A lot of different fabrics go into making the bedding we use daily. From cotton, flannel, linen, satin, and silk, to rayon, and more. When choosing from these fabrics, consumers typically only buy what is most comfortable and affordable to them at the time. However, it’s important to realize how fabric type can affect your skin health. Both wrinkles and acne can be caused by our bedding and the way we sleep!
Nollapelli is a bedding company that wants to change that. Founder and CEO Allison Howard got tired of waking up with frizzy hair and creases on her face, so she started digging into what actually happens during our nightly sleep cycle. Thus Nollapelli was born.
Can Your Pillow Cause Acne?
Before reviewing the Nollapelli bedding, let’s talk about how and why your bedding can cause acne and wrinkles.
If you’re taking good care of your skin, seeing a dermatologist and/or taking acne medication and still experiencing breakouts? It could be what is known as acne mechanica. According to Dr. David E. Bank, director, and founder of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, “Acne mechanica is any type of acne that is the result of material or objects touching your face. When your pillowcase isn’t laundered or changed regularly, a build-up of dirt and oil from the environment as well as your skin and hair touching the pillow is transferred back to your skin. This can clog pores and cause blemishes.”
Many people believe that silk pillowcases are a cure-all for this, but truth be told, acne mechanica can be caused by a pillowcase regardless of fabric used including cotton, silk, or satin. Creams, moisturizers, and serums rub off onto your pillow within microseconds of contact — leaving your skin susceptible to exposure from the build-up from the next night onward. One way to prevent this is by washing your pillowcases regularly. Doing so once a week is best, but life gets busy and hectic so doing it every other week is good too.
What About Wrinkles?
So how about wrinkles? Well according to aesthetician Renee Rouleau, sleeping is the second-most wrinkle-causing agent out there, right behind UV exposure! Considering the fact that the average person will sleep more than 2,900 hours in a year… that’s a lot of potential for causing wrinkles. Like acne, wrinkles are also caused by the mechanical action of your face against a pillow. Except in this case, it’s less about the build-up of product, dirt, and debris, and more about the mechanical “squishing” action of your face against the pillow. According to Rouleau, normal sleeping exacerbates the nasolabial fold wrinkles, or the deep creases also known as the “parentheses” or “marionette” lines that run from the nostril to the corner of the mouth on both sides of the face.
Different Types of Fabric
Cotton, satin, and silk are by far the most popular fabrics used to make bedding. But they are not without their own unique flaws, and all have the potential to damage skin.
For example, cotton pillowcases are not ideal because cotton is a highly absorptive fabric. Overnight, sweat will cause the skin to stick to cotton pillowcases instead of sliding, causing the friction that results in sleep lines and wrinkles. And while satin and silk pillowcases are always recommended for the hair and skin, these fabrics are not very breathable and deprive the skin of much-needed oxygen so it can repair itself overnight. But as a plus, because satin and silk are less absorbent than cotton, they help to keep your nighttime skincare routine on your face instead of on the fabric. However, some consider just the friction of your skin against the fabric as you move during the night to be enough to wipe off moisturizers and serums.
Nollapelli Sheets
So….what types of fabrics SHOULD you be using? What should you be looking for? For starters, look for fabrics that are moisture-wicking and reduce friction between your facial skin and the pillowcase. You should also be looking for fabric that is breathable and promotes continuous airflow on both sides of the textile. These properties will make it less likely for your nighttime skin care products to stick to the pillowcase fabric and ultimately rub off.
You should avoid using fabrics and pillowcases that are made out of a coarse, sweaty material, or one that does not breathe or dry easily, like rayon, polyester. These fibers do not allow the skin to “breathe” which results in pore-clogging sweat retention.
That sounds like it would be tough to find but that type of fabric is what Nollapelli’s whole foundation is based on. Nollapelli sheets and pillowcases are made with both natural and synthetic yarn so you get the best of both worlds! They are 200% more breathable than cotton and extremely durable so they hold up in the wash. Simply wash your sheets in hot water or throw them in the dryer without them changing their shape.
I have these on my bed and they are extremely comfortable! I never notice any crease marks when I wake up in the morning and breakouts have been kept very much at bay. The only downside is the color selection. Currently, the Nollapelli sheets and pillowcases are only available in white.
Bottom Line
If you’ve tried everything to get rid of your acne but are still experiencing breakouts (particularly on the cheek) it could be caused by your pillowcase! I definitely recommend the Nollapelli sheets and pillowcases for those who are suffering from breakouts or are worried about wrinkles.