USING SILK TO SOLVE SENSITIVE HEALTH ASPECTS

By: Ritah Elit

China is the world’s single biggest producer and chief supplier of silk to the world markets. India is the world’s second largest producer.

Silk is the epitome of luxury due to its high cost to produce, soft feel, and elegant appearance, and it is thus a popular textile in high-end and couture fashion design.

Do you know how it is produced? Silkworms are the offspring of moths. They spew out thread from tiny holes in their jaws, which they use to spin into their egg-bearing cocoons. This entire production takes a mere 72 hours, during which time they produce between 500-1200 silken threads.

Silk can improve your skin, appearance, and overall health. … When spun into sheets, pajamas, and scarves, silk may help ease menopausal hot flashes, prevent the effects of aging, and relieve certain skin conditions. Read on to find out more about why silk may be the other fabric of our lives.

Health Benefits of Wearing Silk

Silk has made its mark in the fabric industry for being one of the most coveted fabrics in the world. Its natural sheen and softness make it a luxurious product any man and woman would happily give hundreds of bucks for.

New research suggests that silk isn’t just for looks; its glory extends beyond intimate wear and high-end bed sheets. As these five points show, silk may be very well on its way to becoming a natural antidote for various health conditions.

1.) Silk Slows Down Ageing

Silk has this natural, cloud-like quality that makes you feel fresh. There’s just something about it that feels timeless, and this isn’t only in its texture. Silk amino acids, a natural nutrient found in the fabric, have been found to reduce specific signs of ageing, such as wrinkles.

Because silk is a natural material, it is easier for this fabric to produce and retain moisture on its own. It does miracles on the skin when left in contact overnight. With this, silk is now recognized as a natural anti-ageing product in the form of towels, bedding, and pillowcases. Dermatologists attest to silk’s ability to slow down visible signs of ageing and revitalize the human skin even after a short night’s rest.

While cotton and polyester material withdraw moisture from the skin through a night’s sleep, silk can replenish and maintain this very moisture necessary for keeping a youthful, vibrant skin. Because it is a natural material packed with essential amino acids and natural protein, silk tricks the nervous system into relaxing; therefore smoothing out the wrinkles we develop through age.

With albumen, a naturally-occurring chemical in silk, the skin’s metabolism speeds up, allowing dead skin cells to develop and repair at a much faster rate.  Over time, the long-term use of silk will drastically improve the skin’s appearance, significantly slowing down the effects of ageing. Think of it as an invisible night cream applied to your face every single night.

2) Silk Clothing Helps with Eczema and Asthma

In most cases of atopic dermatitis, lifestyle changes have to be done to accommodate the necessities of sensitive skin. While various creams and other topical treatments may be used to treat mild to severe cases of eczema, what eczema sufferers are exposed to day and at night can still affect the entire treatment process.

Because of its natural protein structure, silk is known for its hypoallergenic properties, making it compatible with all skin types. Its dense fabric structure prevents dust and mites from accumulating, which in turn protects the wearer from day-to-day allergens.

While some individuals might be allergic to other natural materials (like goose and duck feathers), silk has shown to be more compatible with even the worst cases of skin allergy because of its 100% organic origin.

Another of its great feature: silk prevents the build-up of soil, dirt, and other microscopic foreign bodies that may trigger an allergy, especially in people with eczema. Thanks to these healing properties, silk is an excellent alternative to usual cotton active and nightwear.

Aside from eczema, silk’s hypoallergenic quality can help treat people with asthma. Among the triggers of asthma are bed bugs and droppings that can affect your quality of sleep – but these microscopic items would not stand a chance against silk’s compact structure.

3.) Natural Anti-Fungal Element

Silk is a popular choice for nightwear, and a recent study shows that there is more reason to opt for silk during downtime. Not only does it make you feel nice and smooth while you sleep, but it can also stave off recurring infections in women.

In a study conducted by the University of Bologna, women who were experiencing recurrent vaginal thrush were asked to swap their usual cotton-made underwear for treated silk ones, while the other half of the group continued to wear cotton underwear. After six months, researchers found that the group that was wearing silk had been cured of the infection. The recurrence was halved and the symptoms were significantly reduced.

The Candida albicans – the yeast causing the common fungal infection in women – thrives in warm and damp environments. While cotton does nothing to help this, the moisture-absorption capability of silk eliminates the environment for the yeast to thrive.

4.) Silk Can Improve Sleep

If you have ever experienced the luxury of sleeping in silk, you would be familiar with how quickly you can fall asleep while being enveloped in this material. There’s a reason why this fabric is becoming increasingly popular with bedding manufacturers; this has something to do with sleeping. The reason is simple: it makes you comfortable.

Silk, a natural material blessed with sheen and softness, can also regulate body temperature and control moisture even in vast, changing climates. This makes silk an excellent sleep companion that will surely enhance the quality of your night-time slumbers. The softness of the material coaxes your nervous system into relaxing, allowing you to achieve the full cycle of sleep necessary.

In ancient China, silk has been the go-to material for curing chronic pains. In fact, silk is still the standard fabric used for elderly homes and physical development centers. Silk’s comfort ability can easily remedy anything from muscle aches to joint pains. It imposes negligible pressure on the human body and follows the natural contours and movement of its user, giving anyone who uses it a guaranteed full night’s sleep.

5) It Helps Avoid Allergies

Some people suffer from multiple allergies or sensitive skin, making it difficult to find clothing or sheets that work for them. A night in bed can leave rashes all over the body with no end in sight. Common line materials not only evoke allergy symptoms but they exacerbate them, turning what should be a relaxing sleep into one filled with itches and scratches – a real nightmare.

However, silk can be your best hypoallergenic solution to skin sensitivity and allergies. Its natural properties benefit all; even its makers – the silkworms – weave their cocoons into safety shields against the dust mites. The proteins in silk repel these microscopic critters, which, coincidentally, are among the leading causes of human allergies. Alongside this, silk’s long and smooth fibers do not irritate the skin, preventing allergic reactions while letting you sleep peacefully, just as you deserve.

Buying Silk: Is It Worth It?

Silk brings so much to our lives. It can improve our health, our relaxation, our sleep, with both short-term and long-term benefits reaped by those who genuinely embrace what silk brings to the table. Not only is silk all natural, but it is also very durable and resistant, meaning the average piece of silk will last for quite a while, years and even decades.

While it may not be the most affordable choice in the market, silk provides the most value. And besides, why shouldn’t you invest in your sleeping wear, bed sheets, and other items? You don’t have to book a hotel to experience the luxurious lifestyle; choose silk and experience it everywhere.

Silk is currently operational in Uganda by Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI), www.tridi.org in the project name commercialization of Sericulture Technologies and Innovations in Uganda under the supervision of the government of Uganda through the directorate of science, technology and Innovations.