep you both warm and cool.
Otherwise, you may get halfway through your shift and realize you are terribly uncomfortable in your layers. Especially if you have to wear them for long periods of time.
Leggings or thermal underwear
If you’re dealing with cold weather outside and a cold environment inside, you could opt for thermal underwear. Your department’s dress code may not allow you to wear a thermal top under your scrub shirt, but if you can, a thermal set would work perfectly.
If it’s really cold, you have the option of fleece-lined thermal underwear. If temps are cold but not freezing cold, you may want to go with leggings that just provide some extra insulation under your scrub pants.
Wearing leggings or thermal underwear under your scrubs will be far more comfortable if you choose a fabric that allows your scrub pants to slide back and forth over them.
For instance, if you wear the traditional cotton waffle thermal underwear, your scrubs will get caught on that fabric, causing it to bunch up in uncomfortable ways.
Also keep in mind that if you choose compression leggings or compression tights, be careful when choosing the level of compression. Throughout the day, too much compression can become very uncomfortable.
Bicycle shorts or compression shorts
If you want even less insulation or you just want to prevent an underwear line, compression shorts can do the trick. These slip shorts are a great option to cover all your bases for comfort under your scrub pants.
Socks
Socks can do a lot for your comfort level as far as temperature goes through your shift. As an added bonus, compression socks can also help prevent swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet during those long shifts while also keeping you warm.
Underwear
The most common layer to wear under your medical scrubs is, of course, underwear. These nylon boxer briefs are perfect to wear under scrub pants. The boy short style leaves no panty lines, and these don’t ride up either, so they stay comfortable.
Outer Layer
Depending on your dress code, you may be able to layer on top of your scrubs. Top layers are the best because they provide an easy way to adjust your level of comfort since you can take on and off throughout your shift.
Jackets
If permitted, light jackets are excellent options when you’re working in a cold office.
Some women’s scrubs come with a matching light jacket, but if they don’t, you can opt for something simple like this one which comes in a variety of colors.
This warm-up jacket is also an excellent choice and is made specifically for scrubs and is perfect for anyone in the medical field.
You may be able to wear a lab coat, depending on your position in the medical field, and that will do the trick. Either way, the best part about adding a light jacket to your scrub set is never having to worry if you made the right decisions about your layers.
In the medical field, you need to be able to move with ease and comfort.
Different layers for your scrubs for different seasons
If you’re layering in both summer and winter, you won’t want to wear the same type of layers year-round. Of course, all of these things depend on personal preference and your work environment.
The level of warm clothing each person needs will also vary. In general, the following are good options based on the time of year:
Summer layers:
Winter layers:
Year-round layers:
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