Is Your Pillowcase Giving You Acne?

We’re big fans of beauty sleep here at Bed Threads – along with plenty of water, fresh food and a product or two, sleep can play a major role in the health of our skin. But if you’ve ever woken up with a breakout, you might have wondered: “Is my pillowcase giving me acne?”

While your pillowcase isn’t the root of all skin problems, it does play a role in your skin health – after all, you rest your lovely face on it for 8 hours each night.

We spoke to dermatologist Dr Davin Lim to find out if your pillowcase can contribute to acne, and what steps you can take to avoid getting it in the future.

Tried these tips and still struggling with your skin?

We asked Dr Lim for some general advice for people looking to improve their acne.

1. Do not underestimate the importance of diet. A low-sugar, low-dairy diet that is high in antioxidants can markedly improve acne. Above all, avoid processed foods that have a high glycemic index.
2. Add key ingredients such as salicylic acid as a wash. Start off once daily and increase to morning and night as tolerated.
3. Retinoids are first-line treatment for acne as they reduce inflammation, oil production, bacteria counts and normalise skin shedding. A simple formulation is retinol 1%, applied nightly.
4. Remember, it takes time before acne improves, so be patient! Give a product at least 6 to 8 weeks before swapping to a more powerful formulation.