The Ability of Back Sleeping To Keep You Younger
All of us have our ideal sleeping
positions. Which one is yours? A lot of us sleep on our sides while
plenty of people can’t catch a wink without being on their tummies.
Sleeping on the back, perhaps, is the least popular of all positions.
But how does any of this matter? When we are about to doze off, we
hardly think much about our sleeping posture. But you might be surprised
to know that the way you sleep can impact your health in several ways.
Every sleeping posture has its pros and cons, but many experts say
that sleeping on your back is the best. Side-sleeping can lead to
premature wrinkles and may cause stiff neck or shoulder pain.
Stomach-sleeping, meanwhile, is regarded as the worst posture as it can
induce back and neck pain. Sleeping on your back, however, will protect
your spine and also helps relieve pain by minimizing pressure on your
joints and muscles. Not only this, dermatologists say that sleeping on
your back, also known as the supine position, is the best one for
prolonging youthful skin. Let’s take a look at how back sleeping can
help keep you younger.
1. Can Reduce Breakouts
Did you know that your pillows absorb sebum (an oily substance secreted
from the sebaceous glands in the skin) from the skin and hair while you
sleep? That sebum residue can be transmitted to your face as you are
sleeping on your sides or on your tummy. When this happens regularly, it
can lead to skin issues like blackheads, whiteheads, redness, and
irritation. When you sleep on your back, your face will automatically be
away from the pillow and hence there will be much lesser chances of
dirt and oils clinging to it.
2. Fewer Wrinkles on Your Face
Sleeping on your back can also minimize the
appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As we said above, when you sleep
on your side or stomach, your face is in direct contact with the
pillow. When this happens consistently, it can pinch, pull, and irritate
your skin, resulting in noticeable sleep lines and wrinkles on your
face which have been linked to premature aging. Sleep lines appear in
parallel along the temples, around the eyes, the mouth, and around the
lateral cheek area. People who sleep on the same side for years usually
have more distinct sleep lines on the side that they sleep on.
At the same time, sleeping on the back
keeps your face away from the pillow and thereby reduces your chances of
developing premature fine lines and wrinkles. Moreover, this posture
can also prevent facial asymmetry – the unevenness in the texture or
volume of your face – that can often be caused by years of side or
stomach sleeping.
3. Fewer Wrinkles on Your Neck
Apart from preventing wrinkles on your face, back sleeping can also help
you have fewer wrinkles on your neck. Your neck can easily be scrunched
and tweaked when you sleep on your stomach, causing unwanted lines and
wrinkles on the area. When you sleep on the back, though, you won’t be
scrunching your head down into your chest and your neck will be
extended. This will help it remain less wrinkly.
4. Less Puffiness on Your Face
Do you often wake up with your face puffy or swollen, particularly in
the areas of the upper cheek and around the eyes? Sleeping on your
stomach or sides may be causing that. When you lie down with your face
on the pillow, the pressure of your face into it creates more puffiness
around the eyes. That’s because more blood and fluids flow into your
face as your head and your heart are lying at the same level, giving the
impression that the area is swollen. A few good nights of back
sleeping, where your head is elevated, will help control where the fluid
goes and can help you avoid bags and puffiness around the face. You are
then likely to wake up looking fresh.
5. You Will Wake Up With The Sun
Another little-appreciated benefit of sleeping on your back at night is
that you are likely to wake up with sunlight streaming down your face.
When this happens in the morning, your brain will better receive the
signal from the sun about waking up. Moreover, getting some sun every
day is actually quite good for your skin. Taking in a few UV rays right
in the morning may give your skin a healthy glow. Research has shown
that that sunshine can lower blood pressure and improve heart health.
So, the more you nourish your body, the better it will look.
How To Sleep On Your Back - Tips and Tricks
Switching to a different sleeping position isn’t easy for those who have
become accustomed to flopping down on their bellies or curling up on
their side at night. Moreover, not many find sleeping on the back to be
comfortable. The good news is that you can train yourself for back
sleeping by using some simple strategies.
*Use a body pillow to stop yourself from
rolling onto your face and stomach.
* Put a rolled-up towel under your lower back or a pillow under your
knees while sleeping. This should help move pressure from your back and
support the body in those places that have natural curves.
* Get a wedge pillow or a bolster pillow from the market. A wedge pillow
can assist you with head elevation while a bolster pillow will go under
the knees comfortably to support your back.
* To get used to your new sleeping posture, consider creating low
lighting in the hours before bedtime. It will help you feel comfortable.
You can also put some relaxing scents, like lavender, near your
bedside.
* If you feel uncomfortable sleeping on the back, just spread yourself
out on the bed. Like a starfish. This will prevent you from moving
around much and you can simply spread your limbs fully until you are
comfortable enough to doze off.