Your Sleep Routine Could Be Hurting Your Skin

Bacteria. Sweat. Dead skin cells. Old hair products. Oil and grease. These all sound pretty gross and unfortunately, could all be lurking on your dirty pillowcase, and potentially wreaking havoc on your skin. In fact, there are numerous factors related to your sleep routine that could impact the health and appearance of your skin. Here are four easy strategies to maximize your snooze time for a healthier, more youthful complexion.

Sleep Heals Your Skin

Turns out, nearly half of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Burning the midnight oil poses a risk to your skin. During sleep, skin rebuilds its collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure. These processes are crucial for preventing wrinkles and age spots. 

A poor night’s sleep can also cause swollen eyes, dark undereye circles, and paler skin. So for your skin’s sake, you should try to get in bed earlier. Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine for at least four hours before bed can also help you sleep more soundly. 

Certain Sleep Positions Cause Wrinkles 

While you’re tucking in early, there are a few more steps you can take to avoid an unsightly appearance in the morning. Certain sleep positions can cause wrinkles. If you can, it’s best to sleep on your back with your head elevated. Side- and stomach-sleeping stretch out your face skin and create friction between your face and pillow. Both can cause wrinkles to form prematurely. 

A best practice is to gently wash and moisturize your face before bed. To make sure your skin stays hydrated through the night, though, you should also be mindful of the temperature in your room. Too hot or cold, and your skin could easily dry out. 

Keep Your Pillow Grime-Free 

Every night, anything your face has encountered throughout the day will end up on your pillow. From sweat to food to germs and oils from your hair, it could get pretty gross, pretty quickly. Letting all this hang out near your face all night can lead to clogged pores and acne. 

You should aim to launder all your bed linens at least once a week. Some experts say the fabric of your pillowcase won’t have much effect on your skin. Others argue that cotton is rough and can damage your skin, while silk or another soft material may not. Silk is also less absorbent, so it won’t leech moisture from your skin overnight. You might want to consider an alternate material pillowcase to see if it alleviates your skin issues. 

Bedtime habits that help promote and protect healthy, wrinkle-free skin that is less prone to breakouts are important. Ultimately, you need to find the nighttime routine that works for you! However, if you make several adjustments to try to care for your skin and still find that it’s wrinkled, dry or acne-prone, it may be time to consult a dermatologist. The trained specialists at New River Dermatology would be happy to help.