Poor sleep doesn’t do much for your skin— actually, it does a lot to damage your skin. You might not realize it, but lack of shut eye can drastically decrease the appearance and health of your skin. Read on on to find out how sleep affects skin.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
Believe it or not, but beauty sleep is a real thing. Adequate, restful sleep is so great for your skin! 7-8 hours of sleep per night help boost collagen production in your skin. Collagen is the most important protein in the skin. It is the protein that is responsible for healthy, beautiful skin.
Sleep.org describes it best, “During sleep, the body releases human growth hormone, a necessary ingredient for collagen production—the protein that gives people shiny hair, strong nails, and glowing skin. Skimping on sleep raises cortisol levels, which can interfere with collagen production.”
Lack of sleep is detrimental to skin! Here are some ways how sleep affects skin. Lack of/poor sleep can cause:
- Swollen, puffy eyes
- More wrinkles
- Premature aging
- Inhibited skin recovery
Judith Hellman, board-certified dermatologist, said, “As far as the skin is concerned, lack of sleep causes the stress hormone cortisol to be released, which in turn encourages inflammation in the skin, causing flare-ups in conditions like acne, psoriasis, and even eczema.”
How to Improve Your Sleep
Improve your nighttime routine
Having a regular routine helps your body recognize when it is time to go to bed. Choose activities that help you wind down for the night. Some choose to take a warm shower, read a book, or write in a journal to help their bodies recognize that it’s time to relax and prepare for sleep. Everyone’s nighttime routine should look different because we all have different bodies. Find activities that you enjoy that relax you! Read this blog post for some tips and tricks for creating a nighttime routine.
Nail down a sleep schedule
This might be tough for some of you but try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Your body will get used to going to sleep and waking up at that time and will be able to establish a stable circadian rhythm. You’ll feel more well rested because your body will know when and how long it must sleep!
Avoid stimulants
Stimulants are substances that increase physiological or nervous activity. Common stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, weight loss pills, energy drinks, and prescription amphetamines used to treat ADD or ADHD. Though sometimes necessary, stimulants can take a toll on your sleep quality. If you’re using a prescription stimulant such as Adderall, you might find that taking it later in the day keeps you up at night. Try to take it earlier to help your body feel more tired come bedtime.
Relieve stress
One of the biggest inhibitors to a great night’s sleep is stress. Seek to minimize stress throughout the day so that you can quickly relax and get the sleep that you need. Find ways to cope with stress healthily. You might try yoga, meditation, or exercise to cope with stress or turn to planning, better time management, or other project management techniques to help prevent stress. Read this blog post and try out a few of these ways to relieve stress and anxiety.
