You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and stare at the mirror. No, you're not dreaming. Wrinkles from sleeping! Wrinkles appeared on the face, and overnight. Let's learn about sleep wrinkles.
Wrinkles from sleeping? Have you ever thought you could blame your wrinkled face on the pillow? Don't worry, you're not the only one. Those pesky wrinkles we see after sleeping are temporary, but as the skin loses elasticity, they can become permanent. Fortunately, there are some tricks to reduce the chances of their occurrence.
How sleeping on your side affects your face
Skin wrinkles occur for many reasons: aging, sun damage, smoking, poor hydration, repetitive facial expressions (smiling, pouting, frowning, squinting) and, of course, sleeping positions. When you sleep on your side or stomach, your face is more pressed against the pillow than when you sleep on your back. Due to gravity and movement during sleep, the skin stretches, squeezes and pulls in all directions.
The solution? Sleep on your back or change sleeping positions often.
Doctors can tell which side you sleep on by looking at your face
In young people, sleep wrinkles are transient and disappear after waking up. But who loves young people and their wonderfully elastic skin anyway?
Temporary wrinkles can become permanent with time and repetition. As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and elasticity, creating ideal conditions for the formation of permanent wrinkles. Great, as if we don't already have enough problems with aging.
The time spent in each sleeping position, the amount of external forces on each area of the face, and the area of contact with the surface of the pillow affect the pattern and speed of the formation of wrinkles. Dermatologists often recognize sleep patterns by the appearance of the face. People who prefer to sleep on one side often have a flatter face on that side and more visible wrinkles. Doctors can literally "read" your sleeping habits from your face. Magical, isn't it?
Photo: Pexels / OllyCan nighttime skin care prevent sleep wrinkles?
Collagen and elastin are the key building blocks of our skin, which take care of its elasticity. Therefore, it makes sense to add collagen through skin care to improve its elasticity and thus reduce the formation of wrinkles.
Hyaluronic acid, naturally present in our bodies, keeps collagen and elastin in the correct configuration, stimulates collagen production and adds hydration, which slows down the formation of wrinkles. This miracle molecule is often the main ingredient in creams, gels and lotions.
Skin moisturizers work in different ways. "Occlusives" create a thin layer of oil on the skin that prevents water loss. "Humectants" attract and retain water in the skin, which affects the level of hydration.
Do silk pillows really help?
Silk pillows can reduce the appearance of wrinkles - i.e. pesky sleep wrinkles - by allowing your skin to glide smoothly over them instead of creating friction and pressure in one spot. If you can afford it, use silk sheets and pillows.
Research shows that pillows designed to reduce mechanical stress during sleep can prevent skin deformation. A pillow like this could be your new best friend in the fight against wrinkles.
Sleeping on your back and having a good nightly moisturizing routine can reduce the risk of wrinkles. In addition, don't forget a healthy lifestyle: quitting smoking, drinking enough water, eating a healthy diet (enough vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, yogurt and other fermented foods) and regular use of sunscreen can improve the appearance of your skin.
