Actress Jane Birkin’s mother may have been onto something when she told her daughter, “When you’ve got nothing left, all you can do is get into silk underwear and start reading Proust.”
Silk popped up on my radar a few years ago when I was researching pajamas to wear in hospital. Within a few articles, I was sold.
1.) Silk Slows Down Ageing
Silk has this natural, cloud-like quality that makes you feel fresh and clean. Silk amino acids, a natural nutrient found in the fabric, have been found to reduce specific signs of ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles and dehydration.
Because silk is a natural material, it is easier for this fabric to produce and retain moisture on its own. It performs miracles on the skin when left in contact overnight. With this, silk is now recognized as a natural anti-ageing product in the form of towels, beddings, pillowcases, sleepwear and now face masks. Dermatologists attest to silk’s ability to slow down visible signs of ageing and revitalize the human skin even after a short night’s rest.
While cotton and polyester material withdraw moisture from the skin through a night’s sleep, silk can replenish and maintain this very moisture necessary for keeping a youthful, vibrant skin. Because it is a natural material packed with essential amino acids and natural protein, silk tricks the nervous system into relaxing; therefore smoothening out the wrinkles we develop through age.
With albumen, a naturally-occurring chemical in silk, the skin’s metabolism speeds up, allowing dead skin cells to develop and repair at a much faster rate. Over time, the long-term use of silk will drastically improve the skin’s appearance, significantly slowing down the effects of ageing. Think of it as an invisible night cream applied to your face every single night.
2) Silk Clothing Helps with Eczema and Asthma
In most cases of atopic dermatitis, lifestyle changes have needed to be implemented to accommodate the necessities of sensitive skin. While various creams and other topical treatments may be used to treat mild to severe cases of eczema, what eczema sufferers are exposed to day and at night can still affect the entire treatment process. Because of its natural protein structure, silk is known for its hypoallergenic properties, making it compatible with all skin types. Its dense fabric structure prevents dust and mites from accumulating, which in turn protects the wearer from day-to-day allergens. While some individuals might be allergic to other natural materials (like goose and duck feathers), silk has shown to be more compatible with even the worst cases of skin allergy because of its 100% organic origin. Another of its great feature: silk prevents the build-up of soil, dirt, and other microscopic foreign bodies that may trigger an allergy, especially in people with eczema. Thanks to these healing properties, silk is an excellent alternative to usual cotton active and nightwear. Aside from eczema, silk’s hypoallergenic quality can help treat people with asthma. Among the triggers of asthma are bed bugs and droppings that can affect your quality of sleep – but these microscopic items would not stand a chance against silk’s compact and densely woven structure.
3.) Natural Anti-Fungal Element
Silk is a popular choice for nightwear, and a recent study shows that there is more reason to opt for silk during downtime. Not only does it make you feel nice and smooth while you sleep, but it can also stave off recurring infections. In a study conducted by the University of Bologna, men and women who were experiencing recurrent thrush were asked to swap their usual cotton-made underwear for treated silk ones, while the other half of the group continued to wear cotton underwear. After six months, researchers found that the group that was wearing silk had been cured of the infection. The recurrence was halved and the symptoms were significantly reduced. Candida Albicans – the yeast causing the common fungal infection – thrives in warm and damp environments. While cotton does nothing to help this, the moisture-absorption capability of silk eliminates the environment for the yeast to thrive.
4.) Silk Can Improve Sleep
If you have ever experienced the luxury of sleeping in silk, you would be familiar with how quickly you can fall asleep while being enveloped in this material. There’s a reason why this fabric is becoming increasingly popular with bedding manufacturers; this has something to do with sleeping. The reason is simple: it makes you comfortable. Silk, a natural material blessed with sheen and softness, can also regulate body temperature and control moisture even in vast, changing climates. This makes silk an excellent sleep companion that will surely enhance the quality of your night-time slumbers. The softness of the material coaxes your nervous system into relaxing, allowing you to achieve the full cycle of sleep necessary. In ancient China, silk has been the go-to material for curing chronic pains. In fact, silk is still the standard fabric used for elderly homes and physical development centers. Silk's comfortability can easily remedy anything from muscle aches to joint pains. It imposes negligible pressure on the human body and follows the natural contours and movement of its user, giving anyone who uses it a guaranteed full night’s sleep.
5.) It Helps Avoid Allergies
Some people suffer from multiple allergies or sensitive skin, making it difficult to find clothing or sheets that work for them. A night in a bed dressed with polyester or other synthetic fabrics and worse still, full of harsh detergent residue, can leave rashes all over the body with no end in sight. Commonly mass manufactured materials not only evoke allergy symptoms but they exacerbate them, turning what should be a relaxing sleep into one filled with itches and scratches – a real nightmare.
However, silk can be your best hypoallergenic solution to skin sensitivity and allergies. Its natural properties benefit all; even its makers – the silkworms – weave their cocoons into safety shields against the dust mites. The proteins in silk repel these microscopic critters, which, coincidentally, are among the leading causes of human allergies. Alongside this, silk’s long and smooth fibers do not irritate the skin, preventing allergic reactions while letting you sleep peacefully, just as you deserve.
6.) It pretty much guarantees a Good Hair Day
As it does not conduct static electricity, sleeping on silk helps reduce hair breakage as there’s little no no friction placed on the hair follicle.
7.) It helps reduce acne and inflammation
These pillowcases can be a beneficial addition to other acne treatments,” says Yoram Harth, a board-certified dermatologist, and the medical director of MDacne.
Why? Silk may present a kinder and cleaner surface for cradling your cheek. “Silk pillowcases are gentler on the skin of people with acne or sensitive skin than rough cotton pillowcases,” Harth explains. The friction from cotton on pimple-prone skin can create more inflammation, making acne worse.
Cotton also sops up the natural oil and bacteria from your face and hair, and that grime accumulates on your case night after night, creating a petri dish out of your pillow. (Eeeeeeuuuew)
“Silk pillowcases absorb less of the moisture and dirt and thus may be a better choice for people with acne,” Harth says. “This is especially true for people who sleep on their sides or stomach.”
8.) It offers a Cool Haven from the Hell called Menopause
Hot flashes, that sudden warmth in the face, neck, and chest, are among the most common — and uncomfortable — symptoms of menopause. They’re caused by fluctuating hormones and by a lower threshold for heat that occurs as women age, says Charla Blacker, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. For the 75 to 85 percent of women who suffer from this women’s health issue, she suggests sleeping in light, breathable silk pajamas or on cool silk sheets to help turn down the heat.
Whew. After all that, it seems the only thing my silk pillowcases and pajamas can’t do is my tax return.
@mcleodandsavage sells silk turbans, pillowcases and face masks on their online store: https://www.facebook.com/McLeodandSavage/shop
