This pillowcase could be the missing ingredient in your acne treatment

If you suffer from acne, you know the true pain — both physical and mental — that can come from angry red pimples. You may have conducted meticulous research on what foods to avoid, what products to try, what time(s) of the day to wash your face. But there may be one major thing you’re missing that could be completely unexpected: Your pillow. Specifically, your pillowcase.

Think about it: You put your face on your pillow for eight hours a day. That’s a third of your life, and a heck of a lot of time for your face to come in contact with oils and bacteria (which will inevitably happen if you don’t wash your pillowcase constantly). In fact, NewBeauty executive managing editor Liz Ritter has even written about her methodical approach to where she lays her head at night: Sleep on your freshly-washed pillowcase for one night, then turn it over in the morning to the other side in the morning to ensure that your face hits the untouched side, then exchange it for a washed pillowcase.

If that sounds like too much work for you, there’s a new pillowcase on the market that can keep your skin clean. SleepCycle Pillowcase is treated with “charged silver ion technology” which keeps it anti-microbial, reducing the bacteria that accumulates on your pillow.

It’s hypoallergenic and non-irritating, and the 100-percent cotton and 300 thread count case only requires a washing every seven to 10 days for the optimum skin benefit. It’s $30 a pillowcase, which is certainly pricier than average, but if you’re battling breakouts it’s reasonable, considering most acne treatment cost way more than that.

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “beauty sleep,” huh?

(Images via Instagram.)