Dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zibritsky has a warning: Stop sleeping on yellow pillows. She pointed out that the yellow stain on your pillows is actually an accumulation of dirt, grime, and moisture that can lead to skin and respiratory problems. Moisture is the No. 1 cause of the yellow stains, which could be caused by drooling, sleeping with wet hair, oil from your skin, makeup, and dead skin cells. Yellow pillows can put you at risk for clogged pores that cause breakouts and acne. If you have sensitive skin, it could cause flares of things like atopic dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea. If that’s not bad enough, yellow pillows are a breeding ground for things like dust mites that love to eat dead skin. That means you’re inhaling them, which could inflame or irritate your airways, particularly if you have asthma. So, if you’re sleeping on an old stinky yellow pillow — toss it out! As for the standard rule — pillows should be laundered at least every 4 months. Otherwise, invest in a pillow protector.
