Which sleeping positions cause people to age faster?

Sleeping face down or on the side for too long can lead to many wrinkles on the face, especially in women after menopause.

Lack of sleep or sleeping in the wrong position can affect lifespan, cause dark circles under the eyes, and rough skin. Recently, experts have stated that sleeping positions also impact the level of skin aging and the appearance of wrinkles on the face.

According to Emma Coleman, the head of the Bespoke Aesthetics clinical practice in the UK, some people wake up with puffy faces due to fluid accumulation during sleep.

She explains that sleeping on your side or face down can cause more fluid to build up. Many people wake up with impressions on their faces or a sensation similar to toothache. In the long term, this can create wrinkles. On the other hand, sleeping on your back can reduce this condition. Not just British experts, the American Academy of Dermatology also recommends people sleep on their backs to avoid premature facial skin aging.

Other causes leading to eye puffiness and wrinkles include sleeping with makeup on, consuming too much alcohol, eating a lot of salt, or hormonal changes. These swollen marks are temporary and will disappear within an hour or longer.

However, as people age, the impressions from the bed sheets or pillows on their faces take a longer time to disappear.

“At this stage, the swollen face that looks like it’s just crawled out from the blanket can last until noon. Even worse, pressing too long on one side of the face, in the same position, can also cause wrinkles,” Coleman explains.

Dr. Amanda Wong Powell, the clinical director of Courthouse Clinics, explains that as people age, their faces become less symmetrical. Essentially, wrinkles are repeated movements. Over time, habits such as furrowing your brow or scrunching your face create permanent lines. Since humans cannot completely remove facial expressions, Dr. Powell recommends sleeping in the correct position to reduce facial wrinkles.

“When observing patients, I can absolutely tell which side they sleep on. For instance, more wrinkles on the right cheek indicate they have been sleeping on their right side,” she explains.

Expert Coleman even states she can predict the favorite sleeping position of 90% of her patients just through their faces. She explains that after menopause, women sleeping in the same position for three to six months can create permanent wrinkles on the face and chest area.

“Many pieces of evidence show that sleeping on one side too much can cause chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis, a common inflammation in the upper cartilage of the ear. This is characterized by small, soft swellings or round lumps,” Dr. Adam Friedmann, a dermatology consultant at Harley, explains.

According to experts, using an inappropriate pillow can also affect sleep. Pillows that are too firm can cause back pain, leading people to unconsciously adopt bad sleeping positions, thereby accelerating aging.

“It’s been a long time since the idea that the firmer the pillow, the better was debunked. Nowadays, I advise you to choose a comfortable, soft pillow that can still support your back, ensuring a good sleeping position,” Sammy Margo, a sleep expert and physiotherapist, suggests.

She explains, petite women, those with a waistline, or side sleepers need to use soft pillows that align with their hip curves. Essentially, the pillow needs to effectively support the spine and should be replaced every eight years.