When you have sensitive skin, choosing the right clothing and bedding is essential to all-day comfort. While many shoppers can decide on a fabric purely by a touching comparison or by reading reviews online, buyers with sensitive skin need a gentle fabric that won't cause itchiness or inflammation. 
There are dozens of fabrics on the market that claim to be hypoallergenic and ultra-soft, but which fabrics walk the walk and which fabrics are full of hot air (metaphorically and literally)? Before we break down the mystery behind the most common bedding fabrics, these are some of the factors considered to be the most important for anyone with sensitive skin:
- How breathable is the fabric? Fabrics that allow your body to release heat and maintain a steady temperature will help keep your sensitive skin happy. Certain materials can completely block airflow, which will aggravate any existing skin problems.
- Do you know your personal allergic reaction triggers? Not all fabrics and fills were created equal. If down feathers are your allergy downfall, you'll need to look for down alternative fills in your pillows and comforter. Love the deeper darker colors in bedding but wake up itchy? You may have a skin sensitivity to certain textile dyes.
- When do you change your sheets? Before you place new sheets on the bed, it's always a good practice to wash them in your go-to laundry detergent to ensure they are fresh and pure following the manufacturing process. Over time, one of the worst contact allergens found in bedding is dust. Simply washing your bedding once a week can usually lead to no more itchiness and allergy symptom relief from dust.
Discover the perfect fabric for sensitive skin by weighing the following factors:
Cellulose Fabrics (Bamboo)
As with most fabrics, the secret to comfortable, silky-smooth bamboo or wood pulp fibers is in the manufacturing process. Our Arctic Aire•MAX Sheets are woven with 100% TENCEL™ lyocell to create a relaxing escape in your bed. TENCEL™ lyocell is a highly technical cellulosic fabric similar to bamboo. TENCEL™ lyocell reduces static electricity buildup, regulates body temperature, leaving you with a ridiculously-soft feel which is ideal for those who have sensitive skin. Our ECOSHEEX Bamboo Origin Sheet Set is another great option for those with sensitive skin. The silk-like fabric will envelop you in a Ridiculously-Soft™ cocoon that will ease you into dreamland. And the incredibly soft woven 100% Viscose from Bamboo lends insulating properties that provide temperature control throughout every season.
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What SHEEX Customers Love:
"I have fibromyalgia and these sheets do not bother my skin." —Becky S.
Natural Fibers (Cotton, Wool)
Natural fibers are (generally) not manufactured with chemicals, so they are often placed at the top of the list for people with sensitive skin. But before you fill up your online shopping cart consider their downfalls. Old-school cotton sheets will not be as breathable as fabrics intentionally woven to optimize airflow. If you choose to stick with more natural fiber be sure to choose a hypo-allergenic alternative. Wool should be avoided altogether if you have sensitive skin. Wrapping yourself in a comfy wool throw blanket can trigger an eczema flare-up and ruin your holiday snuggle fest. The Mayo Clinic cautions that wearing or sleeping in wool fabric can irritate normal skin, so anyone with sensitivity should keep it out of consideration. 
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What SHEEX Customers Love:
"Slept in them last night! Awesome! I have night sweats and can tell a difference with these sheets! I don't feel like I am laying in sweat!" —Joey W.
Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic fibers vary widely on breathability and in terms of the manufacturing process. Some synthetic fabrics can restrict airflow which leaves sleepers susceptible to overheating. This can irritate your skin and leave you prone to itching, rashes, and sweating. This is how SHEEX saves the night. Our patented Original Performance fabrics transfer nearly twice as much body heat as traditional cotton sheets, wicking moisture away thus allowing you to experience a deeper, more restorative sleep. People with sensitive skin love the softer, silkier and cooler feel along with the luxurious drape. of the sheets.
Other skin sensitive sleepers often need full control over the bedroom to avoid heat-related, sleep-disrupting temperature fluctuations — the new SHEEX Studio-Tech Sleep System is engineered with a dual-sided fabric to keep your skin happy on both warmer nights and on chilly winter evenings. And let's face it... Sometimes no fabric is the best fabric — read our blog about sleeping naked to discover how going commando under your sheets may be the best remedy for common sleep issues. Or, if you prefer to be wrapped up in a cocoon of pajamas, order any of our breathable, lightweight SHEEX Sleepwear pieces. With some basic research, you can outfit your bed (and your body) with fabrics that soothe your sensitive skin and get a reliably restorative night of sleep.
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What SHEEX Customers Love:
"Thought it would be a waste of money, but was the first to admit, not only were they soft...they kept my husband's body temperature at one level; he has been sleeping thru the night" —Carol H.
