Zit happens. Sometimes it sits on your face for a week, and other times it comes out of nowhere before an important event. If acne has been a gratuitous and significant part of your life, you would have probably tried many remedies for prevention and cure – hit-and-miss style.
READ: How Sleeping on a Silk Pillowcase Can Improve Your Skin and Hair
But there’s a hot trend right now in skincare that you don’t want to miss: silk pillowcases!
Is it better than a cotton pillowcase?
For the longest time, cotton has been a major player in the textile industry. It’s almost safe to assume that most households will have no less than 10 pieces of cotton fabric on them. It’s also affordable and cosy – what can go wrong, right?
Well, that’s precisely where you can go wrong. When you have acne-prone skin, there are many factors that can trigger a breakout – sometimes even the littlest of things.
Have a look at our learning box below to understand acne’s most common triggers.
Acne Trigger | How It Works |
| Stress | When stressed, there are higher cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the body. This can trigger the sebaceous glands to increase production of sebum leading to a breakout. Additionally, your cortisol levels are most likely higher when you lack sleep. This can also spike a breakout especially when you have acne-prone skin to begin with. |
| Diet | Dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods (such as bread and bagels) may contribute to breakouts. |
| Hormones and Medication | Other than puberty, ingested hormones and medicine can cause androgen hormones to decrease and play a role in acne breakouts as it does during puberty. Using birth control pills or corticosteroids are among the most common examples. |
| Environment | If the things that make contact with your face are dirty, you risk yourself of being exposed to more bacteria. |
ACNE-PRONE SKIN + 1-4 TRIGGERS = POTENTIAL BREAKOUT
Now let’s zero-in on the 4th trigger: the environment. Because the surface you sleep on does matter.
Picture your pillowcase as a sponge for all your face dirt. Cotton pillowcases tend to absorb makeup residue, oils, and sweat. Suppose you sleep face-down and do not clean your pillowcases as often as you should, your pores can end up clogged. This results in the much-dreaded acne or even wrinkles!
How are silk pillowcases good for acne?
Silk is a natural fibre that does not clog pores – making it healthy for the skin in general. It’s not the end-all-be-all for acne-prevention but it can help in preventing it and relaxing facial skin all together. Think of it as an extra step to your skincare routine.
We know that silk is hypoallergenic, breathable, and moisture-wicking. On top of that, it also minimizes the appearance of sleep creases upon waking up that have been linked by research to premature wrinkle-formation. In fact, a study by the Department of Dermatology in Medical University (Austria) found that a special type of silk textiles had positive results on back acne after wearing a silk shirt for six weeks. Although the silk fabric used for pillowcases is not exactly the same as these, we can infer from the study that silk is a better fabric than cotton when it comes to sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Moreover, silk’s hypoallergenic and sheen properties reduce friction between the face and pillowcase, lowering the chances of infection and skin irritation.
Is it worth the investment?
Better rest, no sleep creases and potentially less acne? We don’t see why not. By the looks of it, silk can offer a great sleeping experience – just imagine gliding your face on such a smooth and shiny pillowcase.
Should you decide to purchase one, couple it with a good anti-acne skincare routine. It should keep you and your face well-rested the entire night.