A perfect night’s sleep is crucial for your skin. It’s the time your skin needs to breathe and heal. This is especially necessary for people with acne-prone or sensitive skin. 

You might be unaware of this, but you can take certain measures to keep your skin healthy and youthful. We don’t mean following a skincare routine religiously and making sure your skin is clean before going to sleep at night. Instead, we’re actually talking about the sheet fabric you choose for your bed. 

Yes, you read that right. “Does bedding play a role in the skin’s condition?” has been the talk of the town for a while, and consequently, has led dermatologists to talk about the best fabric for one’s skin. 

Although skin issues are usually correlated with internal problems such as hormonal imbalance, nutrition, etc., items touching your skin externally play an equally important role. You can count your bedsheet and pillowcases in this category too. 

When you lay down on your bed and put your face against the pillowcase, it causes a build-up of moisture, oil, and dirt. Over time, it transfers to the pillowcase, which is not ideal for your skin. 

Dirty sheets or the wrong material can aggravate your skin and cause breakouts. Don’t worry, though. We’re going to narrow down the best fabrics for acne and sensitive skin to help you out. 

Silk 

Silk originated in China when the cocoons of silkworms were harvested after feeding them the leaves of mulberry trees. It is manufactured in many other countries now. 

The smooth and soft surface of silk is excellent for the skin. It doesn’t absorb substances and is naturally dirt, oil, mold, and allergen repellant. Silk is highly commended in the beauty industry for providing a wrinkle-free surface. It aids smooth movement during sleep and skin hydration. 

The material also favors the renewal of skin cells so your skin can remain healthy and glowing. Doctors state that silk can significantly reduce the effects of eczema because it is naturally hypoallergenic and reduces irritation and allergies. 

Silk also helps to regulate temperature. Due to the low conductivity of silk, it forms a layer of insulation that keeps you warm in winters. On the other hand, in summers, it provides a moisture-wicking surface so that your skin remains cool and dry throughout the night. 

Cotton 

Cotton is manufactured from the natural fibers of the cotton plant. The soft, comfortable, and refreshing feel is fantastic for sensitive skin or skin conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, etc. 

Cotton is very absorbent and offers a cool feeling that reduces sweating significantly, which is especially useful for eczema since overheating triggers the condition. The naturally hypoallergenic property of cotton forms a barrier against dust mites that live off dead skin cells, so you’ll experience less itching and allergies. 

Lastly, cotton is soft and reduces the friction between the skin and the sheet. It is low maintenance - you can give it frequent machine washes, which is why many people prefer it. With each wash, cotton gets softer, more pleasant, and gets rid of allergens. 

Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Beechwood and other cellulose materials

The cellulose family of materials have started to gain popular in the mainstream bedding space and it’s for good reason. The three kings of wood, when turned into sheets, makes for a very skin friendly surface. They’re smooth, handle slow down the growth of bacteria, and are very breathable. These three characteristics are great for someone who has sensitive or acne prone skin. 

The main downside to these materials is that their absorbency can lead to them holding on to oils more than other materials and so they end up getting stained if you have oily-skin. Getting the stain out of the sheet requires soaking and pre-washing, which is a pain, and even after all that work there might still be a bit of a stain left depending on how oily your skin is and how long you waited to wash it out. 

Linen

Linen comes from the natural fibers of the flax plant and is remarkably gentle on your skin. It works great against clogged pores. Linen, much like cotton, is naturally hypoallergenic and highly absorbent. Its temperature regulating property keeps you cool in summers, leading to less sweating and reduced breakouts. 

Linen is one of the cleanest fabrics due to its antibacterial and dirt-repellent properties. The material is durable and easy to maintain. An interesting thing about linen is that it has micro-breaks within it. These give your skin a light massaging effect, providing instant relaxation and stimulating blood circulation. 

Plus, if you’re environmentally conscious, linen is an excellent choice because its manufacturing process is much more eco-friendly than other fabrics. 

Microfibers/Polyester

Microfibers are manufactured by tightly weaving polyester and synthetic nylon fibers, forming a smooth and soft surface. The manufacturing process ensures that dust mites, allergens, dirt, and mold remain at bay. These characteristics maintain the skin’s moisture and health, making way for youthful, clear, and smooth skin. They’re not great for anti-acne since acne-causing bacteria rapidly grows on its surface, but they’re great for reducing your skin’s sleep-caused signs of aging. 

Hypoallergenic sheets 

If you’re prone to allergic reactions and are unsure of what’s causing your skin to deteriorate, you may want to consider allergies to be the underlying cause of it all. Allergies can cause puffiness, inflammation, and breakouts. Luckily for you, someone invented hypoallergenic sheets that will work out great for you. 

These sheets are made from natural fabrics, like cotton, bamboo, silk, and eucalyptus, tightly woven to keep mold and dust mites away. They give your skin a hygienic surface to lie against and prevent allergic reactions leading to adverse effects. 

Benzoyl peroxide-resistant bedding

Acne is commonly treated with medication containing benzoyl peroxide, which causes a bleaching effect that can ruin your sheets. In such a case, you should invest in benzoyl peroxide-resistant sheets. 

You’ll be happy to know that these are generally affordable, high-quality, soft, and wrinkle-resistant. These features make it great for the skin, and at the same time, ensures that the sheets won’t be ruined by the benzoyl peroxide creams you apply before going to sleep. 

Anti-microbial metal technology weaves

One of the most innovative measures in the fabric industry has been the inclusion of metals such as copper, zinc, in the bedding. 

These metals are antimicrobial by nature and significantly reduce the bacteria and allergens that cause acne. Silver and copper reduce the bacteria’s capability of forming the chemical bonds necessary to survive. So you’re damn near guaranteed to have a clean surface for your skin every single night. The only issue it doesn’t solve is dead skin build-up on the pillowcase, so it would be smart to rinse your face before going to bed at night. 

One other thing copper and zinc are known for is being anti-inflammatory and promoting wound healing. Copper and its less effective little brother zinc improves collagen synthesis in the skin, which reduces lines and wrinkles on the face, leading to an anti-aging effect especially when paired with a silky material. 

Anti-microbial plant based technology

Recently, we’ve discovered some plants that offer the same antibacterial benefits as copper, and so in the future, we will be able to provide the same skin benefits without using metals. This would be the most eco-friendly option, the only challenge is that people are more likely to be allergic to plants than they are to copper since your body naturally uses copper to function. 

Closing thoughts

To sum it up, people with acne and sensitive skin should opt for high-quality sheets that are smooth, hypoallergenic, and maybe even including a metal like zinc, copper, or something effective at making the surface antibacterial. 

Now that you’re well-versed in the best sheet fabrics for your acne and sensitive skin, we’re sure you’ll make the best decision where your bedding is concerned!