Eye Mask for Sleeping: Pros & Cons
Eye masks are effective for blocking out light. They are also lightweight and portable which make them easy to travel with. Eye masks, however, can also be very uncomfortable. It's important to shop around when looking for a sleep mask to make sure that the one you pick fits you well and is something you could comfortably sleep with 2.
Block Out the Light
The best benefit of a sleep mask is that it blocks out almost all of the light to let your body get more relaxing sleep 2. Having a sleep mask that blocks out the light in your sleeping area will help you sleep better -- especially if you work the graveyard shift and do most of your sleeping during the day 12.
Press on the Eyelashes
How to Stop Acne on Your Nose
Learn More
Some sleep masks have less than desirable designs. They can press on the eyelashes, which is very uncomfortable. The alternatives to this are to either buy a more expensive sleep mask that has a better design or stop wearing a sleep mask altogether 2.
Help Keep Makeup Fresh
Wearing a sleeping eye mask can help keep makeup fresh when you have somewhere to be soon after you wake up. While sleeping, makeup often gets smeared and smudged when you rub your face against the pillow while turning in bed. The sleep mask covers your eyes to prevent you from rubbing them while you are sleeping 2.
Leave Wear Lines on the Face
10 Proven Tips for a Good Night's Sleep
Learn More
Some sleep masks have elastic bands to hold them around the head. These elastic bands can leave wear lines on the sides of your face if they're tight. If the bands are not tight enough, however, then the sleep mask will move around wile you are sleeping and could come off 2. There are different types of sleep masks that are adjustable to prevent this problem, so it is important to think about how the sleep mask will fit when you are shopping for one 2.
Oversleeping
Your body has a natural urge to wake up and start the day when the sun is up. When wearing a sleep mask to block out the light it is easier to oversleep 2. Be sure to set an alarm clock -- your internal clock may be thrown off by the eye mask.
Related Articles
References
- Pilot Paul's Travelling Accessories: A Sleep Mask Will Help You Sleep Better
- Sleep Like The Dead: Sleep Mask Reveiw
- Czeisler CA. Sleep deficit: the performance killer. A conversation with Harvard Medical School Professor Charles A. Czeisler. Harv Bus Rev. 2006;84(10):53-148.
- Czeisler, C. Perspective: Casting light on sleep deficiency. Nature. 2013;497:S13. doi:10.1038/497S13a
- Hu RF, Jiang XY, Zeng YM, Chen XY, Zhang YH. Effects of earplugs and eye masks on nocturnal sleep, melatonin and cortisol in a simulated intensive care unit environment. Crit Care. 2010;14(2):R66. doi:10.1186/cc8965
Writer Bio
Elissa Zubrick has been writing for over 15 years, ranging from poems and short stories to academic papers and articles. She has published on various websites and currently has an Associate of Arts from Central Oregon Community College, looking to further her education and become a Registered Nurse.