Sleep is good for a number of reasons. It helps with managing a healthy weight, improving memory, reducing stress, and supporting immunity. Not to mention, a good night’s sleep or even a quick nap can improve your mood tremendously. Did you know that sleep is also the best thing you can do for your skin?
In an article by Brent Bauer, he discusses the impact that sleep can have on your skin. Bauer writes that when you sleep, your skin enters a state of deep repair and regeneration. “Blood flow increases, delivering nutrients and oxygen to support repair processes. Growth hormones surge, stimulating cell turnover and collagen production.” Makes more sense why the term beauty sleep was created.
Our internal clock
Do you remember learning about circadian rhythms in middle school? If you don’t, no worries; here’s a refresher. Circadian rhythm refers to the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle. So basically, your body's internal clock.
One thing this clock does is influence hormones, one being melatonin. According to Bauer, this hormone helps the skin by offering protection from UV damage, heals wounds, and regulates skin color. This is why people often take melatonin to help them sleep. While it does not make you sleep, it helps promote it.
The harm in late nights
Constantly going to bed late is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Bauer writes, “Regular late nights can impair the integrity of the skin barrier, damage skin structure, disrupt the water-oil balance, and even change the facial bacterial microbiota.” He even writes that late-night sleeping doesn’t have to be a habit to cause damage. “Just one night of sleep deprivation can kick-start a cycle of imbalanced hormones that cause stress, itching, and aggravation of skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.” This is why we sometimes wake to a new blemish, or sunken looking, dry skin.
For some, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, where breathing stops and restarts during sleep, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen, are the reason for poor quality of sleep. In cases such as this, talk to a doctor about getting a proper diagnosis and possible treatments. For others, you might want to look into taking supplements to promote better sleep. Reach out to a registered naturopath about which supplements would be right for you.
How to sleep better
Some tips provided by Bauer for getting better sleep include sticking to a routine, going to bed at the same time each night, and waking up at the same time each morning. Though it’s a hard habit to kick, stop scrolling on your phone right before bed. The blue light can confuse your brain and suppress your body’s melatonin. You can also moisturize your skin before bed. Bauer writes, “While you're sleeping, the skin's permeability, or porosity, increases.” Skin care products applied before bed more effectively absorb into the skin.
Though it’s tempting to stay up late catching that latest drama in The Bachelor or reading that tragic romance novel, go to bed. That show, movie, book, or podcast will be there for you tomorrow.
