Sleep mask – something everyone should have, or a waste of money?
Everyone knows that people need proper sleep for good health. In one of the previous articles, we found out that rest at night is important not only for the functioning of the brain – it is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, intestines and many other body systems. To ensure a good night’s sleep, people are advised to sleep in complete darkness, hiding from all light sources: street lights shining through the window, the screen of a working TV, indicators of home devices, and so on. To prevent outside light from interfering with sleep, some people buy themselves a sleep mask that covers their eyes. But is this piece of cloth really capable of improving sleep, or is it a waste of money?
Sleep mask improves sleep and alertness
A sleep mask really helps to improve sleep – this is a scientifically proven fact. Recently, representatives of Cardiff University in the UK reminded people that people should sleep in total darkness. According to them, in order to sleep soundly and not wake up for the recommended 8 hours, you need to completely eliminate all possible light sources. The main source of light in any room is the window, so they recommend using blackout curtains. Also a very good alternative is a sleep mask.
For sound sleep, you need to hang thick blinders, or buy a sleep mask
In the course of a recent scientific work, scientists conducted an experiment involving several volunteers. Throughout the study, one group of people slept without a sleep mask, while another group wore a tight bandage. During the experiment, scientists made two interesting conclusions. First, the sleep mask helped improve the sleep of patients in intensive care units. Secondly, the next day, people who slept in a sleep mask showed increased attentiveness. At the same time, the volunteers did not notice a difference in sleep – according to them, they slept as usual.
This is not the only study that has proven the benefits of sleep masks. The fact that they help patients in intensive care units sleep better was proven in studies in 2010, 2013 and 2017.
Читайте также: Регулярный дневной сон может быть признаком опасных болезней
It is uncomfortable to sleep with a sleep mask – true or myth?
According to sleep specialist Rosie Osmuna, the light from the window and indicators of home appliances prevent people from sleeping because it suppresses the production of the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for regulating sleep patterns. Not only that, due to its lack, a person may experience problems falling asleep – sometimes this leads to full-fledged insomnia. Therefore, the light-blocking mask actually improves sleep by allowing melatonin to be produced in the required amount.
Light during sleep interferes with the production of melatonin, which increases the risk of insomnia
Rosie Osmun noted that some people may not find sleep masks very comfortable. They should take a closer look at thick curtains, or explore the variety of types of masks – there are thin and thick options on sale in cotton, silk or even fleece, a heated mask and a model with a gel insert that eliminates bags under the eyes and puffiness.
Обратите внимание: существуют недорогие маски для сна стоимостью около 60 рублей. Также ест вариант за 400 рублей с регулируемой застежкой и пространством для предотвращения нагрузки на глаза. Особенного внимания заслуживает маска для сна за 1000 рублей со встроенными наушниками для прослушивания расслабляющей музыки.
There are sleep masks with earmuffs that also block out excess noise.
It is important to note that sometimes sleep masks can be harmful. The fact is that due to close contact with the skin, dead cells, fat and other dirt accumulate on the tissue. According to dermatologist Benedetta Brazzini, the accumulated dirt can cause acne on the face, as well as other skin problems. Therefore, a sleep mask should be washed regularly, at least once a week. You can even do this by hand – you don’t need to wait for the accumulation of dirty clothes to be immersed in the washing machine.
If you wash your sleep mask regularly, nothing bad will happen to your skin.
Some people believe that a sleep mask can cause premature aging of the facial skin. There is no scientific confirmation of this, however, Benedetta Brazzini warns that short-term wrinkles and folds may form around the eyes in the morning. Usually they occur due to the fact that synthetic fibers rub the skin. To prevent this, it is necessary to choose masks only from natural materials.
А вы пользуетесь маской для сна? Помогает ли она вам? Своим отзывом делитесь в нашем Telegram-чате. Также на забудьте подписаться на наш Дзен-канал, чтобы не пропускать свежие статьи!
A sleep mask isn’t the only thing that helps you get the most out of your night. All people are advised to go to bed around 10:00 pm. Some people manage to finish everything by this time, but after going to bed, many fail to fall asleep quickly. Recently, a selection of working life hacks has been released on our website that help you fall asleep in a matter of minutes. Read this article, memorize the techniques and put them into practice!
