How to Prevent Sleep Wrinkles

Question: How do I prevent sleep wrinkles?

Answer: According to Dr. Goesel Anson, Plastic Surgeon and Creator of JuveRest, "sleep wrinkles are the lines that are formed when the face is compressed against a pillow night after night and they occur in predictable locations based on fixed anchor points that hold the skin to bone." Because the forces from contact with the pillow that cause the skin to be stretched, pushed and pulled are mechanical, muscle immobilizers such as Botox, which work on expression wrinkles, are ineffective for sleep wrinkles. "Sleep wrinkles disappear immediately on younger skin, but will eventually become permanent from constant compression and decreased skin elasticity with age," says Dr. Anson.

The key to preventing them is sleeping on your back, which also has other beauty benefits, like clearer, firmer skin and better back alignment. "They can be treated with wrinkle creams and fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, but they will likely come back or develop in adjacent areas if you don't address the real problem, which is facial compression." Dr. Anson recommends minimizing your facial contact with the bedding as much as possible, but realizes that changing your unconscious sleeping habits can be difficult: "A supportive anti-wrinkle pillow that prevents facial contact should be part of your preventative and anti-aging skin care routine, but it should be noted that some people with certain medical issues such as sleep apnea, gastric reflux, neck and back problems and pregnant women should not sleep on their backs." As for copper-threaded and satin pillowcases, there is "some research in favor of copper material and theoretically silk or satin will create less traction, however, any pillowcase fabric will still result in contact and compression of the face. The best option is to have a consistent anti-aging skin care routine, and learn how to avoid sleeping on your face."

Alexandra Tunell is the Senior Digital Beauty Editor at Harper's BAZAAR, where she writes beauty features and covers industry news, health, fitness and wellness trends. She began her career in the Lucky beauty closet, then went on to work at Allure. When she's not testing the latest skin care treatments, the Los Angeles native is searching the city for the best Mexican food, binge-watching Bravo and escaping to the beach as often as possible.

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