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How Sleeping on Your Back Can Benefit Your Skin

Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia

Now that we’ve spoken about sleep creases—the lines and wrinkles caused by our sleep patterns—you may be curious about how you can prevent them.

The single most important tool in your arsenal against sleep creases is the position in which you sleep. Reducing contact between your face and your pillow by sleeping on your back will successfully prevent the formation of lines and folds. Even if you can’t sleep in this position every night, any increase in back sleeping will reduce the amount of creasing on the face overnight. Thankfully, there are some tools and strategies that can be helpful in your quest for more back sleep—all of which are used personally by Dr. Shannon Humphrey.

A Back Sleeping Pillow

Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia

Investing in a pillow designed specifically to promote back sleeping is a great place to start. These pillows are usually firm, with ample support for your head and neck. The right pillow will ensure you’re comfortable on your back, mitigating the temptation to turn to your side for a better night’s sleep.

Wedge Pillows

Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia

In the same way that a wheel chock keeps a car from rolling away, wedge pillows placed on either side of your body will keep you from rolling from side to side in your sleep. Wedge pillows can usually be found quite inexpensively and are often marketed to pregnant women for additional sleep support in later stages of pregnancy.

A Bolster Under Your Knees

Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia

A rolled up or round pillow placed under your knees can make sleeping on your back much more comfortable. When used in this way, a bolster can take pressure off the lower back and increase circulation. Remember, anything that makes sleeping on your back more sustainable will be beneficial to your skin in the long run.

A Weighted Blanket

Humphrey Cosmetic Dermatology, Vancouver, British Columbia

Not only is sleeping with a weighted blanket extremely calming, the added weight will make you less likely to roll from side to side while sleeping, reducing opportunities for face-to-pillow contact.

Using some, or all, of these sleep supports will help reduce sleep creases over time. If you have any questions, or you’re looking for more specific recommendations for the prevention of these lines and wrinkles, our team would be glad to help.

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