More often than you think...

Have you been having some trouble with outbreaks of blackheads and acne on your face? Most people blame such an outbreak on poor personal hygiene or a sugar-rich diet. But the answer to the problem could be a lot simpler. We spend about a third of each day in our beds, so when you think about it, that's a lot of time over the course of a week. It's well known that you should change your sheets weekly, even more often if you don't shower at least once a day, but the pillow case can often be neglected, when, in fact, it's important to wash them even more regularly. Pillow cases accumulate a surprising amount of dead skin, bacteria, fungus and mites after a single night of sleep, as your hair gathers far more dirt than the rest of your body. "Bacteria, oils, and residue from skin care products and hair products all end up on your pillowcase and can absolutely contribute to acne or irritation," Jordana Mattioli, a NYC-based aesthetician told Bustle. So to help prevent this from happening, she recommends changing your pillowcase every day, or at least flipping it over to get two nights out of one pillow case before changing it. Cleaning guru Shannon Lush recommends something similar. “If you’re showering once a day, you can wash your sheets weekly,” Lush told news.com.au.

“However, pillowcases should be changed every second day without fail. It’s against your face, and your hair holds more dirt than anywhere else on the body. It’s like a mop.”

“Most people don’t wash their pillows enough, and it’s really vile,” Lush said.

“It collects old skin cells, which we shed especially when we are asleep. The pillow is a major cause of blackheads. Human skin is protein, and lots of nasties live in protein. If you don’t use protectors, that will go in to the bedding. And you wouldn’t leave a steak in the middle of the bed, would you?”