We know that getting eight hours of solid shut eye helps our cells to recuperate and regenerate for a healthy and radiant complexion. But, the way you're sleeping may be exacerbating wrinkle formation, reveals Cosmetic Physician Dr Pheobe Jones.
“Sleep lines are caused when people sleep on their tummy or on their side with their face quished into the pillow. Over years, this repetitive pressure and friction wrinkling up the skin results in ironing the wrinkles into the skin,” explains Dr Jones.
“In young people who have good skin elasticity and volume in their faces the effects aren’t as obvious and may resolve within an hour or two of waking. As we get older however, we experience volume loss and decreased skin elasticity so these wrinkles can become permanent,” she added.
Try these tips from Dr Jones to ensure you get your beauty sleep – wrinkle free.
Learn to sleep on your back
“For those side sleepers, learning to sleep on your back can be quite difficult but some people are able to learn to retrain themselves. There are a few back-sleeping pillows that you can buy that cradle the head and prevent you from turning to your side. For some people, placing a pillow under the knees as well can make back sleeping more comfortable as it puts the hip flexors in a more relaxed position and also prevents you from rolling to the side while asleep,” said Dr Jones.
Lather on a night cream
Dr Jones stresses the importance of taking care of your skin with good quality skincare products. “I recommend a product that contains hyaluronic acid to help plump and firm the skin and/or retinol as the Vitamin A derivate stimulates collagen to prevent fine lines. Using appropriate cosmeceuticals to provide the skin its moisture during sleep is essential to keep wrinkles at bay.”
Use silicon sheets
“Silicon sheeting is genius for sleep lines. Despite them not been the most attractive thing to wear to bed they certainly work their magic! Personally, I quite like the ones for the décolletage, forehead and eye areas. If you don’t want to use them all the time, you can just use them in the week leading up to an event and they will give a softening effect to fine lines,” said Dr Jones.
Upgrade your pillowcase
Dr Jones says “If sleeping on your back is just not a possibility, you can still prevent
those pillowcase-induced wrinkle lines by upgrading from a cotton pillowcase to silk.
The slippery surface of silk pillowcases causes less friction between your face and the pillowcase, helping to stop the bunching of the fabric that causes the deep creases.”
Consider laser therapy & hyaluronic acid injectables
“If you are looking to improve the state of lines that have formed from years spent sleeping on your side then laser therapy or injectables are the most effective methods. Both fraxel and other CO2 lasers can be good to help rid yourself of lines and improve the general skin quality by boosting collagen production while hyaluronic acid injectables also revolumise specific areas,” said Dr Jones.
PicoSure laser treatment by Cynosure can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Visit www.picosure.com.au for more information.
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