Using the right pillow is vital for getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, even high-quality pillows that get a lot of praises because of the many amazing health benefits they bring may sometimes cause problems in some people. That includes a bamboo pillow, which is something that is known to offer all kinds of perks.
This article will talk about bamboo pillow allergy symptoms. We will also discuss a few other related matters, such as how to keep allergies at bay while using a bamboo pillow. So don't stop reading now.
Feel free to repost this later so that your family and friends may also get to read this and have a good night's sleep!
Related Article: 10 Best Bamboo Pillows
Getting to Know a Bamboo Pillow
Before we talk about bamboo pillow allergy symptoms, let us get to know first what a bamboo pillow is. No matter the product that you are planning on buying, it is important to be an informed shopper.
In the case of a bamboo pillow, getting to know it allows you to realize whether or not you will benefit from using it.
No, a bamboo pillow is not a pillow that is filled with chunks of bamboo. Put simply, it is a pillow whose casing is made out of bamboo fibers, which are known to offer a lot of benefits.
These days, more and more people who like to enjoy plenty of shut-eye every night are tossing away their old pillows and replacing them with bamboo pillows.
They cannot help but do so as there are so many purported perks that come with using them. Two of the most impressive pros of using bamboo pillows are:
- Cool to the skin. The casing of a bamboo pillow, just like many other all-natural fabrics, is highly breathable. Such allows you to feel comfortable during your trip to dreamland. It also absorbs sweat effectively, thus allowing you to feel nice and dry during those scorching-hot summer nights.
- Hypoallergenic. Being hypoallergenic, you are less likely to end up experiencing all kinds of allergy symptoms when using a bamboo pillow. That's because the bamboo used for the manufacturing of its casing does not need pesticides and fertilizers. This is why aside from being all-natural, a bamboo pillow is also organic.
If a bamboo pillow is hypoallergenic, then how come some people report having an allergic reaction to bamboo pillows? Keep on reading this article to know the reason why!
The Filling is One of the Culprits
Earlier, we mentioned that a bamboo pillow is called as such because its casing is made out of bamboo fibers. The filling, on the other hand, can be due to an assortment of materials.
Different manufacturers of bamboo pillows prefer using different fillers. The majority of them, however, choose shredded memory foam.
It's no secret that a lot of pillows and mattresses these days are out of memory foam. That's because there are so many wonderful things that this type of foam brings.
They include:
- Proper spine support
- Relief from pressure points
- Absorption of motion
While there are various benefits associated with memory foam, unfortunately, there are also few downsides to its use. For instance, some people complain that they develop symptoms such as nasal congestion and itchiness.
Health experts believe that it could be blamed on the gas emitted, especially by new memory foam pillows and mattresses. They say that it could also be due to the chemicals used for manufacturing memory foam.
Dust Mites Can be Blamed, Too
If you develop allergy symptoms after using a bamboo pillow, it is possible that you are allergic to the shredded memory foam inside the casing, and not bamboo casing itself.
However, there is one more thing that could be causing the problem, and it's none other than dust mites. Put simply, dust mites are microscopic bugs related to spiders.
They like to live in bedding, upholstered furniture pieces, curtains, and carpets. They live in pillows, too. This is especially true if the pillows are old.
There is a possibility that the reason why you tend to end up with nasty symptoms after using a bamboo pillow is that dust mites are living in it.
Needless to say, keeping your bamboo pillow free of dust mites allows you to use it nightly as well as take advantage of the many perks that it is known to offer.
The good news is that getting rid of those dust mites is actually easy. Later on in this article, we will talk about how you can deal with dust mites as well as pillow allergy.
Symptoms of Bamboo Pillow Allergy
Again, it's not the bamboo casing that is causing your allergic reaction to a bamboo pillow. Most of the time, you can put the blame on shredded memory foam or dust mites.
However, there is also the possibility that it could be a bamboo pillow's casing, which is made out of bamboo fibers, which is actually causing your problem.
Even though it is completely natural, some people may still develop allergic reactions to it. Here's a fact: some people are actually allergic to 100% cotton, which is seemingly harmless!
No matter the reason behind bamboo pillow allergy, a lot of people who experience it share the same symptoms. Some of the most commonly reported ones are:
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Sneezing or coughing
- Itchiness of the throat or roof of the mouth
- Postnasal drip or mucus in the back of the nose and throat
- Eye redness, itchiness or watering
- Facial pressure or pain
- Skin redness, itchiness or irritation
You may experience intense bamboo pillow allergy symptoms in the morning. Such can be expected as you have just spent several hours with a bamboo pillow pressed against your face.
Keeping Bamboo Pillow Allergy at Bay
Fortunately, there is no need for you to switch back to your old pillow and miss out on the various perks associated with the use of a bamboo pillow.
That's because there are a few steps that you may take if you want to use a bamboo pillow at night without waking up with all sorts of unfavorable symptoms the following morning.
Here are some of the things that you may do to prevent encountering problems:
- Wash your pillow. According to experts, it is a good idea to wash your pillows every three months. This helps ensure that they are free of grease, dirt, dust mites, and others that can cause various skin, eye, and respiratory issues. Follow the manufacturer's directions for washing the product to keep it from being ruined.
- Wash your pillowcase, too. It's not just the pillow itself that you should wash, but also the pillowcase. It is recommended that you wash it every three weeks. Feel free to wash it more often if it seems like it is quick to look dirty and smell horrid. Remember to stick to a mild detergent to keep at bay any allergic reaction.
- Use a hypoallergenic pillowcase. A bamboo pillow needs to be placed in a case to make it last. Don't stash it in just about any pillowcase that you can find. If you are prone to allergies, consider buying one that is hypoallergenic. That's because it is less likely to leave you experiencing an assortment of symptoms.
- Replace your bamboo pillow. As a general rule of thumb, you should replace your pillow every 1 to 2 years. Sometimes it is possible for your pillow to last for more than two years, depending on its quality. You know that it's time to replace your bamboo pillow right away if you fold it in half, and it stays that way.
- Take a shower nightly. Before jumping into bed, it's a good idea for you to first hit the shower. This allows you to get rid of grime and dirt that may have accumulated in your hair and on your skin. You should also slip into clean clothes to keep your pillow, bedding, and mattress from getting dirty faster than usual.
Before You Take a Trip to Dreamland
There are many benefits that come with the use of a bamboo pillow. However, it can do more harm than good if you tend to develop allergic reactions to it.
The good news is that following the simple tips above can make it possible for you to stick to using a bamboo pillow nightly for a good night's sleep. Sweet dreams!
Image by Mojca JJ from Pixabay
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
Feruza is a mom and a blogger. She had a neck pain for 15 years, which made her interested in everything about pillows.
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