Why a Derm Says You Should Be Changing Your Pillowcases Every Couple of Days
- Hadley King, MD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University
*Drumroll* Dr. King says you should be swapping them out around two to three times per week. "When you get into bed, you contaminate your bed linens with dead skin cells (about 50 million per day), sweat, makeup, lotions, hair, and anything else you've picked up during the day, from pollen and pet dander to fungal mold and dirt particles to bacteria and viral particles as well," Dr. King says. "Dead skin cells and sweat provide food for dust mites, attracting them to your bed and helping them multiply." (Aside: ewwwww.) After the dust mites feed on all the nasty stuff you brought into your bed, they poop, which is both gross and exacerbating to allergies and asthma.
Your sweat and oils are also a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, a cocktail of two things that are low on the list of "things I want to put my face into." This increases the risk for skin irritation and infection, and can also contribute to breakouts if you have acne-prone skin, says Dr. Hadley. The absolute longest she would go without changing her pillowcases would be a week—but that's only if her face, skin, and hair were cleansed every night before bed, and she wasn't experiencing allergies, skin infections, or skin inflammations.
TLDR: Go change your pillowcases right now.
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