How Does Your Sleeping Habits Cause Sleep Wrinkles?

Sleep wrinkles can develop in response to pressure asserted when one’s face is pressed against a sleep surface. Wrinkles are generally considered to be caused by facial expressions. While facial expressions are behind most significant wrinkle patterns, not all wrinkles on the face are caused by contraction of facial muscles. One’s sleeping position is actually one of the main causes, more specifically sleep wrinkles. Just like how sleeping positions can cause sleep wrinkles, a lack of sleep can also lead to wrinkles and contribute to overall facial ageing. In this article, we will discuss how one’s sleep routine can result in sleep wrinkles, and what you can do about them.

What is pillow face? 

Pillow face refers to the creases and folds from your sleep positions at night. Sleep lines can form when people sleep on their stomach or side, with the face squished into the pillow. Over time, the repetitive pressure and friction results in ironing the wrinkles in the facial skin. As we age, these sleep lines can become permanent due to volume loss and a reduction in skin elasticity.

The sleep regeneration process 

While the lack of sleep causes wrinkles, ample sleep prevents further wrinkle formation. The skin produces new collagen when one sleeps, hence the skin is plumper and less likely to wrinkle. A recent clinical trial commissioned by Estée Lauder and conducted by physician-scientists concluded that women who slept only 5 hours per night for one month had double the amount of wrinkles and spots compared to those who slept at least 7 hours. 

Follow these tips to help prevent and get rid of sleep wrinkles:

Choosing your sleep position

By sleeping on the side or stomach, your face is pressed into your pillow, causing your skin to fold up and form vertical wrinkles. These wrinkles eventually become etched on the skin’s surface and can become permanent with time and repetition. Sleep wrinkles are caused by the repeatedly pulling, stretching and pushing the skin on the face with changes in sleep position. These forces become significant when we consider the amount of time spent in sleep and sleep position. 

Your pillowcase matters 

The CUIONS™ Anti-Ageing Beauty Copper Pillowcase contains advanced copper ion technology. It is antibacterial, suitable for acne patients as well as clinically proven to reduce facial wrinkles. An average person will spend 229,961 hours in their lifetime sleeping. This is given that an average person sleeps 8 hours every night. The right bedding can either provide comfort or cause discomfort, impacting your sleep quality. Dermatologists advise that the material in contact with your skin, especially your pillowcase, should also be non-irritating and breathable.

The CUIONS™ nanoparticle fabric was evaluated in the form of a pillowcase in a landmark study done in 2012. The study was by a group of Korean dermatologists that demonstrated there are statistically significant results between the groups of patients sleeping on the pillowcases containing copper-impregnated fibers, as compared to the control pillowcases. Paying attention to the fabrics that your skin comes in contact with for such long periods of the night is an important factor. However, many people often overlook this in their bedtime routine. Switching up your bedding may just be the step you need to get better sleep.

The CUIONS™ Anti-Aging Beauty Copper Pillowcase is clinically proven to reduce facial wrinkles and also has anti-bacterial properties.

Wear a sleep mask 

A sleep mask serves as a protective layer between you and your pillow, hence you’re less likely to wake up with sheet lines and therefore less likely to suffer collagen breakdown.

Wearing a copper eye mask further helps in reduction in wrinkles, fine lines and improvement of the overall appearance. While sleeping, copper ions are absorbed through the skin, stabilizing and stimulating the formation of extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, fibronectin and integrin. Copper ions facilitate efficient collagen and elastin cross-linking. Superoxide dismutase enzyme, which is copper-dependent, helps to protect against free radicals in the skin, preventing premature ageing. Hence, copper ions help prevent wrinkles from forming as well as improve the appearance of the skin.

The CUIONS™ Anti-Aging Sleeping Eye Mask can also be used in conjunction with the CutisCool™ Biological Gel Pack, which can help to achieve anti-puffiness, anti-fatigue and reduce as well as improve dark eye circles. CutisCool™ Gel is sealed in a leak-proof packaging to form a cooling mixture but without the discomfort of ice.

The CUIONS™ Anti-Aging Sleeping Eye Mask includes advanced copper ion technology, clinically proven to reduce wrinkles, improve the undereye skin health, eye bags and puffiness when used with the CutisCool™ Biological Gel Pack.

Anti-wrinkle patches

These are medical grade polymer patches that mimic the skin barrier and erase wrinkles, unique in the Singapore market. QRASER™ patches contain oligopeptides to further tighten and lift the dermis, recreating the optimal environment for your skin to start stimulating more collagen formation from the inside, providing a natural facelift non surgically. There is also one special cut out for the neck area available for maximum lifting and targets wrinkles on the neck.

The Qraser™ Cosmeceutical Transdermal Delivery Patch is dermatologist-desgined for eye bags, undereye wrinkles and loose skin. The unique Qraser™ anti-wrinkle polymer technology mimics the natural hydration and homeostasis (natural balance) of the skin barrier, known as the stratum corneum to enhance cosmeceutical absorption. 

References:

Kotlus BS. Effect of Sleep Position on Perceived Facial Aging. Dermatologic surgery. 2013;39:1360-1362.

Poljsak B, Godic A, Lampe T, Dahmane R. The influence of the sleeping on the formation of facial wrinkles. Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy. 2012;14:133-138.

Anson G, Kane MA, Lambros V. Sleep Wrinkles: Facial Aging and Facial Distortion During Sleep. Aesthet Surg J. 2016;36(8):931-940. doi:10.1093/asj/sjw074