A lot of us are well acquainted with the fact that your sleeping position can have a profound impact on your posture and spinal health. What many of us might be unaware of though, is that certain sleeping positions can be causing fine lines and wrinkles to appear on your skin and neck.
Which Sleeping Positions Cause Fine Lines And Wrinkles?
Any position where your skin is being stressed, this includes side sleeping as well as sleeping on your stomach.
Sleeping on your stomach
Not only is sleeping on your stomach terrible for your neck and back, it can also worsen acid reflux, as well as cause deep sleep lines and wrinkles to appear. When you sleep on your stomach, you're applying pressure to the facial skin. Continually stressing your skin in this manner can lead to fine lines and wrinkles around the forehead and cheeks.
Sleeping on your stomach can also lead to breakouts and acne. Your pillowcase accumulates dirt and oils from secretions from your head and skin. By sleeping on your stomach you're effectively rubbing your face in these contaminants, this can clog your pores and lead to breakouts.
Sleeping on your side
Sleeping on your side is considerably better for your neck and spinal health, and also a little better for your skin. It is still not the optimal sleeping position, as you're still applying pressure to the skin which can cause wrinkles. In addition to this, one side of your face may have more pronounced wrinkles; the side you sleep on more frequently. It also comes with the same risk of acne and breakouts as you'll be transferring the dirt and oils on your pillow to your face.
Why you should sleep on your back
Sleeping on your back with a suitable pillow is excellent for spinal and back health. This position preserves the natural curve in the spine and doesn't apply any unnecessary stress on the neck.
Sleeping on your back also ensures pressure isn't applied to the facial skin, preventing sleep lines and wrinkles. It might be a little difficult to get used to sleeping on your back, but it's definitely worth it in the long run.
Can't sleep on your back? Do this instead
Realistically, plenty of people simply cannot fall asleep on their back, and lying awake for hours is worse for your skin than any sleep line. If you're a committed side or stomach sleeper, these damage-limitation steps help:
- Switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. Less friction means less tugging on the skin as you move during the night. It won't stop compression, but it noticeably reduces the creasing.
- Wash or change your pillowcase every few days. This addresses the breakout side of the problem, since a fresh pillowcase means fewer accumulated oils and less bacteria pressed against your face all night.
- Alternate sides. If one side of your face is getting all the pressure, consciously switching sides evens out the wear.
- Train the habit gradually. Pillows placed either side of your body, or a pillow under your knees to make back-sleeping more comfortable, help many people transition over a few weeks.
- Keep skin resilient. Well-hydrated skin bounces back from compression better. A night moisturiser with hyaluronic acid and a retinoid a few nights a week (here's how to start with retinol) support the collagen that resists permanent creasing.
Do sleep lines really become permanent?
In younger skin, sleep lines vanish within an hour of waking because the skin has enough collagen and elastin to bounce back. As we age and elasticity drops, the same crease repeated for thousands of nights gradually stops springing back and becomes a resident wrinkle, typically vertical lines on the cheeks and chest, unlike the horizontal expression lines caused by muscle movement. That's why the habit matters more in your thirties and beyond, and why prevention beats correction here.
To Sum It Up
Sleeping on your stomach or side presses your face into the pillow for six to nine hours a night, and repeatedly stressing the skin like this causes fine lines, wrinkles and breakouts, while also straining your neck and spine. Back sleeping is the optimal position for skin health. If you can't make the switch, a silk pillowcase, frequent pillowcase changes and a collagen-supporting night routine are the next best things.