— WELLNESS
— SKINCARE
Sleep Wrinkles: What Are They And How To Prevent Them
You may already know about several types of wrinkles…
But what are sleep wrinkles, and should you worry about them?
If you’re beginning to notice how those tell-tale pillow marks and creases on your face take longer to fade after waking up, don’t worry!
We’re going to tell you all you need to know about sleep wrinkles — including how they’re different from other signs of skin aging — and teach you exactly how to maximize your beauty sleep to help prevent them from getting worse.
Classifying Wrinkle Types
Not all wrinkles are alike — and knowing the differences is crucial to helping improve their appearance.
Wrinkles are classified based on how they are formed on your face:
- Dynamic wrinkles are caused by repeated muscle contraction or facial expressions over time. For example, constantly pursing your lips around a straw can cause fine lines (or “smoker’s lines”) around the mouth.
- Static wrinkles are caused by gravity weighing down your skin and loss of elasticity as you age. Expression lines caused by the sagging of your cheeks or chin area can be considered static wrinkles.1
So, What Are Sleep Wrinkles?
Sleep wrinkles, or sleep lines, are the fine lines and creases that appear on your face due to constant contact with your hands or pillowcase as you sleep. You may notice their appearance first thing upon waking up and — for younger skin — they often fade right away or within a few minutes. However, as your skin ages and loses firmness and elasticity, sleep wrinkles may linger — and eventually, they can become permanent. Since these are wrinkles that worsen due to constant facial compression against another surface (like your pillowcase), sleep lines are considered static wrinkles.2
For younger skin, the development of sleep wrinkles is usually nothing to worry about. But for mature skin already showing a visible loss of collagen, sleep wrinkles could become more challenging to deal with. Since they are not dynamic facial wrinkles impacted by muscle movement, some anti-aging methods are not effective against them.
The key is prevention, and a few tweaks to your sleeping position and habits might be your best bet against sleep wrinkles affecting your goal of youthful skin.3
How To Fight Sleep Wrinkles
From improved sleeping habits to targeted skincare, here are some of the different methods you can try to avoid sleep wrinkles — and to keep them from becoming permanent fixtures on your face.
Remember That Prevention Is Key
Research shows that sleep wrinkles form and present differently compared to other common types of facial wrinkles. How they ultimately appear, and when they settle permanently on your face, also varies from person to person. Unique factors, such as genetics and even sleep position over time, play a role in facial aging. This is why researchers suggest making adjustments to certain parts of your sleeping routine — such as how much contact your face has against your pillows. This could be one of the simplest ways to combat sleep wrinkles.4
Elevate Your Head While Sleeping
Avoid sleeping on your stomach or on your side when possible. It’s best to practice sleeping on your back with an elevated pillow supporting your head. It may take some getting used to, so try supporting either side with more pillows to stop you from rolling over in the night.5
Change Your Pillowcase
Certain fabrics can be rougher on the skin — and may contribute to deep sleep lines. A satin pillowcase can help provide less friction against your facial skin as you sleep, so it’s gentler and smoother. Another alternative is to don a satin eye mask before bed. This can protect your delicate eye area from rubbing against cotton or poly blend pillowcases.6
Be More Selective With Nighttime Skincare
If your skin is already showing signs of aging, it’s time to choose your nighttime products more carefully. Opt for night serums or creams with retinol, which can help stimulate collagen production. Collagen is what keeps skin plump and young-looking, and helps keep fine lines from forming.7
Use An SPF Sunscreen To Help Avoid Sun Damage
Skipping out on sunscreen can leave your skin damaged on a cellular level and more prone to wrinkles. Make sure you incorporate sun protection into your daytime skincare routine to help fortify your skin against wrinkles.8
Consider A Chemical Peel
Talk with your dermatologist about a chemical peel. A professional chemical peel can help resurface skin and reduce the appearance of some wrinkles that have already formed. This can give your skin a youthful-looking boost as you adjust your sleeping habits and find the best anti-aging skincare products that work for you.9
Get The Best Beauty Rest For Younger-Looking Skin
Ultimately, it isn’t just how you sleep, but also how well you sleep that affects your skin’s health and appearance. Aim to get as much quality sleep as you can, and address any stressors that prevent you from getting a good night’s rest. Make some changes in the way you sleep, too.
Of course, it’s always easier said than done. But just know, you’ll be doing your skin a huge favor — you might even notice fewer sleep wrinkles forming. Most importantly, you’ll be supporting your overall health and wellness. And you deserve to feel happy, rested, and healthy.
Learn More:
-5-Step Skin Routine for Fall
-Skin Care Tips: How Often Should You Get Facials?
-Some Of The Best Foods For Healthy Skin
Sources
1 https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/wrinkles#wrinkle-types
2 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/advice/a10486/how-to-prevent-sleep-wrinkles/
3 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/advice/a10486/how-to-prevent-sleep-wrinkles/
4 https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/36/8/931/2613967
5 https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-prevent-sleep-wrinkles-4693430
6 https://www.health.com/beauty/prevent-wrinkles-overnight
7 https://www.health.com/beauty/prevent-wrinkles-overnight
8 https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/wrinkles#wrinkle-types
9 https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-prevent-sleep-wrinkles-4693430
