According to research, roughly 20 million people in the U.S. are suffering from dust mite allergies, and about 50–70 million Americans have chronic sleep problems. Given that humans spend nearly a third of our lives asleep, we should take it seriously on sleep problems. "You're at your most vulnerable while you're sleeping!" a leading Dermatologist says.
You're Sleeping On Your Face
Before you slip off into a blissful sleep into dreamland, wait, take a good look at your pillow. Your pillow is the gateway to getting some much-needed shut-eye. Think that, your pillowcase is dirty! You're probably thinking: Why would my pillowcase be dirty? It's just me that sleeps on it and I'm clean. Well, if you aren’t avid about changing your pillowcases once or twice a week, chances are they might be dirtier than you think.
Dirty Pillows Cause Breakouts On Your Skin
Your pillowcases get covered with dead skin cells, oils from your skin, saliva, sweat, and all sorts of other bacteria, making them a dust mite breeding and feeding playground. Dust mites are nearly everywhere; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the mattresses or the pillows. A favorite food is dander (dead skin).
Just thinking of these dust mites living in your pillow by the millions, eating your dead skin and hair is enough to make you sick. They are a major cause of asthma and allergies.
But dust mites have a lot of trouble living in bedding stuffed with silk, and even a cotton pillow in a silk pillowcase will retain less of your body's moisture, making them inhospitable to dust mites. Silk's structure and protein composition also make it resistant and repellent to a large number of other allergens.
Benefits of Silk Pillowcases
Silk Is Hypoallergenic
Silk has a natural protein structure containing silk fibroin. That makes silk very biocompatible. In other words, silk is naturally less likely to cause skin problems or allergies than other kinds of materials thanks to its properties.
One study reports that it used to be used as sutures for wounds, showing just how biocompatible it is with human skin.
Silk is resistant to mold, fungus, and mildew thanks to moisture-wicking properties. If you sweat, it either repels that sweat (meaning more moisture stays on and in your skin) or wicks it away from you, allowing it to evaporate overnight.
So, throw your old infested pillowcase away! It's time to get a pillowcase that dust mites cannot live in.
Silk Prevents Wrinkles
If you're a side sleeper or stomach sleeper, you've probably experienced the dismay caused by sleep creases, i.e. the pattern of your crumpled pillowcase etched into your cheek or forehead. You may need to spend hours waiting for those lines to fade away.
Surely they will disappear eventually, but how about repeated compression and creasing happening every night? This can turn into permanent wrinkles over time.
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase means you're more likely to wake up without those embarrassing pillowcase lines.
Silk Is Hair Friendly
Silk provides a smooth surface that allows your hair to glide effortlessly. This reduction in friction is said to help minimize split ends, hair breakage, and even frizz.
Silk pillowcases have been praised for their ability to reduce friction between your hair and the pillow surface. Unlike cotton, which can cause your hair to tangle and break due to its rough texture, silk provides a smooth surface that allows your hair to glide effortlessly. This reduction in friction is said to help minimize split ends, hair breakage, and even frizz.
Unlike cotton, which can absorb moisture from your hair, silk helps retain your hair's natural oils, keeping it hydrated and healthy.
It's not too late to invest in a silk pillowcase. Upgrade your sleep game now.
