What pillow is best for eczema?

An ivory silk pillowcase is the natural colour of the silk meaning that it is unbleached & undyed making it the purest of our silk pillowcase range. That's why we recommend ivory silk to anyone who suffers from eczema.

Eczema is a term used to refer to various skin conditions causing skin irritation and dryness. There are a number of types, including atopic, seborrhoeic and discoid eczema, and contact dermatitis.

What treatments are available for eczema?

Eczema can be troublesome, particularly if it appears on the face. While there is no cure for eczema, certain steps can be taken to reduce the symptoms and effects. These include topical treatment formulas and avoiding triggers.

According to the NHS, known eczema triggers include allergens, irritants and fabrics that come into contact with the skin. Allergens may include dust mites, while synthetic fabrics or wool are the most common cause of an adverse reaction. Irritants, meanwhile, could be present in the laundry products used for washing bedding and clothing.

A natural pillow

As dust mites can be one of the triggers for eczema, pillows filled with natural materials like cotton, silk or wool are often a better choice as they are less likely to become breeding grounds for dust mites.

Wool

So does the same apply to the pillowcase? Yes and no. Wool is best avoided, as many people find their skin flares up when wool is next to the skin. (Who ever heard of a wool pillowcase, anyway?)

Cotton

Cotton is one of the better options, as it’s a natural and breathable fabric. The downside, however, is that cotton is not the smoothest surface for irritable skin.

Satin

Ideally, you want a natural fabric with a super sleek surface. This excludes man-made satin, as it’s not a natural fabric. So what else is there?

Silk

Silk, of course! Silk is entirely natural, very breathable and ultra resistant to bacteria, mould and even dust mites. It is therefore an ideal choice for anyone with eczema on their face, ears, neck or shoulders. Its the best natural anti-alergy pillowcase you can buy.

So why pick silk over cotton? The answer is all down to friction. Though cotton is natural and breathable, it isn’t the smoothest surface to sleep on. This means that friction occurs when you move around during the night.

This friction can irritate sensitive skin that is prone to flare-ups of eczema. A silk pillowcase is kinder to skin, simply because its smoothness is gentler on skin.

The charmeuse weave technique used when our silk is produced also ensures the softest, smoothest finish possible. In fact this is sometimes referred to as the ‘satin weave’.

A fine silk pillowcase thus gives the user all the benefits of satin’s smooth surface as well as all the benefits of a natural material.

If you buy a silk pillowcase make you you wash it the correct way to keep it looking its best. We recommend hand washing or machine washing on a gentle cycle. Just be sure to use detergent that is made for silk that way your pillowcases will last for years.

Sadly there is no cure for eczema, but avoiding triggers like allergens and irritants really can help. As can leaving the treatments that have been specially developed and prescribed in place overnight, to do the best they can.

The ideal choice for an eczema sufferer, therefore, is a natural pillow covered with a high quality silk pillowcase.

Another way to relieve the symptoms of eczema is to use a Mulberry silk duvet as it will stop heat and moisture getting trapped when sleeping and not making it hot and uncomfortable.

To minimise the risk of irritation, we also recommend using a gentle laundry detergent suitable for delicate fabrics and sensitive skin. Luckily, that’s what our silk pillowcases love best!

Why not check out our undyed, unbleached, 22 momme mulberry silk pillowcase in ivory today? For those with a plumper pillow, we offer a king size option too.