

“One of the medical reasons that people could use a heated eye mask is for dry eyes,” she adds. “Heated eye masks are generally relaxing, in the same way that a heated compress can be soothing for people,” Osmun says. Osmun says cushioned masks tend to be thicker too, and they’re able to fully block out the light. They also tend to fit the contour of your face better. Cushioned eye maskĪ cushioned eye mask can feel comfier to wear and less restrictive. These masks typically have small beads inside that provide extra weight to create a heavy sensation. “In the same way that weighted blankets can be beneficial to helping people feel calm, weighted eye masks have the same effect,” Osmun explains. “In order to sleep, your body temperature needs to drop, so if you have a cooling eye mask, then you will likely speed this process along, as long as it’s not freezing cold,” Osmun explains. If you’re a person who enjoys cold pressure, you might find a gel sleep mask helps you drift off. For example, silk cloth masks are great if you have sensitive skin.” Gel eye mask

“Depending on the fabric you choose, they can have different benefits. “Cloth eye masks are versatile and can work for most people,” Osmun notes. There are many types of cloth eye masks, from silk and cashmere to cotton, velvet, and even fleece. There are plenty of different types available, each offering its own set of benefits. Luckily, there’s a lot of variety in the types of sleep masks available, so you’re likely to find one that suits your needs. Many other quality studies would be necessary to confirm this.īlocking out light with a sleep mask may be beneficial, but Osmun says they aren’t for everyone. During the lights-on session, the group experienced “shallow sleep and frequent arousals.”Ī 2017 study noted that both sleep masks and ear plugs may have a positive effect on the subjective sleep quality of patients in an intensive care unit. Ten healthy sleepers underwent two polysomnography (PSG) sessions, one with the lights off and one with the lights on.

In fact, a 2010 study showed that patients in an intensive care unit who were regularly distracted by light and noise were able to spend more time in REM sleep while wearing a sleep mask.Ī 2013 study drew similar conclusions. “The gentle pressure and soft material can be very relaxing for people and help trigger a calm feeling.” “Another benefit of an eye mask is the soothing feeling on the face and eyes,” Osmun explains. They can also provide a calming effect that may encourage you to nod off faster. “Eye masks can really help improve your overall quality of sleep,” Osmun says. Not having enough melatonin can lead to sleep issues or disorders, like insomnia.Īn eye mask can block out artificial light that can prevent you from falling asleep. “This is because artificial light suppresses melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone in the body,” says Rosie Osmun, a certified sleep science coach from Sleep Junkie. Being exposed to light at bedtime can interrupt your body’s natural sleep cues.
