Sensitized or damaged skin barriers, and especially acne prone skin types are most at risk for dirty towels causing breakouts due bacteria and harmful substances penetrating the Stratum Corneum, disturbing skin barrier functions.
What is Skin Barrier Function? According to ZO Skin Health, skin barrier function acts as a protective skin envelope preventing penetration of harmful substances and excessive trans-epidermal water loss. It also enhances epidermal renewal and repair, which is responsible for building and maintaining skin tolerance.
Diagram of skin barrier function by ZO Skin Health
Dirty towels can carry a huge variety of microbes, and they’ve even been linked to spreading infectious disease. Experts say you can’t keep your towels 100% germ-free, but you can limit the grossest ones by washing your towels more often than you probably do now.
Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, found in a recent study that nearly 90% of face towels were contaminated with coliform bacteria and about 14% carried E. coli after left to dry in the bathroom.
While you may use your towel for just your hands or face, the people who've used it before you may have used that same towel to wipe off sweat, dirt or wipe down surfaces and pathogens. Additionally, towels offer the perfect environment for bacteria and other microorganisms to grow because they’re often damp, warm and absorbent, and they hang in dark bathrooms.
When towels are used by more than one person, cross-contamination of the skin can occur. Gross!
Fabric softener actually prevents towels from absorbing water and can leave a waxy buildup that can scratch and damage your skin.
Fabric softeners often contain Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (quats), which studies have found that can trigger asthma as well as skin conditions such as itchy and inflamed skin.
In addition to all the harmful bacteria harbored in traditional hand towels, the abrasiveness and rough-like texture of towels can further damage already weakened skin barriers, causing skin to feel sensitized.
Clean Skin Club Clean Towels are the world's first single-use, biodegradable, and ultra-soft facial towel. This dry towel is made of premium viscose sourced from sustainable eucalyptus plantations. The Clean Towels have multiple uses but are primarily used to dry your face after cleansing for a bacteria-free towel each time.
-100% biodegradable and compostable
- Exceptionally soft and yet durable
- Ultra absorbent
- Can help reduce acne, milia, and breakouts
- A versatile accessory to any skincare routine
- Endless possibilities for usage
ZO Skin Centre Dallas is excited to carry Clean Towels by Clean Skin Club to help guests and patients enhance their results from their ZO Skin Health regimen. Our office also conveniently carries travel size Clean Towels for quick and on-the-go cleansing. For more information, contact ZO Skin Centre Dallas for questions or general inquires.
Shop for Clean Towels by Clean Skin Club here: https://store.dallasskincentre.com/products-site/products-by-brand/ps-brand-clean-skin-club
* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.