You must have come across those pesky Instagram ads where people are shown sleeping with a sort of fancy cover on their eyes. These are eye patches, commonly referred to as eye masks in some regions.
Every few years, a new trend comes into the sleep aid industry, and yet many people hardly get sound sleep. It’s a serious concern, which is getting worse with time in today’s fast-paced world.
Here’s the thing, though: you’ll find quite some positive responses when it comes to eye patches. Some say it helps them to wake up fully recharged, while others claim improvement in puffiness or pigmentation under the eyes.
But should you consider them? Or is popping some CBD gummies for sleep more than enough? Let’s find out!!
What are sleep eye patches?
First things first, this article is not about the medical-grade eye patches that doctors prescribe after eye surgeries. Sleep eye patches are a totally different product, and they’re easily available over the counter. They are generally made of soft materials like hydrogel, silicon, bi-cellulose, and soft clothing material.
Some brands also soak them with active skin-calming things like caffeine, collagen, and plant extracts, and caffeine. They are like fun and fancy stickers that you put over your closed eyes before going to bed to get a deep, restful, and rejuvenating sleep.
You can easily buy one from your nearest pharmacy, Walmart, Target, or any local wellness store. Options are plenty, but try to stick with reputed brands like Peter Thomas Roth, Loops, Bruder Eye Masks, Tear Restore, and Ortopad. Or, if you want to save some bucks, go with the highest-rated generic one on Amazon, but read reviews beforehand.
The difference between regular sleep masks and eye patches is that patches come with an adhesive material that lightly sticks to your skin. Whereas regular masks have a string attached to keep them in place, many find it discomforting.
Also, the patches cannot be used again and again, whereas simple sleep masks can be washed and reused as many times as possible before the cloth material gets too weak to block the light.
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How do sleep eye patches work?
Our bodies have an internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm or bio clock. You’ll notice that once you start sleeping and waking up at the same time, you won’t need any alarm clock. Your eyes will open at just the right time, and you’ll start feeling sleepy at the same time every day; that’s how effective the internal clock is.
When it gets dark, our bodies produce a hormone called melatonin, and that hormone instructs our bodies to sleep. But even a small amount of light coming from phone screens, room bulbs, and street lamps can disrupt this rhythm. This leads to agitation, stress, anxiety, and overthinking, making falling asleep very difficult.
This is where sleep eye patches come in handy. They create a barrier between the eyes and light, causing complete darkness, which then leads to good sleep. Studies show that we sleep much better in darkness, and since our eyelids are opaque, some light can enter through them.
Eye patches completely block all the light and increase the chances of better sleep. Plus, as stated above, some of them have naturally soothing ingredients that calm the eyes and make us fully relaxed. So, yes, to answer the main question, sleeping with eye patches does help.
Benefits of Sleeping with Eye Patches
There are many benefits of eye patches, then just general sleep improvement. First, they can protect the skin around your eyes. Many of us toss and turn a lot at night, and our skin then rubs against the sheet, pillow cover, and blankets.
Some people get rashes from this, some get wrinkles, some get puffiness, and some notice hair falling from eyebrows and eyelids. Wearing an eye patch may prevent this, as it creates a barrier between the eyes and the bedding material surface.
But this is only possible with full eye cover patches, the ones that come in the shape of masks. Even if you choose the below eye patch, consider putting a full eye mask over it.
The area around our eyes is very delicate, and some eye patches have moisturizing and hydrating ingredients. This can reduce morning puffiness or even fine lines in some cases. Sleeping with eye patches may also reduce anxiety and stress, especially if you have tight skin around your eyes or have migraines and nerve pain.
The comforting ingredients used in eye patches allow natural healing of the skin and offer slow and steady relaxation. Some brands also add a few weighted beads that gently apply light pressure on the skin around the eyes, reducing tension and stress.
Are there any risks? Is it good for everyone?
Yup, eye patches are good for almost everyone. Until or unless you have sensitive skin, which may get irritated due to the ingredients used. In that case, it’s best to go with regular cloth sleep masks.
But here’s the thing: not everyone likes the sensation of some weight on their eyes, so give it a test ride first. The biggest benefit is perhaps for those who are constantly traveling, moving from one time zone and city to another.
Just carry it in your bag, and put it on whenever you get time to close your eyes. People who work the night shift and struggle to keep their room dark after coming home in the morning also find sleep patches effective.
There aren’t any severe risks, though, just that single-use and throwaway patches can be expensive for some. In that case, try to stick with eating sleep gummies and putting a regular mask over your eyes.
Conclusion
To sum it up, yes, sleeping with eye patches does help. They block the light, reduce puffiness, improve relaxation, and may also increase the duration of REM sleep. Anyone can use them, and they are easily available in local wellness stores or through online marketplaces.
Stick with generic ones if your budget is limited. But not everyone needs them. If you don’t find it difficult to keep the room dark, then it’s best to stick with regular sleep gummies. They will reduce your anxiety, calm your racy thoughts, and help you wake up without grogginess. Just stick with reputable brands like Colorado Botanicals.
