Could Your Pillowcase Ruin Your Skin and Hair?

While you can’t deny the benefits of a good night’s sleep, where you lay your head could potentially ruin your beauty routine. This is especially the case if you use cotton pillowcases. Although the said fabric feels comfortable and soft to the touch, it can draw moisture out of your skin and hair.

Here we list the four beauty problems associated with your pillowcase and what you can do to save your skin. 

1. Clogged pores and breakouts

Cotton is an absorbent fabric, which only means that it can trap sweat, dirt, hair/skincare products, drool, and other debris. The sad part is, you add or deposit more of these things on your pillow, night after night. This can then clog your pores and trigger breakouts.

What you can do: Be sure to wash your pillowcases once or twice a week. This can help remove the dirt, debris, and other human gunk that can clog your pores and cause breakouts. You might also want to take a shower before bed to remove dirt and other pollutants from your head. 

If clogged pores and acne are already a problem for you, you might want to see a skin doctor for treatment or product recommendations. At Cutis Laser Clinics, we have a number of treatments that can help banish acne and acne scars. Check out our previous blog to learn more about your acne treatment options. 

2. Premature wrinkles and aging of the skin

When your face is pressed down against a cotton pillow for hours, sleep wrinkles are likely to form. This is because the fabric doesn’t allow your face to slide, which then pulls and tugs on the skin. The constant tossing and turning at night, furthermore, creates friction that could lead to unwanted creases on your face. 

What you can do: Swap your cotton pillowcases for silk ones. This fabric is gentler on your skin, allowing it to glide smoothly against the pillow. This means no friction or tugging, and less chances of developing sleep lines and creases. Satin-finish pillowcases are good options too.

If you, on the other hand, already have lines and wrinkles, you can also consider aesthetic treatments to improve their appearance. Here at Cutis Laser Clinics, we have injectables like botulinum toxin (Botox) and dermal fillers that can smooth lines and reduce wrinkles.

• Botox – This US FDA anti-wrinkle injectable can treat or reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines.  It works by temporarily blocking the signal from a nerve to a muscle to relax the wrinkles. The results can last between 3 and 6 months, but may last longer with repeated injections.

• Dermal fillers – These are used for “filling in” lost volume in different areas of the face. They can help decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and contour the face. The results may last between 9 and 18 months, but this will still depend on the type of fillers used.

3. Puffiness and bags under eyes

Whether or not you use silk/satin pillowcases, flat pillows or lying flat on your back can lead to fluid accumulation around your eyes. This can cause puffiness and swelling, resulting in more tired-looking eyes when you wake up. 

What you can do: Getting enough sleep can help, but you might also want to sleep on your back and elevate your pillows. This can also keep the fluid from building around your eyes while you doze off. Read our previous post for other tips on removing eye bags and dark eye circles. 

4. Dry and frizzy hair

Ever wondered why your hair sometimes looks messy after waking up? One of the main culprits is your cotton pillowcase. It sucks the moisture out of your tresses and grabs on to it as you move around while dozing off. All the pressing and pulling can result in dry and frizzy hair that can make it prone to breakage.

What you can do: Again, replace your cotton pillowcases with those made of silk. Since this fabric will run smoothly across your tresses, there will be no unnecessary pulling and pressure while you toss and turn. You shouldn’t also sleep with wet hair, as it causes more friction between your locks and the pillowcase. 

One Last Thing

Although silk pillowcases are better than cotton ones, they should not replace your skincare routine. You should still keep up with your skincare regimen and don’t hesitate to consider aesthetic treatments to solve your skin woes.

Contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors to learn more about the treatments for your skin concerns.