Over the recent future, TikTok has been the social platform that introduces trends in the beauty and skincare industry and the latest is the notion of having a side of the face that you sleep on contributes to wrinkles. Both influencers and users have posted videos about the risks of side-sleeping for the skin and recommended that people stop this and switch to back-sleeping if they want to fight the so-called “sleep wrinkles". ” 

 We then consulted dermatologists and skin specialists in order to find out whether it is actually possible to choose a sleeping position that will affect the way your skin looks and what you can do to severely diminish the chances of getting those unhealthy sleep wrinkles.  

 What Are Sleep Wrinkles? 

 Now to explain how lying on the side can lead to wrinkles, one needs to know what sleep wrinkles are. These are wrinkles that appear on the skin as a consequence of pressing it continuously every time one is sleeping. While expression lines are formed due to constant muscle movements such as smiling or frowning, sleep wrinkles appear because in the night you lay your face on a pillow and remain in this position for several hours, thus your skin is folded in some parts, and becomes creased. 

 

 Why This Position Gets A LOT Of Criticisms Flying can also help to improve your sleep if you are a side-sleeper since it helps to minimize the negative impact of this position. 

 The side sleeping has now become a new trend on the popular TikTok app because every time you lay on your side, one of the halves has its face into the pillow. The folds that are created due to this can form wrinkles and this is after some time of existence of the folds. Some people on TikTok have said that, by sleeping on the side of your face for a number of years, asymmetrical aging will occur, and new wrinkles will appear only on one side of your face. 

 

 It’s Not Just Your Imagination: Dermatologists Discusses Side Sleeping and Wrinkles 

 For their part, dermatologists say that there is scientific evidence to support the assertion that side-sleeping results in sleep wrinkles. According to a New York based dermatologist, Dr. Debra Jaliman, ‘sleep wrinkles occur every time there is distortion that is caused by the face when it is in contact with any sleep surface’. 

Is It Possible to Ward Off Wrinkles by Sleeping on Your Back? 

 Some of the tips given by TikTok users include changing to back-sleeping so that one does not develop wrinkles. There is no doubt that parents advised correctly precisely if you want to decrease the risk of the appearance of sleep wrinkles. During back sleep the face does not come in contact with any surface and therefore there is no friction or even chances of skin creasing. 

 

 Jaliman MD was asked whether back-sleeping is the best position that reduces formation of wrinkles, to which he replied affirmatively. In her own words, ‘when you are back sleeping there is no interaction with the face and the pillow at all and hence there is no question of any distortion or pressure on skin’. 

 

 However, although back-sleeping is good for the skin, it may not be comfortable for people, or possible at a given time. While some people have a tendency of rolling onto their sides, or can struggle to remain on their back all night. In these cases, there are other measures you can take to reduce the impacts of side-sleeping on your skin.  

 How to Avoid Sleep Creases: Tips from a Dermatologist 

 If back sleeping is not possible for you, then you do not have to worry so much as there are measures which can be taken so as to avoid getting sleep wrinkles all together. 

 Pillowcases should be of silk material as it is caring to the skin on the face. 

 Another good way of dealing with sleep wrinkles is by using a silk or satin pillowcase. Silk pillowcases are less abrasive than cotton types and do not tug at the skin as much when a person rolls over during the night. This means that your skin can hardly fold or crease hence minimizing the incidences of sleep wrinkles. As one of the simplest and more glamorous advice, dermatologists also suggest changing the pillowcases to silk ones. 

Use an Anti-Wrinkle Pillow 

There is also an option of an anti-wrinkle or contour pillow that helps to position the head and the neck and thus reducing the pressure of the face on the pillow.

 Sleep on Both Sides 

 If you can’t change your position to back-sleeping, then it is advisable to change sides every now and then. Here, it can be said that when you switch the side you are sleeping on, the pressure on the face surface is distributed evenly and one half is not wrinkled more than the other.  

 Are Sleep Wrinkles Enough to Worry About? 

 Hence is the TikTok trend about side-sleeping and wrinkles something we should concern ourselves with? But they are assuring the public there is no cause for alarm, but people should maybe begin to look at the kind of sleep they are having on the skin. In case you are worried about sleep wrinkles, some changes like using a silk pillowcase or even buying an anti-wrinkle pillow will help. 

 

 The main point then, is moderation. As for the back sleeping, it might be the best for preventing wrinkles, but do not stress too much if you can’t change your sleeping habits. Develop a good skin care program, avoid sun exposure to your face and try to reduce pressure on your face during sleeping. 

 Conclusion 

 Apparently, the rants that TikTok made about side-sleeping giving wrinkles isn’t just another trend with no substance or facts to support it. However, the good news is that you don’t have to totally disrupt your sleeping pattern in order to safeguard the health of your skin. Healing positioning as simple as using a silk pillowcase, sleeping on the opposite side or applying a moisturizing night treatment can assist you get rid of sleep wrinkles and maintain your skin youthful. But as they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry; hence, although you need to take it into perspective, do not overthink it to the point of having sleepless nights.