Pyjamas that claim to leave you silky smooth

HOT weather creates the perfect storm for dry itchy skin, not just on our faces but all over our bodies. And while we know we ought to slather on body cream daily , when you step out of a shower , the last thing you want to do is rub a cream into your skin then wait for it to sink in before you can get dressed or hop into bed.

Could the answer lie in pyjamas that moisturise as you sleep?

it sounds too good to be true. B ut Lithuanian underwear brand About has a range of nightwear made of material infused with silk proteins.

These are created by silkworms during the production of silk and help the fibres stick together . The brand claims it creates garments that are ‘ hygienic, cooling and breathable [with] an excellent moisturising and skin-tightening effect’.

A company spokeswoman explains that the fabric is plunged into a bath of the silk protein before being dried and then used to create individual garments.

The range includes shorts, tops, night - dresses, pyjamas and robes.

‘ The silk protein bath is rich in 18 amino acids, vitamins and enzymes. This contributes to the renewal of cells and the protection of skin ’s structure,’ says the spokeswoman. ‘it acts as an anti-ageing agent, preserving your skin’s youthful, radiant glow.’

SiLkprotein, also known as sericin, is sometimes used in cosmetics — you’ll find it in Guerlain’s Lingerie De Peau Foundation, Dove Silk Body Wash and Elizabeth Arden ’s P ro revitalising Body Lotion — because there is some evidence that it helps bind water to the skin, and may also have anti-oxidant effects.

However, cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting is unconvinced that wearing clothes enriched with silk proteins will mean you can throw away your moisturiser.

‘Silk pillow cases have a reputation for helping with wrinkles, but unfortunately that has little to do with the pillowcase and everything to do with sleeping position,’ she says.

‘And while it ’ s true that silk proteins can help with skin hydration and may have some anti-inflammatory properties, these will be much more effectively deliv - ered to the skin in an appropriately formulated moisturiser than by simply rubbing fabric against skin.’

When i asked the company to explain how the proteins were dis - persed from the fabric onto the skin, it told me the chemicals supplier hadn’t tested this. Then i asked if it had any research to prove its clothes could soothe dry and irritated skin, and was told that it hadn’t done any tests like this. So i decided to try a pair of the PJs — a simple navy design in 50 per cent cotton and 50 per cent modal, a semi- synthetic fibre made from cellulose. And while they were nice enough, soft against the skin, at their price they ought to be. The tops are £39 and the bottoms £45, quite steep for some average - looking nightwear. i wore the pyjamas for a couple of nights, and while i thought the skin on my arms felt slightly softer in the mornings, my dry elbows seemed unchanged.

Then, i had to wash them. Would i be washing out any benefit? Er, yes. The company spokesperson explained that the silk protein solution is positively charged and that as the material is negatively charged, when the material is dipped into the solution, the two form a bond.

But ‘this bond is affected by detergent and with each washing cycle it is progressively broken down’. Worse still, the company can ’t say how many washes this will take.

For other finishes — the firm also sells products that have been treated to have odour-neutralising and antibacterial properties — it says that it has certificates from the supplier to guarantee that the finish will last for 50 washing cycles.

But it hasn ’t got a certificate for the silk protein solution.

So it’s hardly surprising that i’m not going to be throwing away my body moisturiser any time soon.