How Often Should You Wash Your Bed Sheets?

glamour.com:

, you may be in for a surprise. For those on a weekly washing schedule, you'll be satisfied to know that dermatologists recommend changing your sheets once a week.

Yes, once a week.It may seem tedious, but there are a lot of reasons why you should change your sheets weekly. According to board-certified dermatologist , MD, your can turn into a hotspot for skin irritants. “Buildup of microbes like bacteria, fungi, and viruses, oils, bodily secretions, dust and debris collect on bedding, contributing to clogging of pores, allergies, odor and even infections,” she tells Glamour. “It can be wise to shower before going to sleep at night and to always remove makeup before bed.” dermatology expert , MD, agrees and warns that unhygienic sheets can be damaging. "If you don’t change your sheets regularly, you will most likely be sleeping with other things besides your partner," she says. “Our sheets become a home for dead skin cells, dust mites, food particles, and many different types of bacteria.

The combination of all these things hanging out in your sheets can even trigger allergies in some patients.”Irritation can also weaken the skin barrier and worsen existing . “If my patients have eczema, or an impaired skin barrier, they are more prone to irritation or flare ups from bacteria and allergens in their bed sheets," Ruth explains. "I try to discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy skin barrier by using moisturizers with effective ingredients like and .

Right now one of my favorite products is Isla Beauty's .”While there isn't much room for exceptions in how often should you wash your , you may be able to stretch to every two weeks, depending on your personal hygiene.