If I had my way, pillow cases would be sold in the skin care aisle.
Most people don't know that a clean pillow case is a really important part of keeping your skin clear. You don't want to work hard all week at following your skin care routine, only to put bacteria back on your face for 8 hours a night!
Keeping your skin clear and free from breakouts and Rosacea flares is something we all strive for.
Since prevention is key to keeping your skin clear, washing your face every night and morning with gentle products, staying away from Rosacea triggers, and faithfully sticking to your skin care routine is of the utmost importance.
So what happens, after all your diligence, when you wake up in the morning to a Rosacea flare or breakout that seemingly came out of nowhere? It can be devastating.
If you're like me, you instantly begin mentally scrolling through the previous day's activities and food consumption. It can be a little tortuous trying to pinpoint what could have caused your flare or break-out.
One thing you shouldn't ever have to wonder about, though, is whether your break-out was caused by a dirty pillow case. NOPE! NO WAY, NO HOW!
One of the easiest ways to prevent break-outs, *in tandem with a Rosacea friendly skin care routine*, is to sleep on a clean pillow case. A clean pillow case can help prevent the dirt & bacteria that collects on your pillow case, from transferring onto your skin, which can lead to break-outs and Rosacea flares while you sleep.
How often should you change your pillow case?
Dermatologists recommend changing out your pillowcase anywhere from every few days to every day, even if you wash your face every night.
I am a clean pillow case fanatic, and use a clean pillow case every other night...but sleep on a clean pillow case every night. Huh? No, it's not a riddle (I've never been one to love riddles), it's a method.
The Clear Skin Pillow Case Method
Night 1: Put on a clean pillow case and sleep on one side
Night 2: Flip that same pillow case over and sleep on the clean side
Night 3: Put on a clean pillow case and start the rotation over again
Is it a little obsessive?
Maybe.
But does it work?
Yes.
So is it worth it?
Yes!
How many pillow cases do you need?
My philosophy? You can never have too many washcloths or pillowcases 🥰
We recommend having at least 4-5 pillow cases if you do laundry every week. That way, if you start with a clean pillow case on Sunday, and follow the Clear Skin Pillow Case Method, you'll always have a clean pillow case to sleep on.
And if you travel? Always bring your own pillow case and extras with you, so if you're like me, you own a lot more than 4-5.
What kind of pillow case is best for Rosacea?
I've mentioned before how much I love my new silk-cotton pillow cases.
Silk-cotton pillow cases are great for preventing fine lines & hair frizz, & silk is also a good temperature regulator so your face won't get hot through the night and flush (important for Rosacea!).
Silk-cotton pillow cases are also known to produce less friction against your skin and hair and don't absorb moisture so are less drying and provide a cleaner sleep surface through the night.
100% cotton pillow cases also come recommended by Dermatologists due to cotton's breathable qualities. Just be sure to choose cotton that is soft against your skin so it doesn't cause unwanted friction against your face.
Personally, I love both silk-cotton and soft cotton pillow cases. Both feel good against my skin and don't make my face feel hot at night. From what research indicates, both a silk pillow case and breathable, soft 100% cotton are excellent choices for Rosacea and sensitive skin types.
Avoid anything that makes your face feel hotter during the night (like satin or microfiber), which can contribute to Rosacea flares.
How should I wash my pillow case?
How you wash your pillow case can be just as important as your efforts to use a clean one.
For sensitive skin and Rosacea, use a fragrance-free detergent made for sensitive skin (right now I'm using All's Free and Clear) & NO fabric softener.
Standard detergents and fabric softeners often use added scents and other chemicals that can be irritating to sensitive skin. Detergent is washed out, but fabric softeners stay on.
For facial skin, it's best to avoid fabric softeners on anything you will be putting against your face, even if it says fragrance free.
Don't over-do it on the detergent! I know I have been guilty of this. More often than not, too much laundry soap is added to a load and not all washed out during a rinse cycle. Sensitive skin, in particular, can get irritated by remnants of detergent left behind.
When in doubt, run another quick rinse cycle to make sure everything is rinsed properly, and take it easy on the laundry detergent!
Do you have any Rosacea Skin Care Tips you follow that help you? Leave us a comment or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram @FairfaceWashcloths. We'd love to connect with you!
And don't forget to add Fairface Washcloths to your Rosacea or Sensitive Skin care routine! Wash without worry! Our washcloths are made soft and gentle for Rosacea, Eczema and sensitive skin and the only thing you should be using against your skin...besides a clean pillow case. ;)
While the benefits of facial steaming are clearly there, for us sensitive skin types, those benefits don't outweigh the disadvantages.
