Reviewed by Sahil Chopra, MD, and Stacey Gunn, MD.

Research by Savit Malhotra and Theresa Do.

Introduction

Last week, we briefly introduced our new series on sleep and its relationship to dermatological disorders, taking the term “beauty sleep” to a whole new level. Sleep maintains the skin through mechanisms such as circadian rhythms, collagen production, and the skin barrier. Almost immediately after sleep deprivation, those around us can see changes. Over the next few weeks, we will dive into specific skin concerns that may be linked to the interference with the sleep process, starting with wrinkles. As wrinkles are a target of skincare products, understanding how sleep connects to their formation can help in their prevention.

Why Do Wrinkles Form

Wrinkles are one of the first noticeable physical changes as we get older. When we look in the mirror after some time or even after a poor night’s rest, the fine lines seem to sneak out of nowhere. Wrinkles are defined as creases on your skin that are caused by a combination of factors, like aging, environmental damage, and changes in skin composition.[1] Aging is the primary driver of wrinkles because our skin composition changes with age.[2] The skin has three layers: the epidermis (outer), the dermis (middle), and the hypodermis (inner). The epidermis serves as the first line of defence against the outer world. It is composed of keratinocytes (responsible for structure) and melanocytes (responsible for color). The dermis underneath the epidermis contains glands and vessels. It is held together by collagen and elastin, giving the skin its strength. Finally, the hypodermis is composed of fat and works to insulate the body by keeping it warm or cushioning during any impact.[3] Fine lines begin on the epidermis layer and are the beginning stages of wrinkles. With more damage and gravity, these fine lines can become wrinkles.[1,4]

Beneath the skin’s surface, physics plays a role in the formation of wrinkles. In daily activities, our skin experiences countless mechanical stresses. Every movement we make (including smiling, frowning, squinting, and even sleeping on a pillow) involves stretches, pulls, compressions, and folds on the skin. Like a rubber band, the skin will stretch, but return to its shape, hence its elasticity. However, over time, this elasticity may break down. Previously, literature in skin mechanics used computational and theoretical models to hypothesize how the skin’s elasticity may change with age.[5,6] In a recent 2025 study that assessed the mechanics of skin wrinkling, researchers used human skin samples to show that there are drastic changes in the dermis layer with age.[7] The researchers used skin samples from participants ages 16 to 91. They stretched the skin and allowed it to contract in the other direction. What they found is that with skin samples from older participants, the more the skin contracts. When there is too much contraction, it causes the skin to form persistent fine lines and wrinkles. Therefore, this may explain why repetitive, strong facial expressions, such as laughing or raising your eyebrows, can lead to wrinkles developing in those areas. Other factors amplifying facial expression wrinkles include skin dryness, having a lighter complexion, being middle-aged (40s), and being menopausal.[8]

The skin is a barrier that protects us from the external environment, including UV radiation, pollution, and pathogens. When we go through our lives, our skin works hard and becomes damaged from protecting us. For instance, UV radiation is considered a “complete carcinogen,” meaning that it can both initiate (cause DNA damage) and promote (stimulate cancerous tumor growth) the development of cancer.[9] Pollution, such as air pollution, can also penetrate into the skin. Cigarette smoke, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds can cause oxidative stress, leading to detrimental skin conditions.[10] Oxidative stress has been shown to be one of the drivers that accelerate skin aging.[11] To maintain barrier function and keep the skin smooth, the cells in the dermis must constantly repair themselves. This regeneration process is heavily influenced by sleep, as described in the following section.

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Sleep’s Impact on Wrinkles

As we go about our day, we are constantly exposed to UV radiation from the sun. This radiation causes damage to the skin’s DNA, which is one of the leading causes of skin wrinkles.[12,13] As we mentioned in the last article, sleep is important for regulating the circadian rhythm of skin cells, and this circadian rhythm helps to maintain the repair of skin DNA. One literature review, which focused on circadian rhythm and skin, has found that DNA repair mechanisms peak during sleep, allowing for some UV-related DNA damage to be undone.[14] However, when our sleep is disrupted, so is the repair process. When we interfere with the body’s natural repair mechanism, we are more likely to see deeper grooves in our skin. As we age, we are exposed to more UV-radiation, which leads to more damaged skin DNA and thus good sleep is essential as we age. Furthermore, melatonin may also aid in regulating DNA repair (as well as other anti-aging functions such as antioxidant defense, which helps prevent against UV-related damage), and poor sleep disrupts the body’s natural cycle of melatonin.[14]

Aside from DNA repair, poor sleep also contributes to decreased skin hydration, the water content in skin cells, which contributes to softness and glow, and the prevention of dryness and fine lines. One study, which looked at 32 women in their 40s, has found that even after just 1 day of sleep deprivation (4 hours of sleep), skin hydration was significantly reduced and continued to decrease with further deprivation.[15] This study has also found that skin elasticity (the ability of skin to stretch and return to its original shape) was significantly affected by reduced sleep in addition to skin wrinkles. One reason for this could be that reduced sleep is associated with increased transepidermal water loss (the process by which water passively evaporates from the skin).[14, 15] Water is a critical component of skin cell structure and function, and when we deprive ourselves of sleep, we are directly affecting the water content of our cells and causing unnecessary damage to them, and thus, our skin as a whole. 

As we have discussed previously, poor sleep has been shown to decrease the function of the skin barrier. Studies have shown that when we deprive ourselves of sleep, the skin barrier can break down and leave the inner skin layers exposed to toxins from the outside world.[16] Aside from water loss, a damaged skin barrier can lead to dryness, irritation, and micro-damage of the skin, all of which have been associated with accelerated skin aging.[17] Sleep helps to maintain this barrier, which helps to retain moisture and protect collagen and elastin in the deeper layers of the skin. Furthermore, sleep helps to protect the skin tissue and overall structure of the skin, giving it the youthful appearance that many strive for.[17]

Conclusion

Throughout this series, we will be focusing on the many ways in which poor sleep can impact the skin, with this week’s article highlighting poor sleep’s role in skin wrinkles. Many across the world strive for wrinkle-free and youthful skin and will spend thousands of dollars on products to try to achieve this. But what good are these products if we are depriving our body of its natural defense against skin aging? As new studies emerge, we continue to learn the many ways in which sleep is associated with the skin (see our first installment in this series for more information on the general connection between sleep and the skin). And with each of these studies, we continue to learn just how important sleep is. By getting proper sleep each night, we give our bodies the chance to defend against detriments to our skin. If you are worried that your sleep may not be where you want it to be, we encourage you to speak with a sleep specialist. The team at Empower Sleep is always here to help you! 

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