A dermatologist has revealed why you should immediately stop sleeping on old, yellow pillows as it can have a damaging effect on your health and skin.
Dr. Lindsey Zubritskya board certified dermatologist based in Mississippi, announced the hack on her TikTok earlier this month, where she often shares her skin tips, tricks and hacks.
Zubritsky explained why sleeping on a dirty pillow can be dangerous to your health, and why it’s important to get rid of it.
“If you sleep on such a dirty, old, yellow-colored pillow, it can be dangerous to your health,” Zubritsky began, showing photos of stained bedding in the clip.
Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a dermatologist from Mississippi, revealed why you should get rid of your yellow pillows
Zubritsky is a board-certified dermatologist who often shares her skincare tricks and tips on her social media pages
“It’s basically a buildup of dirt, grime, and moisture that can lead to problems with your skin, your respiratory system, and your sleep health,” she continued.
The dermatologist explained that moisture was the “number one” cause of these yellow spots, which could be caused by drooling, sleeping with wet hair, oil from your skin, makeup, and dead skin cells.
“If your pillow is yellow, you’re at risk for clogged pores and these types of pimples and acne,” explains Dr. Zubritsky explains, using photos of people with acne as an example.
‘If you have sensitive skin, it can cause flare-ups of things like atopic dermatitis, eczema and rosacea.’
And if that wasn’t bad enough, Dr. Zubritsky also said that these yellow pillows were a ‘breeding ground’ for things like dust mites.
“These little mites like to eat our dead skin,” she said.
“Your pillow is covered in it. It means you can inhale them, their urine or their feces.”
By breathing in these dust mites, she explains, they can “inflame” or “irritate” your airways, especially if you have asthma.
Dr. Zubritsky said the biggest culprit of yellow stains on pillows was moisture
She explained that using yellow pads can cause skin problems, especially flare-ups of things like atopic dermatitis
She added that yellow pillows were a ‘breeding ground’ for dust mites, which liked to eat dead skin cells
“So if your pillow looks like this, I’m sorry, but you need to get rid of it,” she concluded.
Speak with USA today In October, Illinois-based pediatric allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin that there could even be mold on these yellowing cushions.
“These old yellow smelly pillows, even though there is some kind of emotional attachment to them, expose you to allergens and create a breeding ground for mold,” Dr. Rubin told the outlet at the time.
“And because these pillows wear out over time, they don’t give you the neck support you need.”
In the comments section of Dr. Zubritsky’s post made many seem reluctant to part with their trusty, beloved yellow pillows.
Dr. Zubritsky urged her viewers to put away their yellow pillows, if they had them
In the comments section of Zubritsky’s video, many joked that they would never get rid of their trusty yellow pillows
“I WILL NEVER SEPARATE FROM HER,” one person wrote.
Another agreed, typing: “It’s yellow because I sleep on it because it’s my favorite.”
“I’ll never give up my yellow pillow,” someone else commented.
Others revealed how they protected their own pillows from those dreaded yellow stains.
‘I change my pillowcase twice a week!’ wrote the user. “Never had a yellow pillow.”
One TikTok commenter agreed: “Pillows should be washed at least every four months and have a protector.”