Uncovering the mystery of “color fading”: Why are men’s pillows and sheets more likely to turn yellow?

Tuchong Creative

I wonder if you have noticed a common but easily overlooked phenomenon in life: men's pillows and bed sheets seem to be more prone to yellowing than women's. Why are men more likely to "fade" than women?

To answer this question, we first need to figure out why the sheets turn yellow?

Our body fluids such as sweat, sebum and saliva usually appear yellow or yellowish brown after oxidation. In addition, the shed skin stratum corneum cells are usually yellowish. These cells accumulate on the sheets and pillowcases, forming yellow spots. In addition to these factors, hair care products, cosmetic residues, ultraviolet rays, etc. may cause bedding to turn yellow. Therefore, our sheets and pillowcases will generally turn yellow after a long time.

But bedding used by men is usually more yellow than that of women, mainly because, generally speaking, men are "oilier" than women.

From a physiological point of view, male hormones in men cause the skin to secrete more oil. These oils contain ingredients such as squalene, which will form yellow marks after oxidation and accumulate on bedding over a long period of time, becoming the main cause of yellowing. However, squalene is not the only factor. Substances such as sodium chloride and urea in sweat can also cause fabrics to turn yellow.

At the same time, living habits cannot be ignored in this process. Generally speaking, compared with women, men pay less attention to changing and washing bedding. This difference in habits significantly exacerbates the problem of yellowing of men's bedding. At the same time, bad living habits such as staying up late and preferring greasy food disrupt the endocrine balance, further stimulating the excessive secretion of sebum and sweat, thereby accelerating the yellowing process of bedding. Imagine a pillow used by a man who stays up late to work overtime for a long time, with layers of grease and sweat on the surface. The result can be imagined.

In addition, external factors should not be underestimated. The harmful substances such as nicotine and tar on the clothes and skin of smokers, as well as the acidic substances released by some men's drooling at night, are all the driving forces behind the yellowing of bedding.

Facing this problem, we are not helpless. First of all, strengthening personal hygiene is the basis. Regularly changing and washing clothes, sheets and other bedding, and using detergents with yellowing and decontamination functions for deep cleaning can effectively reduce the yellowing phenomenon. Secondly, adjusting lifestyle habits is equally important. Maintain a regular work and rest schedule and avoid staying up late; eat a balanced diet and reduce the intake of spicy and greasy foods; exercise moderately to promote metabolism and sweat detoxification. These measures can promote endocrine balance and reduce excessive secretion of sebum and sweat.

For male smokers, quitting smoking or reducing the amount of smoking is an effective way to improve the color of bedding. This can not only reduce the pollution of nicotine and tar on clothing and sheets, but also significantly improve respiratory and cardiovascular health. At the same time, adjusting sleeping posture and choosing a suitable pillow can also reduce the occurrence of drooling, thereby protecting the sheets from acidic substances.

Finally, it is important to keep the bedroom well ventilated. Opening windows regularly for ventilation or using equipment such as dehumidifiers to keep the room dry can reduce moisture and bacterial growth, providing a healthier living environment for bedding.

In summary, the reasons why men's pillows and sheets are more likely to turn yellow are complex and varied, but by strengthening cleaning, improving living habits, quitting smoking, adjusting sleeping positions and keeping the environment ventilated, we are fully capable of alleviating this problem and creating a healthier and more comfortable sleeping environment for ourselves and our families.

This article is a work supported by the Science Popularization China Creation Cultivation Program

Author: Duan Yulong, host of science program at Beijing Radio and Television Station

Reviewer: Wei Aihua, Chief Physician, Department of Dermatology, Beijing Tongren Hospital

Produced by: China Association for Science and Technology Department of Science Popularization

Producer: China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.