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People often avoid polyester and nylon bedding, primarily for not being as hygienic and temperature-regulating as natural materials. But when these artificial materials get infused with copper ions, they suddenly get antibacterial properties and are good for the skin. How so? Read on to learn about different copper pillow benefits and why they’re the new trend.
Common Copper Pillow Benefits: How They Help Your Sleep and Skin
Copper pillows, that is, copper-infused pillows have the following benefits:
- Antibacterial benefits
- Reducing odors
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (anti-acne)
- Reducing wrinkles
- Reduces skin and hair damage
- Cooling capabilities
- Neck and spine support
Antibacterial benefits
Copper has antibacterial properties and was used for wound sterilization and water purification in ancient times. The antimicrobial properties of this element are proven by modern medicine. Copper atoms pull the electrons from atoms in the wall of the bacteria cell. This way, they eventually break up the wall that keeps bacteria whole and kills them.
Since our pillowcases are full of body oils and dead skin cells, they are a breeding ground for invisible pests, like bacteria, dust mites, and other microorganisms. It’s good to have a pillow made of material that’s good for our skin and bad for microorganisms.
Reduces odors
The vinegar-like smell of unchanged sheets comes from bacteria and their excrement. Copper eliminates odor-causing bacteria so your pillowcase will smell fresh longer.
If this surprises you, you should also know that the odor from our sweat doesn’t come from the sweat itself, but from bacteria that thrive in moist skin environments. As they multiply, eat, excrete, and die, they release foul smells. We keep wanting to get rid of them through showering and various products, but thanks to them, the smell keeps coming back.
So, without the bacteria, your pillows will still contain skin oils and dead skin cells, but not the pathogens that feed on them and make the pillow stinky.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Copper is an important nutrient in our body and it has anti-inflammatory properties. When you sleep on a copper-infused pillow, the copper will reduce skin inflammation, which means your skin can get cleared up of acne or reddish color that’s caused by inflammation.
As an antioxidant, copper lowers the amount of damage that naturally occurs to your skin cells and skin tissue as a whole.
Reducing facial wrinkles
A 2019 study has confirmed that copper ions, when placed on the skin, result in increasing collagen, elastin, and a growth factor (TGF-β1), all of which are important for healthy and youthful skin appearance.
Copper improves skin texture, reduces wrinkles, and enhances skin elasticity. Although the elderly can never completely reverse skin sagging, copper can help rejuvenate the connective tissue and improve blood circulation.
Reduces skin and hair damage
Modern medicine uses copper as an aid in the wound-healing process. The way copper speeds up healing is by boosting collagen production, which enables new blood vessels to form, and blood vessels further help bring nutrients to all surrounding tissues.
Direct contact with copper through beauty products or copper pillowcases has anti-aging benefits, not only for the skin but also for the hair.
Copper-infused pillowcases are made of nylon or polyester whose fibers were enriched with copper oxide particles. Nylon and polyester are both silky smooth so they don’t cause high friction. Less friction – less skin and hair damage.
However – I need to mention one more useful type of pillowcase here – you shouldn’t rule out natural silk from your bedding. First of all, it’s natural; and second, it doesn’t strip your skin of natural oils, making it look youthful and the hair more luminous. Silk has a very similar effect on the skin to that of a copper pillow. Night Pillow is an example of a brand that infuses silk into their products.
Cooling capabilities
Copper-infused pillows may be stuffed with cooling memory foam or other cooling materials, but copper itself doesn’t add too much of a difference. The cooling capabilities of copper are fairly modest, but people who are on the hunt for a cooling pillow might look into copper pillows and all types.
Neck and spine support
This one’s not a given for each copper pillow out there; but some – especially copper-infused memory foam pillows – can offer some good neck support and proper spinal alignment.
If you only buy copper-infused pillowcases, you can put them on the best pillow you can find and enjoy all the copper benefits together with excellent support.
What are Copper-Infused Pillows?
Copper pillows come in two different forms:
- copper-infused pillowcases,
- copper-infused filling.
Copper pillowcases are typically made of nylon or polyester, with copper oxide particles sewn into the fabric. This way the sleeper lies directly on the surface that contains copper. You shouldn’t place a general pillowcase on top of your pillow because that way you’re blocking the copper ions.
Copper-infused memory foam pillows may or may not have a copper pillowcase. If they don’t, then your pillow won’t offer all the copper benefits for your skin and hair. It may be firm and have a somewhat cooling effect, but you need to be in direct contact with copper to reap the benefits.
All the copper infusion technology doesn’t stop with pillows. There are also copper-infused mattresses from well-known brands such as Bear, Layla, and Brooklyn. Some companies even make clothing made with copper fibers.
FAQs
If you have inflammation issues on your skin, a copper pillow might relieve your pain. Otherwise, you might want to look at other types of copper products if you need joint pain relief or headache relief. You should share any such ideas with your doctor and ask if they are worth trying.
Copper-infused fabrics are somewhat cooler than other fabrics, but this effect is mainly temporary. Many people only need a cool pillow in order to fall asleep easily, and for this purpose, you might want to get a copper pillow. You should know that copper pillows don’t have any active cooling properties, so in the middle of the night, a copper pillow will probably be as warm as any other normal pillow.
Most copper pillowcases are machine washable, but the entire pillow – not always so. If the pillow is made of copper-infused memory foam, you definitely shouldn’t soak it. Every manufacturer offers instructions on care and cleaning that you should adhere to. Not following those instructions could damage the copper ion technology and practically strip you of all the copper pillow benefits.
Copper pillows have copper particles sewn into the fabric or copper-infused foam as a filling. Charcoal pillows have all the same but with activated carbon – charcoal. Both pillows neutralize smells, with copper pillows beautifying the sleeper’s skin and hair, whereas charcoal pillows have better airflow and wick away sweat and moisture better than other pillows.
Conclusion
Copper oxide particles in copper pillows eliminate harmful bacteria from the pillowcase itself, but also from the skin of the sleeper. Copper pillows increase the production of important chemicals that improve skin texture, iron out wrinkles, and preserve natural oils from skin and hair. Copper fabrics have anti-inflammatory effects which make the skin tan look even and clear.
Sleeping on copper fibers initially gives a cooling effect, which can help you fall asleep faster. If you opt for a copper pillowcase, you can place it on any of your favorite pillows and enjoy all the copper pillow benefits.
Next step: Read our Nuzzle Pillow review. If you’re looking for a pillow that has a cooling effect, My Nuzzle is the brand to go with. We like it because it’s affordable, comfortable, and has a zero gravity feature. If you aren’t sure which pillow to get, you should definitely consider Nuzzle.
With over 5 years experience writing about sleep and mattresses, she's considered one of the go-to experts on the topic.
She likes cycling, nature, art, and languages. She pays special attention to providing you with accurate and useful information when it comes to your sleep quality.
After solving her personal sleep and tiredness problems, she is on to help others by sharing this invaluable information.
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