People spend heavily on face washes, creams and serums to keep their skin clear, but few think to check the cleanliness of the pillow cover their face rests on for hours every night. Doctors say sweat, oil, dust and grime slowly build up on pillow covers, towels and bedsheets, and repeated contact with that buildup can trigger acne, itching and several kinds of skin infections.
How a dirty pillow spreads bacterial and viral infections
According to Dr. Divya Dwivedi, a dermatologist at District MMG Hospital in Ghaziabad, anything that stays in constant contact with the skin can become a carrier of infection. She said that when towels, pillow covers, bedsheets and handkerchiefs are not washed regularly, the bacteria, fungus and viruses growing on them travel straight onto the skin. The effect isn't limited to acne and pimples alone; it can also lead to a viral infection called molluscum contagiosum, which causes small bumps to appear on the skin, commonly referred to as warts.
Repeated breakouts on one spot? Watch out for scabies
Dr. Dwivedi explained that if infections keep recurring on one specific part of the face while the rest of the body shows no such problem, the pillow cover or towel is often the main reason. Dirty bedding can also cause scabies, a condition marked by small skin eruptions accompanied by intense itching. If someone sleeps on bedding previously used by an infected person, the infection can easily pass on to them as well.
Wash weekly, dry in sunlight, and switch to cotton
Experts recommend changing pillow covers and bedsheets at least once a week. Washing them thoroughly in hot water with soap and then drying them in sunlight helps kill the germs that thrive in moisture. It's also advised to iron them before use. Choosing cotton pillow covers over synthetic ones is a better option, since cotton fabric is considered more comfortable and gentler on the skin.
Don't share towels, and see a doctor if symptoms persist
Separate towels should be kept for the head and the body, and every family member should ideally use their own towel to prevent infections from spreading from one person to another. Towels, too, need to be washed regularly in hot water and dried in the sun. Any sign of itching or infection on the skin should never be ignored. If the problem doesn't clear up within 10 to 14 days, a dermatologist should be consulted without delay.
