The Vital Role of Sleep to Your Skin and Appearance Dr. Shikha Chandaliya August 18, 2019 Health & Beauty 1773 A balanced diet and protection from sun exposure are commonly known as necessary ways we can maintain healthy-looking skin. Taking the relevant steps to incorporate a healthier lifestyle should be a priority. However, there is one aspect of healthy living that often gets overlooked: sleeping. You should never undermine the importance of sleep, as our quality of sleep, or lack thereof greatly impacts our lives. It affects our appearance, our mental and physical health and well-being, and our skin’s overall condition. Invariably, quality sleep can help rejuvenate us, as it makes our skin feel revitalized, our minds sharp and our bodies energized, and it also boosts our self-esteem, making us feel confident in our appearance. As a matter of fact, proper sleep can give you a radiant complexion if you strive to get those 7 to 9 hours nightly. With that said, to truly understand the benefits of a good night’s slumber, we will explore the vital role of sleep to your skin and appearance. Sleep Rehydrates and Recovers Your Skin Your skin is the barrier that protects you from external environmental stressors which is why adequate sleep is so important. Quality sleep allows your body and internal organs to rest and repair itself overnight, and your skin should be awarded the same privilege. Your skin can become prone to damage and inflammation with poor sleep which results in your skin failing to function accordingly and repair wounds. This will culminate increased skin dryness and even acne breakouts, causing a drier and irritated complexion in your appearance. Your skin is rehydrated when you sleep as your skin repairs its moisture barrier. People who sleep between 7 to 9 hours a night were found to have a greater moisture barrier recovery. In conclusion, adopting a better sleeping pattern can encourage your skin’s healing process. Adequate Sleep Promotes Growth Hormone-Production When you sleep well, your body produces enough growth-hormone during the first couple of hours of your slumber. Inadequate sleep will decrease your growth-hormone levels which reduces the thickness of your skin. This causes the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue, which will negatively impact your skin’s appearance. In other words, adequate sleep helps to impede wrinkles and loose skin – which is more or less one of the reasons why you should track how you sleep at night. For optimal health, fitness enthusiasts from FitBug.com reveal how you can track the duration and quality of your sleep by purchasing a sleep tracker. This technological device is worn at night and will help you detect if you’re getting a good night’s slumber. In terms of the number of features, usage, and quality, there’s a lot of variation among these gadgets which is why it’s best to proceed with quality research before purchase. Monitoring the way you sleep is one way to understand sleep quality as well as work your way towards healthier skin. Sleep Deprivation can Exacerbate Skin Problems Sleep deprivation plays a huge role in the development of wrinkles, lines, laxity and looseness, and skin tears and irritations among other problems. Research shows that a lack of sleep exacerbates these skin conditions and can make you appear older than you actually are. This is because sleep deprivation can trigger stress, irritability, and a short temperament, cultivating an environment of stress around us which affects our skin. Furthermore, chronic poor sleep, which is under 7 hours of sleep per night, was found to accelerate intrinsic aging. Good sleepers were found to have healthier skin and greater satisfaction with their appearance. Thus, sleeping can also encourage a more positive state of mind and help manage stress. Lack of Sleep can Alter Appearance Poor quality of sleep can cause unwanted changes in appearance. Dark circles and droopy eyelids are among the first indications that you aren’t getting adequate sleep. While dark circles can be genetically inherited, studies show that a good night’s sleep reduces the appearance of these under-eye circles and can even prevent them from returning. Moreover, the development of wrinkles and loss of elasticity can be delayed through proper sleep as sufficient sleep boosts collagen. Luckily, the production of skin wound healing can take effect with a proper sleeping pattern, providing you with a satisfactory appearance and healthier-looking skin. Sleep Reduces Anti-Inflammatory Agents Anti-inflammatory cytokines are made when you sleep which heals any damages and reduces the negative effects on these damages that were caused throughout the day. If you sprain your ankle or other ligaments, you’ll notice that getting plenty of rest is often recommended by doctors. This is not merely to reduce the movement of the injured area, but to allow sleep to reduce anti-inflammatory agents. After a good night’s rest, you’ll discover the swelling has subsided; placing an ice pack on the sprain will have helped the healing process, but sleep was the most crucial aid. Sleep Boosts Immunity You have probably heard “You look tired,” and met the person with disdain because we are all aware that a lack of sleep can make one look sickly. However, what many people don’t know is that a lack of sleep can also result in a weakened immune system which can cause you to become sickly. Sleep plays just as vital a role to your immunity as a healthy diet which is why adequate sleep can help if you are prone to the common cold. Therefore, quality sleep will have positive effects on your appearance, making you feel revitalized and boosting your energy, so naturally, you will look as healthy as you feel. Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining our skin’s health and appearance, physically, mentally, and spiritually. As such, a good night’s sleep can boost your energy, heal your skin issues, and make you look radiant. Moreover, it can prevent you from mishandling situations due to stress and help you avoid stress-induced skin complications. With adequate sleep, your well-being will be significantly enhanced and you’ll also be starting your days with a nourished complexion and a spring in your step. SHARE THIS POST