Here at Achoo Allergy, we’re of the belief that your battle with your allergies should stop when you head to bed at night.

There are few things worse than heading to bed with a sinus headache and itchy eyes, and then waking up feeling the same — or worse! We like to make as many parts of your day allergy-free as possible, and that includes your sleeping hours, too. One way to achieve this is through the use of hypoallergenic, or allergy-free, mattresses for good sleep.

What Is an Allergy-Free Mattress?

When we say “allergy-free mattresses,“ what do we mean? Simply put, a hypoallergenic mattress is designed to keep out many of the elements that attract allergens like dust mites. Normal mattresses, while sealed, can still allow dirt and particles to penetrate their surfaces. This perfectly normal process attracts dust mites. In the absence of an efficient way to clean mattresses of this particulate buildup, their capacity for triggering allergies increases.

Comparatively, anti-allergy mattresses are sealed tightly enough, and in a material, that these dust mites and other microscopic creatures that cause allergic reactions can’t enter. These mattresses are made of materials like vinyl, latex (which should be approached carefully, lest you aggravate a latex allergy!), or plastic. Memory foam mattresses also have the capacity to be hypo-allergenic and are an increasingly popular style of bed for those seeking a combination of firmness and support.

Why You Should Get an Allergy-Free Mattress

Those with severe allergies to dust, mold, and mildew will find the most benefit from anti-allergy mattresses. By the numbers, you’d be in good company: About 25% of Americans suffer from some sort of allergy, and roughly 2/3 of those suffer from allergies to dust mites and their feces.

Why make the extra effort? Regular mattresses are designed to foster conditions that breed the very allergens that these sufferers are most sensitive to. Traditional mattresses take on dust mites and their waste, skin cells, and body soil, creating and then trapping dust, while gathering moisture that will breed mold or mildew over time. It not only helps them create allergic triggers, but it also literally gives them weight.

Have you ever realized that a mattress feels heavier five or even ten years after buying it? You’re not imagining it; mattresses can take on enough of these cells and particles to make a noticeable difference in their weight, but anti-allergy mattresses are designed to prevent this process.

An additional benefit of allergy-free mattresses: They can be both more welcoming, and more hygienic, for guest bedrooms. We’ve all had guests enter our homes with very specific allergy concerns, and need us to meet their specifications in order to avoid a stay fraught with worrying and troubling reactions. Having an anti-allergy mattress to offer alongside clean bedding could make one element of their stay worry-free and comfortable.

Are Anti-Allergy Mattresses “Allergy-Proof”?

Now, given the conditions that anti-allergy mattresses prevent, you might be under the impression that anti-allergy mattresses are synonymous with allergy-proof sleep. However, this is regrettably not the case. Even as mattresses are designed to keep allergens away, there are other elements of the sleep process — think pillows, comforters, mattress toppers, and the like — that are susceptible to some of the same concerns that the mattress sought to avoid.

Two studies published in a 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine confirm it: An anti-allergy mattress alone will not solve these allergy concerns.

However, there is a silver (hypoallergenic?) lining, here: These mattresses for good sleep can serve as a gentle reminder to arrange other parts of life in an anti-allergy way. It creates an awareness of allergy triggers that can otherwise influence behavior. An anti-allergy mattress, combined with similarly anti-allergy pillows, a diligent bedding laundering schedule, and frequent cleaning and dusting, can work in concert to relieve persistent allergy symptoms. So, while the mattress itself may not be the solution, it may kick-start the creation and maintenance of a lifestyle that can solve some problems.

Guidelines for Buying Your Anti-Allergy Mattress

As you begin your search for an anti-allergy mattress, remember it needs to serve its primary purpose first: Be comfortable enough to sleep on! Luckily, anti-allergy doesn’t also mean anti-comfort! Memory foam, latex, or even plastic and vinyl models have advanced to the point where they’re both hypoallergenic and comfortable.

Don’t be shy about “test-driving“ a few desired models! Don’t just lie down for a brief moment; spend several minutes lying down, testing your common sleep positions, and seeing how it feels to use this mattress as you would at home.

Once you make your selection and bring it home, remember, your efforts aren’t complete. To live a lifestyle that allows this mattress to do its job, you’ll have to do a bit of work on its behalf. This means laundering bedding regularly (pillows and comforters too!), rotating mattresses as recommended, and otherwise managing allergies through regular cleaning of your home. With dedication to a regimen like this, you’ll allow the full benefits of an anti-allergy mattress to take hold.