Sleep Is Super Essential In Healing Your Skin

Why sleep is essential to healing your skin

Sleep is called “beauty rest” for a reason. It has been scientifically proven that while you’re sleeping, your body, including your skin, repairs itself. So what exactly is happening to your skin while you’re snoozing, and how is your nighttime routine helping or hindering how your skin looks in the morning?

You’re starting to get very sleepy

You’ve probably heard of melatonin before, the sleep hormone responsible for making you feel tired around the time you go to bed, but did you know that melatonin also helps the skin? Melatonin has antioxidant properties that helps to repair cell damage from things like UV light and pollution, and it lowers stress levels.

As you sleep, your cells start working

Once you’re fast asleep, another hormone comes into play, human growth hormone, also known simply as HGH. HGH is responsible for cellular rejuvenation and turnover while you’re sleeping. It also stimulates collagen production. Cell production doubles when you’re asleep and triples if you’re in a deep sleep due to HGH.

Your skin becomes more permeable

When your skin is more permeable, your skincare products will penetrate deeper into the skin, which means they’ll work better. That’s why it’s best to apply your anti-aging serums, retinols and glycolic acids at night. The downside of this nighttime permeability is that it also allows moisture to be lost through the skin. Definitely don’t forget to put on a moisturizer at night!

Side-sleeping could cause wrinkles

There is one little skin problem sleeping can cause, especially if you’re a side-sleeper – wrinkles. Wrinkles form when your skin loses collagen, gets thinner and loses elasticity. When that part of the aging process gets paired with constant nightly pressure from your face against a pillow, or gravity pulling your chest downwards, you could develop new wrinkles on your face and décolletage.

Not getting enough sleep is associated with lots of undesirable side effects. For instance, you may have trouble thinking and concentrating, experience memory issues, and weaken your immune system, just to name a few. For your skin, it could mean developing dark circles, dry or flaky skin, a dull complexion or breakouts. Not to mention, no one likes to look tired!

Beauty sleep is not just an old cliché. It’s hugely important for your skin, your overall health and your mental and physical wellbeing! Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night, and you’ll be amazed at how much better your skin will look!

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