Luckily there are some simple steps we can all take to stop it or lessen the problem
A doctor has warned that a common night-time habit could be “ageing” your skin as you sleep. This routine cannot only cause the development of wrinkles but could lead to facial asymmetry, he said.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, Doctor Joe Whittington, who is best known online as Dr Joe MD, explained: “Your pillow may be the reason why your face is not symmetrical.”
He went on to say that “constant pressure” on one side of your face can cause the development of wrinkles as well as facial asymmetry. “They’ve even proven it in studies with twins,” he said.
He referenced one scientific study, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal in 2014. From an analysis of 147 pairs of identical twins, study authors concluded that “prone sleep position” was one of four factors that could lead to asymmetry in the face.
They said: “Exogenous factors such as prone sleep position, tooth extractions, dentures, and smoking are significant risk factors for facial asymmetry.” Dr Joe added that the types of wrinkles caused by sleeping on your side are hard to get rid of.
“Even worse yet the wrinkles caused can be vertical facial wrinkles, and usually these long go away with Botox,” he said. Luckily he said there are three ways to minimise the risk of this happening.
The most important tip is to sleep on your back. Dr Joe said: “Number one, sleep on your back.
“The gold standard for facial ageing. I’m a side sleeper, I know it’s hard to do.”
Changing the type of pillowcase you use can also help. He said: “Number two, switch to a silk pillowcase. Smoother, softer and easier on your skin.”
But if you can’t break the habit of sleeping on your side he recommended switching between left and right. “Number three, if you can’t quit side sleeping, alternate sides to give your face equal time,” he said.
His advice is backed by experts at the University of Queensland in Australia. They said: “When you sleep on your side or stomach, your face skin is squeezed and crushed a lot more than if you sleep on your back. When you sleep on your side or stomach, gravity presses your face against the pillow.
“Your face skin is distorted as your skin is stretched, compressed and pulled in all directions as you move about in your sleep. You can reduce these external forces acting on the face by sleeping on your back or changing positions frequently.”
They also recommended the use of silk pillowcases to reduce the risk of wrinkles. Further to this they advised the following steps to keep your skin looking young and healthy:
- Quitting smoking
- Drinking plenty of water
- A healthy diet (eating enough vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, yoghurt and other fermented foods)
- Regular use of sunscreens
