We’ve learnt we’re probably not washing our bath towels or our bed sheets often enough and now, according to the creators of Silvi, a bacteria-resistant pillow case designed to prevent acne, we’re probably not washing our pillowcases enough either. They’ve revealed after just three nights of use a pillowcase can have up to 1000x more bacteria than a toilet seat – ick!
WATCH: A mum shares her clever hack for a crease-free bed
If that’s not enough to motivate you to rethink your pillowcase routine, cleaning guru Shannon Lush doesn’t beat around the bush.
“Pillowcases should be changed every second day without fail. It’s against your face, and your hair holds more dirt than anywhere else on the body. It’s like a mop,” she told Homes to Love.
She added: “Most people don’t wash their pillows enough, and it’s really vile.”
Can a dirty pillow cause acne breakouts?
According to the experts, yes it can.
“Acne mechanica is any type of acne that is the result of material or objects touching your face,” Dr David E. Bank, director and founder of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery told The Huffington Post.
“When your pillowcase isn’t laundered or changed regularly, a build-up of dirt and oil from the environment as well as your skin and hair touching the pillow is transferred back to your skin. This can clog pores and cause blemishes.”
Enter: clever pillowcases that resist bacteria
To prevent this from happening, you can either change your pillow case more regularly, or invest in a pillowcase made from fibres designed to resist germs and acne-causing bacteria – such as silk. A hypoallergenic product, silk is great for fighting acne as bacteria cannot grow on it.
People don’t realise how much dead skin can build up on a pillow, says Shannon.
“It collects old skin cells, which we shed especially when we are asleep. The pillow is a major cause of blackheads,” she says.
“Human skin is protein, and lots of nasties live in protein. If you don’t use protectors, that will go into the bedding. And you wouldn’t leave a steak in the middle of the bed, would you?”
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