Is Your Pillow Causing Acne?

Battling breakouts? Perplexed by pimples? If your skin has turned into public enemy number one, a surprising suspect may be to blame: your pillow.

It doesn’t matter if you’re sleeping on bargain-bin sheets high-end Egyptian cotton—dirt is dirt, and pillowcases saturated with oil, dust, and grime can aggravate acne.

But don’t worry—as long as you’re washing your face every night before bed, you don’t need to make laundry a daily chore. Just make sure to wash your pillowcases once a week if your skin is oily or prone to breakouts.

Illustration by Karley Koenig