Anyone with bad skin, please help me choose some sheets

[thereistheball]

MIL has terrible skin. It is extremely sensitive and flares up all over her body in itchy red blotches if she is in the sun; she is on a permanent course of anti-histamines to keep it under control but is still very uncomfortable. She also uses industrial-strength prescribed moisturisers which disappear into her skin without trace, and washes clothes without detergents (she has something from Lakeland that replaces them). But she only ever wears synthetic materials and the other day she told me she regularly spends hours getting to sleep because her (cheap polycotton) sheets irritate her so much.

Am I wrong to think that some decent natural fibres might be less irritating for her? For Christmas I was thinking of getting her a really luxurious set of sheets to see if that makes a difference. MIL would never dream of spending this kind of money on herself.

The White Company has [http://www.thewhitecompany.com/productdetails.aspx?id=1000797&itemno=SMAB-MASTER these sateen ones]] or [http://www.thewhitecompany.com/productdetails.aspx?id=1000797&itemno=SANTORINIPL-MASTER these pure linen ones]], among others. Which would be the best ones for her?

I have v sensitive skin and polycotton sheets are awful. I love the white company cotton sheets and find that they are great for my skin (to the extent I always take one of their pillowcases with me whenever I stay anywhere else to reduce risk of flare up). I prefer cotton to linen but that is personal choice. Those sateen ones look lovely - I tend to go forthese more affordable ones!

Presumably she is also washing her sheets without detergents as that can make a big difference.

Oops - sorry about the links. I'll try again:

these sateen ones

or
these pure linen ones

or something else?

Thanks cassell. Yes she uses [http://www.lakeland.co.uk/wash-it-laundry-ball/F/C/washing-laundry/C/washing-laundry-washing-laundr y-detergents/product/5718 these]] to do her laundry.

argh - these!

I Use pure cotton flannelette - VERY comfortable.

Flannelette irritates my skin - you may be safer going with plain cotton (though I know my skin is quite peculiar...!)