How to Reduce Scalp Acne
Though not as common as acne on other areas of the body, scalp acne is just as much of a pain, if not more. Like facial acne and back acne (bacne), scalp acne results from clogged pores that manifest as pimples on the scalp. Keeping the hair and scalp clean is a significant part of treating and preventing scalp acne. Cleansing the scalp is obviously one step in avoiding scalp acne since it helps unclog the pores and washes away dirt, debris, and bacteria. Equally as important, though, is ensuring that sebum, excess oil, dirt, bacteria, and other microorganisms never get the chance to accumulate on the scalp. This is where silk pillowcases come in handy. Let’s look at how to reduce scalp acne and the role silk pillowcases can play in the process.
Silk pillowcases create a kinder and cleaner surface for sleeping on. Silk pillowcases are gentler on the skin of people with acne or sensitive skin than cotton and other kinds of pillowcases with surfaces that are not as smooth as silk. Acne-prone skin, including the scalp, is susceptible to irritation and friction since they can increase the likelihood of inflammation, which makes acne worse. If you suffer from scalp acne, sleeping on your side is better for you since your scalp is less likely to be irritated that way. However, regardless of the side you prefer to sleep on, silk pillowcases will definitely help with reducing scalp acnes, especially when compared to other pillowcases.
A normal pillowcase is dirtier than a toilet seat.
When your skin (scalp is also skin) is prone to acne, the friction from non-silk pillowcases can result in inflammation and irritation, leading to breakouts of acne. Cotton pillowcases also soak up the oils that are naturally produced by the face and scalp, as well as any bacteria from these areas. This accumulates night after night creating the disturbing situation where your typical, normal pillowcase is dirtier than a toilet seat according to research done on the topic. Keeping your pillowcase clean means changing them more often, but it also means using fabrics less likely to absorb all the mess and grime that comes with existing in the world. That’s why it is vital to use silk pillowcases. You wouldn’t sleep on your toilet seat, right? Why would you sleep on a pillowcase that has even more bacteria?
Clean sleep environment for your scalp and face
Creating a clean sleep environment for your scalp and face is a significant benefit of using a silk pillowcase. Silk pillowcases absorb less moisture and dirt from the face and scalp. There are also fewer bacteria transferred between the pillowcase and your skin and scalp. This makes silk pillowcases the superior choice for everyone, especially those who suffer from scalp acne or facial acne and are looking for ways to reduce their acne.
Fewer bacteria transferring from pillowcase to scalp
Silk naturally helps the body to regulate temperature. It does not absorb moisture like cotton does but instead, silk wicks moisture away to keep you dry and cool all night long. This means you aren’t sleeping on a sweaty mess all night while bacteria multiply and come in contact with your hair and scalp. Fewer bacteria transferring from pillowcase to scalp means less opportunity for acne to grow and flourish and a better chance for reducing and treating your scalp acne.
Reduces oily skin on the face
A feature of oily skin is the more you try to remove oil, the more likely your skin is to overproduce oil to compensate. Silk will not pull oil or moisture from your skin, so there will be no need for skin to replace these. It is crucial that your pillowcase is genuine silk since natural silk has this needed low absorbency to help skin stay moisturized. Be wary of fake silk masquerading as natural silk because faux silk will not help your skin control its oil production or reduce scalp acne.
Normal pillowcases harvest 16 species of fungus, dead skin cells, sweat, and saliva.
Maybe you don’t have acne, whether on your face or scalp, and you think ‘a silk pillowcase sounds nice, but I don’t need one.’ Think again. Let us break it down. Each person sheds about 15 million skin cells nightly. Sleeping in that would be bad enough but what happens is much worse. There are dust mites in your sheets just waiting to feed on your shed skin, and every night, you provide them 15 million more skin cells so they can thrive and multiply. Until you wash your sheets, you’ll end up with hundreds of thousands of dust mites as your uninvited and unwelcomed bedmates, which can cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to the allergens they produce. If you wake up a bit stuffy each morning, this could be due to the allergen these dust mites produce.
But wait, there’s more bad news. Research has found that a typical pillow has as many as 16 different species of fungus and millions of fungal spores. And the most common among them, Aspergillus fumigatus, is potentially dangerous. Bacteria also love a dirty pillowcase. Unwashed pillowcases examined in one scientific study were found to have 39 times more bacteria than pet-food bowls and several thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Sleeping in your sweat and drool would be bad enough but add all these microorganisms in the mix and the need to change your pillowcase often, as well as use a pillowcase that won’t absorb the unwanted sweat and moisture while you use it, becomes undeniable. Stop what you’re doing right now and go get some natural silk pillowcases.
Silk pillowcases are more sanitary and hygienic than normal pillowcases and they provide numerous benefits for the hair and skin, including playing a role in how you reduce scalp acne. We cannot stress how important it is to switch to silk pillowcases today.
Reference materials
https://www.businessinsider.com/bed-how-often-should-wash-sheets-dust-mites-fungi-bacteria-2019-5