Bamboo Sheets: Eco-Friendly Option For Sensitive Skin

It is widely known that bamboo sheets may be good for people with sensitive skin. If you’ve been unable to find comfort in bed, it may be that you have sensitive skin and you’re using the wrong kind of bedsheets.

What does sensitive skin mean exactly? Maybe your skin gets easily inflamed and any sheet that’s not smooth and soft further irritates you. Unless you’re using the finest Egyptian cotton sheets, it’s possible that your regular cotton sheets are too rough for you. Chemicals in the environment and on products can also cause itchy skin. That’s why it’s always important to stick to sustainably made products that don’t use harmful chemicals.

You could also have sensitive skin because of allergies. It may be that you are allergic to dust mites and bacteria that inhabit sheets that are not hypoallergenic. While cotton sheets are breathable, they do offer the perfect environment for microorganisms to breed. When moisture and heat build-up through the night, bacteria thrive.

You may also have sensitive skin from a skin disorder like eczema. When you spend all night scratching yourself, it’s time to rethink your bedding situation.

Why Are Bamboo Sheets Good For Sensitive Skin?

Probably the biggest benefit of bamboo fabric in bedding comes from its hypoallergenic quality. This is simply a fancy way of saying that bamboo bedding doesn't create the conditions ideal for bacterial growth. Unlike cotton sheets which retain moisture and create humid conditions for microbial growth, bamboo sheets wick moisture from your skin. Your bed sheet stays fresh and dry through the warmest night. Fewer bacteria means fewer skin reactions.

It may be true that cotton sheets sleep cooler than some bamboo sheets. But if you get the right weave of bamboo bed sheets, you can enjoy a breezier night of restful sleep. If you’re a hot sleeper, then you want to avoid satin weaves. The Percale weave is excellent for its breathability. The bamboo fabric itself contains millions of gaps that you can’t see with the naked eye. It helps you stay cooler in summer and warmer in the winter.

Bamboo Bedding Is Soft And Smooth

Another reason bamboo feels so comfortable for people with sensitive skin is its softness. Of course, not all types of bamboo sheets are the same. But in general, you can compare bamboo viscose weave with Egyptian cotton, which is as soft as cotton ever gets.

We can’t say the same about bamboo linen which is a fabric made through a mechanical process. Bamboo linen is not only harder to find, but it is also quite rough and wrinkles easily. Most of the bamboo that you find in stores is bamboo viscose. This is the soft and silky bamboo that most people talk about when they talk about the luxurious feel of bamboo bedding.

Keep in mind that thread count affects softness. The higher the thread count the softer the fabric. When it comes to bamboo it’s better to look for a thread count of at least 200.

Bamboo Bedsheets Are Also Better For The Environment Than Cotton

One advantage that bamboo linen has over bamboo viscose is that the manufacturing process is mechanical, there are no chemicals involved. The viscose process on the other hand does involve some chemicals. So you might wonder whether or not these chemicals affect sensitive skin. You may also think that bamboo viscose is not as eco-friendly as people say it is. But maybe you’ll be convinced otherwise when you see how much water and pesticides go into the production of cotton bedsheets.

For most of us, cotton is the alternative to bamboo. But the production of cotton bedsheets is not particularly great for the environment. The cotton crop requires a lot of water throughout its life cycle. The process may be mechanical and not involve any chemicals. But the cotton crop still needs a lot of pesticides. In fact, cotton producers are some of the biggest clients of the fertiliser and pesticide industry.

On the other hand, bamboo grass grows practically without any pesticides. There are many varieties of bamboo around the world. The kind that is closest to timber is used to make fabrics. Bamboo fibres are dissolved in a solution of chemicals. This solution is then processed into yarn. The bamboo yarn is then woven into bamboo bedsheets. Australian manufacturers are required to uphold strict standards of production. This gives customers some confidence in the product that they are using.

Responsible Production Of Bamboo Bedding

The key environmental risk in the viscose process is the chemical effluent in the factories. Manufacturers who are responsible ensure that these chemicals don’t leave the factory premises and harm the environment. They also make sure that any water used in the process goes back into a closed loop. In this way, the viscose process for making bamboo bedsheets can be quite sustainable. It also helps that bamboo is a renewable resource.

To find out whether or not the bamboo bedsheet you’re buying is eco-friendly, you can look for certifications. The Oeko-Tex is a European-Japanese certification body that is a mark of quality and trust.

The Bottomline

Cotton and linen sheets are often bleached. This can be a problem for people with sensitive skin. On the other hand, organic bamboo is used to make some of the best bedsheets for sensitive skin. These sheets are soft and gentle on skin affected by eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dermatitis.

All in all, bamboo is excellent for a good night's sleep. To make your bamboo sheets last longer, make sure to follow care instructions closely. Bamboo sheets tend to hold dye very well. They can be dyed in vivid colours. They are not particularly expensive. If you feel you don’t want to splurge on your bedding you can always get low thread-count fabric.

Don’t take our word for it. Find out for yourself just how good bamboo bed sheets are for people with sensitive skin. You may also sleep better knowing that you are doing your bit to help the planet.