I’ve always been a side-sleeper. Lately I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, my eye wrinkles are more pronounced when I first wake up in the morning. They gradually lighten a bit after I shower and prepare for my day, but I’m beginning to see that the years of sleeping on my side are etching lines into my face. Yikes!
According to the American Academy of Dermatology and WebMD, I’m not alone. The AAD cautions that sleeping in the same position every night can lead to the formation of “sleep lines,” which are lines that become etched into your skin’s surface while you sleep and don’t disappear once you’re awake.
Think about it. You know that making repetitive facial movements, like squinting and smiling, can eventually create eye wrinkles and crows feet. These sleep lines are formed the same way. When you sleep on your stomach, the skin on your forehead often gets bunched up, which can lead to forehead creases. Sleeping on your side can cause your cheeks to scrunch up toward your eyes, forming wrinkles under and around the eyes.
So what can we do? Besides investing in a good anti eye wrinkle cream, the AAD suggests sleeping on your back to reduce eye wrinkle formation. If you’re like me and tend to switch positions often while sleeping, try putting pillows on either side of you to act as bumpers. These pillows will help prop you up and keep you on your back the whole night.
Best wishes for sweet dreams and a wrinkle-free morning!