Beauty sleep is indeed real and depending on the amount and quality of sleep you get each night, it has direct and profound effects on your appearance.
While we still don’t know why we sleep, one thing is certain: sleep is essential for our bodies to function properly, and without it, things start to go downhill pretty quickly.
If you suddenly stop sleeping, you can expect chronic fatigue, followed by hallucinations, insanity and eventually death – that’s how important sleep is.
But even if you do sleep each night, the length of time you’re getting shut-eye and the quality of that sleep is important, and will affect your appearance noticeably.
While we still don’t know why we sleep, one thing is certain: sleep is essential for our bodies to function properly, and without it, things start to go downhill pretty quickly.
If you suddenly stop sleeping, you can expect chronic fatigue, followed by hallucinations, insanity and eventually death – that’s how important sleep is.
But even if you do sleep each night, the length of time you’re getting shut-eye and the quality of that sleep is important, and will affect your appearance noticeably.
Sleep quality impacts your skin
When people say you look tired, what they’re really saying is your skin looks tired.
And they’re right.
A recent study found that sleep quality impacts skin function and aging. Your skin literally ages faster when you don’t get enough sleep. This leads to an increase in fine lines, uneven skin pigmentation and a reduction in skin elasticity.
Sleep deprivation is a type of stress, and when your body is stressed, it produces cortisol, a hormone which has a myriad of negative effects. These include the breakdown of collagen, the main ingredient for firm, healthy skin. Our bodies naturally produce less collagen over time, which is why we get wrinkles are we get older, but a constant production of cortisol leads to premature aging, resulting in sallow, sagging skin.
And they’re right.
A recent study found that sleep quality impacts skin function and aging. Your skin literally ages faster when you don’t get enough sleep. This leads to an increase in fine lines, uneven skin pigmentation and a reduction in skin elasticity.
Sleep deprivation is a type of stress, and when your body is stressed, it produces cortisol, a hormone which has a myriad of negative effects. These include the breakdown of collagen, the main ingredient for firm, healthy skin. Our bodies naturally produce less collagen over time, which is why we get wrinkles are we get older, but a constant production of cortisol leads to premature aging, resulting in sallow, sagging skin.
Not getting enough sleep affects your hair
Pregnant women tend to have thick, shiny, luxurious hair, and it’s because of the boost of “good” hormones that comes along with a being pregnant. Now, imagine the opposite; you’re not getting enough sleep, which leads to stress hormones damaging your body.
Skin and hair are very similar in that they are both fed by the same nutrients, so if one tends to be lacklustre, then so does the other. Lack of sleep can not only make hair seem dull and lifeless, but in some cases can even cause it to fall out.
Skin and hair are very similar in that they are both fed by the same nutrients, so if one tends to be lacklustre, then so does the other. Lack of sleep can not only make hair seem dull and lifeless, but in some cases can even cause it to fall out.
Can sleep deprivation affect your weight?
Surprising as it may be, not getting enough sleep can make you put on weight. And it doesn’t take long to take effect either. A study by the University of Colorado found that participants who only got around five hours sleep, put on a kilogram in just one week. Another study found that people who sleep less than five hours are 15% more likely to be obese.
Sleep deprivation causes hormonal changes in the brain which regulate hunger and appetite. Put simply, the less sleep you get, the hungrier you are.
Sleep deprivation causes hormonal changes in the brain which regulate hunger and appetite. Put simply, the less sleep you get, the hungrier you are.
Lack of sleep can cause skin to breakout
We know a lack of sleep is not good for the look of your skin, but it can also lead to breakouts. Your skin replenishes itself while you sleep, so not getting enough creates an imbalance of your skin’s PH levels, making it more likely to breakout with spots or pimples.
Sleep is a time for your body to heal, rejuvenate and relax, and that includes your skin. Without sleep, your skin can’t recover from the stress and exposure to the different elements it encounters during the day. This turns small pimples into big ones, and if you’re on a continuous cycle of sleep deprivation, you’re never getting the chance to fully recover.
Sleep is a time for your body to heal, rejuvenate and relax, and that includes your skin. Without sleep, your skin can’t recover from the stress and exposure to the different elements it encounters during the day. This turns small pimples into big ones, and if you’re on a continuous cycle of sleep deprivation, you’re never getting the chance to fully recover.
Tips for getting a good night’s sleep
There are many reasons why people can’t get a good night’s sleep, each of them with their own solutions, but as a general rule, try to stick to the following:
Get your sleeping habits into a routine
A regular routine will help when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. It works for toddlers and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work for you! Try and go to bed at the same time each night, and get up at a regular time each morning – even on weekends.
Avoid caffeine or food late at night
This is a no-brainer. Don’t drink a cup of coffee before bed, or any stimulant. You need to start shutting down for the day, and having caffeine is the equivalent to throwing a 5 year old’s birthday party in your brain just before you go to bed.
Food can be just as bad – your body needs to work to digest the nutrients and break it down into energy, and bedtime isn’t the time to do that. Give your body, and yourself, a rest.
Food can be just as bad – your body needs to work to digest the nutrients and break it down into energy, and bedtime isn’t the time to do that. Give your body, and yourself, a rest.
Sleeping in the dark improves sleep quality
We evolved in darkness, with artificial lights only a recent invention. Our circadian rhythm is our natural time-keeping clock, but it only works if you avoid lights at night. Even the smallest light in the bedroom can mess with our sleep patterns.
A phone charging or a TV on standby is enough to trick the brain into thinking it’s starting to get light and the sun’s coming up. When that happens, your brain starts the process of waking up, getting your body ready for the day ahead. Turn off all electronic devices in your bedroom and try to sleep in complete darkness.
A phone charging or a TV on standby is enough to trick the brain into thinking it’s starting to get light and the sun’s coming up. When that happens, your brain starts the process of waking up, getting your body ready for the day ahead. Turn off all electronic devices in your bedroom and try to sleep in complete darkness.
Appearance medicine from the Vein and Skin Clinic
Of course, we would all love a solid 8 hours sleep per night, but that’s just not possible for many of us in this modern world. And even if we do get plenty of sleep, there’s no stopping the natural effects of aging.
The Vein and Skin Clinic have a variety of treatments to combat the results of sleep deprivation affecting your appearance. We are Wellington’s foremost appearance medicine clinic with doctors and 4 very experienced cosmetic nurses on-site to provide you with all the very latest appearance medicine modalities.
Contact us today with any questions you may have, or book a consultation one of our expert cosmetic nurses or doctors.
The Vein and Skin Clinic have a variety of treatments to combat the results of sleep deprivation affecting your appearance. We are Wellington’s foremost appearance medicine clinic with doctors and 4 very experienced cosmetic nurses on-site to provide you with all the very latest appearance medicine modalities.
Contact us today with any questions you may have, or book a consultation one of our expert cosmetic nurses or doctors.
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