You don’t smoke. You don’t overdo sun exposure, and when you’re out there you wear sunscreen and cover up when possible. You opt for Botox when necessary and treat yourself to facials. Is there something else you can be doing to keep those pesky lines, creases, and wrinkles from forming or at least from being so prominent?

Yes, you can give your skin some love at bedtime. Here are three tips.

  • Pamper your face at bedtime. Your body uses the time you’re asleep repair itself and the skin is no exception. Use skin cleansers that thoroughly remove dirt, make-up, and excess oils. Such cleansing routines should be complemented with a moisturizer that contains retinol, an antioxidant known to interrupt the release of free radicals and prevent the appearance of the premature signs of aging.
  • Don’t sleep your way to wrinkles. Most people tend to favor one side when they’re sleeping. What’s the harm in that? You can actually cause sleep lines to form by sleeping repeatedly on the same side. These lines are similar to laugh lines, smoker’s lines, and squint lines. Lying in the same position for decades can lead to the appearance of creases and folds on just one side of the face. Sleeping on your back avoids this problem and is also a good way to prevent the build-up of fluids in the lower eyelids, which leads to puffiness. Now only if you could get your partner to stop snoring!
  • Get enough sleep. So how much is enough? It depends. Certain variables may be taken into consideration such as your age, level of activity, and general health. Generally, adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep for them to feel fully recharged the next day. A recent study even found out that individuals who have fewer hours of sleep have more obvious signs of physical aging — fine lines, reduced skin elasticity, and uneven skin tone — than good quality sleepers.

So, while we can help you with your skin issues at Deschutes Dermatology, help yourself by paying attention to your skin at bedtime!