Dermatologists compare your face to the earth’s crust, explaining that you accumulate more wrinkles along that “fault line” as your skin ages.
Similar to the boundaries between tectonic plates, these fault lines experience various pressures, eventually leading to permanent wrinkles.
Moreover, sleep isn’t the only factor putting pressure on our facial features. While some wrinkles are a natural result of aging—your skin sags as it becomes thinner and less elastic—others are influenced by facial expressions. Sleep wrinkles, however, differ as they are caused by the stress and pressure placed on your face during sleep.
Repeatedly lying on the same side naturally causes wrinkles on that side, though research has not conclusively proven it.
A 2022 study shows that people’s upper eyelids tend to droop on the side they prefer to sleep, indicating increased asymmetry.
Patients who favor one sleep position exhibited significantly lower upper eyelid height on their preferred side compared to the other side. However, no differences were observed in lower eyelid position, eyebrow position, or eyelid skin overlap.
So, what can we do about these sleep wrinkles? Brazilian researchers suggest in a dermatology journal that staying hydrated is crucial for keeping skin cells plump and supple, which helps maintain natural elasticity and a smooth appearance.
When your skin is adequately hydrated, it is less likely to become dry and flaky, with fine lines appearing softer. Hydrated tissues effectively prevent folds and cracks.
Researchers recommend sleeping on your back to protect your skin from stretching and compressing overnight.
By minimizing long-term strain on facial tissues that can occur when sleeping on your side, back sleeping may help maintain smooth contours and support your skin’s natural resilience as you age.
Additionally, ensuring you get a good night’s sleep—without excessive tossing or turning—can also contribute to skin health.
However, attempting to sleep on your back when you prefer your side, or needing to get up to hydrate can be challenging…
Similarly, the so-called anti-wrinkle pillows that claim to help might look more like gimmicks than actual solutions, with unproven benefits.
Instead, it may be easier to remain expressionless to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds.
This article (by Patricia Russell of Philadelphia) addresses the question, “Does sleeping on your side cause wrinkles?”
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