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Sleep side preference did not correlate to facial wrinkles, ptosis

No significant correlation was observed between patients’ sleep side preference and the appearance of wrinkles or facial descent, according to recent study results.

One hundred women (mean age, 48.5 years) at a private cosmetic medical practice between January and April 2011 were questioned about sleep position preference. Ninety-two women were Caucasian, three were African-American, four were Hispanic and one was Korean-American. Frontal images were evaluated by an independent physician observer to determine which facial side exhibited more wrinkles (not specifically sleep lines) and which side displayed more ptosis.

Forty-two patients reported being right-sided sleepers; 23 were identified as left-sided sleepers. There was no significant relationship between sleep side and side with more wrinkles (chi-square test; P=.78). There also was no significant relationship between sleep side and side that looked more ptotic (chi-square test; P=.74).

Left-sided rhytidosis was significantly more common in study patients. “Previous studies have shown a greater percentage of photodamage and skin cancer on the left side of the face of drivers,” the study said. “The present study was performed in a medical facility located in a suburban setting where the majority of subjects are drivers.”

“Sleep position was not noticeably or significantly related to wrinkle or facial descent severity,” researcher Brett S. Kotlus, MD, a Michigan-based cosmetic and oculofacial surgeon, told Healio.com. “More wrinkles were seen on the left side of the face, which [is attributed] to sun exposure.”

Disclosure: Dr. Kotlus reports no relevant financial disclosures.