Can you sleep your way to healthier, more vibrant skin?
While we sleep we heal, repair, and remove toxins from the skin and body. Beauty sleep isn’t an old wives' tale or myth. Melatonin and human growth hormone (HGH) production increases during sleep. This accelerates skin regeneration. Melatonin receptors are expressed in many skin cell types and have a wide range of skin healing properties, with strong antioxidative activity. Less sleep reduces these processes, leading to premature aging.
If you notice any of the following problems, the solution is easy- sleep more. Aiming for 7-9 hours of sleep a night can result in
Sign #1: Acne
Increased oil production due to elevated cortisol can make your skin oilier, leading to breakouts.
Sign #2: Dull skin
Lack of sleep decreases cell turnover in the skin and causes dull, ashy
uneven skin tone. Elevated cortisol triggers inflammation. This breaks down the proteins in the skin that keep skin radiant and smooth.
Sign #3: Dark Circles
As the body conserves energy during sleepless periods, it redirects blood flow to the most vital
organs, like the brain. This causes engorgement of the blood vessels under the eye, causing that puffy, dark look. Poor sleep can cause a water imbalance, further contributing to puffiness.
Sign #4: Dry Skin
During sleep, your body works to remove excess water. Your skin then uses the excess water recovered to increase its moisture levels. Poor sleep deprives the skin of this natural balancing system and can lead to dry skin, lines and wrinkles.