Does the Way You Sleep Affect Your Skin?

After a long day, nothing feels better than hitting the sheets and getting some much-needed rest. You snuggle up with a pillow and close your eyes. Have you ever stopped to think about your position and how your skin creases when your face is pressed against the pillow? Believe it or not, the position in which you sleep plays a role in the appearance of your skin.

The face is the most delicate part of the body, which is why it’s important to take care when lying down. Different sleep positions can affect your skin in different ways:

Blocked pores and enlarged oil glands are two common issues with sleeping on your stomach. The excess oil secreted by your gland can lead to acne breakouts. In addition, when you lie on your stomach, pressure is applied to the skin, which causes the oil glands to produce more oil. This can clog pores and lead to acne flare-ups. Sleeping on your stomach also causes facial skin to wrinkle and sag over time since the face is pressed against the pillow.

The recommended sleeping position for acne-prone skin is sleeping on your back or side. Sleeping on your back allows the pores to be exposed to the open air and not clogged up with oil or dirt. It also prevents pressure from being applied to the skin. The drawback of this position is that it can cause wrinkles and saggy skin since your face is pressed against a pillow for several hours.

Sleep position can affect other parts of your face as well, such as:
The creases that develop on your face when you lie on your side can cause crow’s feet and wrinkles to occur. Wrinkles usually appear in the cheeks, under the eyes, and forehead. Although they are largely caused by age, sleeping in this position can also speed up the process.

Sleeping on your back is the best position for preventing wrinkles and fine lines. It does not cause the skin to crease and reduces the amount of pressure applied to your face. You should sleep with your arms on either side of you or under a pillow. This keeps the skin away from the pillow’s surface and reduces the number of wrinkles it causes.

Although a lack of sleep can cause your skin to look unhealthy, sleeping in any one position for too long can cause damage. If you sleep on your back, side, or stomach for most of the night, it may be worth investing in a silk pillowcase. These pillowcases do not ruin the skin as much as regular cotton, but prevent wrinkles from forming over time.