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Sleep Wrinkles: Facial Aging and Facial Distortion During Sleep
Goesel Anson1, Michael A C Kane1, Val Lambros1
1Dr Anson is a Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. Dr Kane is a plastic surgeon in private practice in New York, NY. Dr Lambros is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA.
Facial wrinkles result from skin distortion due to aging, facial expressions, or mechanical compression during sleep. Sleep wrinkles, distinct from expression lines, may also contribute to skin expansion.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Biomechanics
- Aesthetics
Background:
- Wrinkles are a key indicator of facial aging, significantly impacting aesthetic perceptions.
- Skin aging involves the development of fault lines, leading to wrinkles.
- These wrinkles stem from skin distortion caused by facial expressions or mechanical compression during sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on wrinkle development and associated biomechanical changes.
- To explore the distinct etiologies, locations, and patterns of expression versus sleep wrinkles.
- To investigate the potential role of sleep compression in wrinkle formation and facial skin expansion.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on intrinsic and extrinsic influences on skin aging.
- Analysis of biomechanical forces (compression, shear, stress) acting on facial skin during sleep.
- Exploration of the relationship between sleep position and wrinkle development.
Main Results:
- Expression wrinkles and sleep wrinkles differ in their causes, appearance, and anatomical distribution.
- Mechanical compression, shear, and stress forces during sleep contribute to wrinkle formation.
- Sleep compression may also play a role in the expansion of facial skin.
Conclusions:
- Wrinkle formation is multifactorial, influenced by both dynamic expressions and static sleep positions.
- Understanding the biomechanics of sleep-induced wrinkles is crucial for aesthetic interventions.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the mechanisms of sleep compression on facial skin aging and expansion.
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