Can Bedding Help Tackle Skin Conditions?

Anyone that suffers from a skin condition, such as eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis, will know how important it is to avoid itching the affected area. It might be easier said than done, but scratching only makes the condition worse.

But, any skin allergy sufferer will also know how it is even more difficult and frustrating at night, when you disrupt your sleep trying not to scratch.

It’s scientifically proven that itchy skin conditions, such as eczema, get slightly worse at night. The reason for this is your body releases low levels of the hormone cortisol at night. This hormone can contribute to skin inflammation.

However, the bedding you’re sleeping in could also be making your skin condition worse.

Therefore, it’s important to ensure the environment you sleep in is comfortable to keep itching at bay. Below we discuss which bedding can help tackle skin conditions.

Natural Latex Mattresses

Ensure the mattress you’re sleeping on is a natural latex mattress or a memory foam mattress.

Coil and spring mattresses are less favourable for people with skin allergies.

This is because the coils/springs inside the mattress create a perfect home for dust mites. Often, dust mites, dead skin cells and dust mite faeces can be found within the coils or springs.

You will also find a lot of mould and decay within the coils and springs, usually due to the humidity caused by body heat. This can irritate your skin condition further.

Natural latex or memory foam are solid mattress, meaning they don’t have any coils or springs for dust mites to hide in.

Latex foam is also naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. Therefore, fungus and bacteria will not be able to survive in this environment, resulting in less triggers for your skin condition.

Anti-Allergy Mattress Toppers

We usually wouldn’t recommend a mattress topper/protector, as this usually is an extra piece of material that sits on top of the mattress, which can attract more dust mites.

But, if the mattress topper/protector is an anti-allergy protector, this can help with your skin condition.

An anti-allergy protector means the topper will have an agent to ensure no dust mites enter the mattress, this can protect you from the growth and settling of dust mites.

Natural Pillow Fillings

Pillow filling can also trigger symptoms of skin allergies. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure the filling isn’t down feathers or polyester. Polyester is generally irritable to sensitive skin, while down feathers can cause itching and light breathing problems.

Polyester and down feathers also retain more dust mites, which is another reason to avoid these fillings.

Alternatively, try and find pillows that use natural wool or organic cotton, as these fillings are naturally breathable and dry out dust mites.

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Cotton Pillow Protectors

Try going for an anti-allergy pillow protector, which is usually made from 100% organic cotton.
This will act as a barrier from dust mites and bacteria. These protectors can also increase the life of your pillows!

100% organic cotton is recommended for those with skin conditions, as it is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides that can aggravate your skin.

Natural Duvet Fillings

Just like pillow fillings, duvets are usually filled with feathers or polyester too.

This can irritate sensitive skin and collect more dust mites.

We also would advise to steer away from duvet fillings that have ‘’anti-allergy labels,’ as they do not always mean they hypoallergenic as the filling may still consist of some synthetic fibres.

Instead we advise to find duvets with natural fillings, such as wool, silk, bamboo or cotton. Also, insure the tog of the duvet is light, as moisture from sweat often causes irritation to the skin.

Fragrance-Free Detergents

Making sure you wash all your bedding in dye and fragrance-free detergents will also help your skin. 

Organic Cotton Bedding

We suggest using a duvet cover, pillowcase and sheets made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. A GOTS certification ensures that no chemicals, pesticides or harmful dyes are used in any point of production. This results in a pure fabric that will not irritate your skin allergies.

Our lightweight sheets ensure perfect balance of breathability and are gentle on sensitive skin. These premium quality duvet covers, pillowcases and sheets are eco-friendly, as well as GOTS and Fairtrade certified.

We use non-toxic dyes to create anti-allergy bedding that’s perfect for sensitive skin types. You can also opt for our ‘Natural Bedding’ collection which is made with no dyes. Browse our range of 100% organic cotton bedding here.