Believe it, your pillow is giving you acne!

Many people never consider sleep to be related to acne in any way, but one of the lesser-known acne culprits is not so much sleep itself, but rather what you sleep on. Pillows and pillowcases have been known to exacerbate and perhaps even cause acne breakouts. Pillows and Acne First, consider the fact that each night, for several hours, your face constantly rubs against and rolls around on the same piece of fabric. Now, consider the following facts:

Pillowcases contain dirt, oil and dead skin – You might find yourself waking up in the morning to newly formed acne along your cheeks and chin. That is because each night, a cocktail of dirt, bacteria, oil and dead skin cells is pressed against your face, causing your pores to become clogged resulting in acne breakouts.

Washing your face religiously is not the only solution – It is not simply enough to wash your face correctly every day, wear oil-free makeup or even stick to your daily acne regimen. It is important to keep track of how often you change and wash your pillowcases because of how much your oil, sweat and bacteria is trapped between your pillow and face. Rubbing your skin against unwashed fabrics creates an ideal breeding ground for acne.

Take Preventative Measures Here are some tips to prevent your face from absorbing all that oil and dirt from your pillow that you’re fighting so hard to get rid of:

Wash your pillowcase and sheets regularly. Washing your linens every two to three days is ideal for ridding them of all dirt and oil. If that is not possible for you, putting a fresh clean towel on the pillowcase could also work, provided you don’t throw it off in your sleep.

Wash your face at night. This should be a part of your overall skin care program anyway, but if you often skip out on this nighttime ritual, just remember that each night you add new filth to your pillowcase. Not washing your face each night compounds the problem; not only is your skin not clean, but your pillowcase gets dirtier even faster.

All Summed Up… Even though you may be taking good care of your skin, sleeping on your pillow can make your acne worse. Be sure to clean your pillowcases often and wash your face before you go to bed to avoid this issue. As always, there is more to learn, so check out our extensive clear skin articles. Also, to find the acne skin care program that is right for you, complete our free questionnaire, and you will be on your way to healthy, beautiful skin!