We Got to the Bottom of the Mattress-Acne Panic
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While there are many frustrating causes ofacne, yourmattressprobably isn’t the first culprit you think of when you feel a zit coming on. Unless, perhaps, you’ve been following a recent discussion on TikTok in which people are claiming that their mattresses caused severe breakouts. Several Strategist staffers recently forwarded me avideoin which a woman named Abby Klein describes developing severe cystic acne, which she believes was caused by sleeping on her new mattress. After I saw many other people in the comments of her video saying something similar happened to them, I decided to investigate and spoke to two dermatologists about whether this could even be possible.
There is no established link between mattresses and cystic acne
“In general, it would be very unusual for a mattress itself to directly cause cystic acne,” says board-certified dermatologistDr. Elizabeth Houshmand. That’s because cystic acne is typically hormonally driven and not a result of environmental contact, she says. If someone were to experience a reaction from a specific material used in a mattress, Houshmand says it would likely present as eitheracne mechanica— which is caused by occlusion, heat, friction, and sweat retention, similar to how some people get acne after sweating while exercising in tight clothing — or ascontact dermatitis. “Certain fabrics, dyes, formaldehyde resins, adhesives, or rubber components can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals,” Houshmand says, and those are materials that could potentially be present in mattresses. However, contact dermatitis typically leads to a rash with redness, itching, or blisters, not acne.
I also spoke toDr. Anthony Rossi, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder ofDr. Rossi skin care, who agreed it would be highly unusual for a mattress to cause cystic acne. Though Rossi allowed that a mattress could theoretically cause cystic acne if it contained a very high concentration of hormone-disrupting chemicals likephthalates, “in the real world, we don’t see that play out that much” because the exposure to any hormone-disrupting substance would have to beveryhigh for it to “meaningfully alter” your hormonal pathways.
Houshmand also told me that there currently isn’t any data to support mattresses as a meaningful source of hormonal disruption leading to acne. That’s not to dismiss the possibility — Rossi acknowledges that there are always one-offs and strange situations. But on the whole, he and Houshmand both assured me mattresses don’t generally present this type of risk. If you want to be on the safe side, look formattresses that are certifiedfor low VOC-emissions and avoid products with waterproof covers, which could contain phthalates.
There’s also no link between fiberglass — which is sometimes used in mattresses — and acne
The mattress that Klein discussed in her original TikTok video was from Zinus, a bed-in-a-box mattress brand known for making budget-friendly mattresses that I have previously tested and recommended without issue. Zinus was also the subject of 2022class-action lawsuit, later dismissed, which alleged that fiberglass used in the fire barriers of its mattresses could escape the outer covers and cause harm. (All mattresses contain some kind offire-resistant barrierbecause it is federally mandated in the United States, but a variety of different materials can be used for this purpose, including natural options like wool.) While Zinus says it no longer uses fiberglass in its mattresses —most mattress brands have phased it outentirely — I saw commenters on Klein’s video speculate that fiberglass exposure could be the cause of her acne, so I asked Houshmand to weigh in. She told me that while fiberglass is known to cause skin irritation, it isn’t known to cause acne. “What is more plausible is indirect aggravation,” she added, explaining that “if a mattress material increases heat retention, sweating, or friction on the back and shoulders, it could worsen body acne in someone already predisposed.”
Finally, I contacted both Klein and Zinus for comment. Klein declined to be interviewed for this story, and a brand representative for Zinus emphasized that the company takes consumer safety seriously. According to an official statement, “All Zinus mattresses sold today are fiberglass-free — all current production uses a carbon-rayon sleeve as a fire barrier,” and based on the date on an invoice Klein showed in her video, the mattress she purchased was fiberglass-free. The Zinus representative also told me that the brand is aware of Klein’s video and has tried to contact her multiple times to learn more about her situation, but she has not responded.
You should wash your bedding frequently to avoid possible skin irritation
If you are breaking out and think your bed might be to blame, your next moves should be to book an appointment with a dermatologist and start washing your sheets and pillowcases more often. Bedding can absorb our sweat, dead skin cells, and lots of other gunk that can clog pores and contribute to acne. Frequent washing will also help limit your exposure to potential irritants that might accumulate in bedding over time. And doing some extra laundry is certainly cheaper thanreplacing your mattress.
Three great mattresses that we’ve tested and recommend
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