How Does Sufficient Sleep Make Your Skin Look Younger?

By Jon Navarro−

Research on sleep and its effects on health and well-being have continued to generate interest. In fact, many studies and online articles continue to investigate the benefits of sleep on human health.

Take the case of skin health. Did you know that having enough sleep leads to youthful and better-looking skin? Aside from the natural process of skin aging, lack of sleep may cause the skin to age faster than it should. In this article, we will discuss how sleep affects skin health.

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Sleep as a beauty regimen

A number of health experts believe that the human sleep cycle involves a series of metabolic processes that let the body regenerate and rest.

“There are set times when our body clock dictates that various processes take place in hair and skin… From 8pm to 11pm is the time for hydration and stimulation, while 11pm to 3am is the time for nutrition and regeneration, and 3am to 5am is the time for resting,” according to The Hair And Beauty Partnership in London director and chronobiology expert Geoff Wright as featured in Daily Mail UK.

More sleep leads to more collagen

Collagen is a naturally occurring compound in the human body that contributes to the skin’s elasticity. According to a feature of Fitness Magazine on Dr. Michael Breus (known as The Sleep Doctor), sleep allows the body to produce human growth hormones, which in turn can lead to better collagen production.

Sleeping prevents overeating

Here’s something that you might not have thought of: the more you sleep, the less you feel hungry. As a result, you’ll have less cravings and a lower likelihood of snacking and overeating. This will lead to better weight management, which some studies have linked to better skin health.

Optimizing sleep quality for better skin

If you’re planning to use sleep as a natural way to rejuvenate your skin, here are some tips that you can follow:

  • Clean your face and skin prior to sleeping. You may use a gentle cleaner, a makeup remover, and an optional night cream.
  • Always sleep on your back. Sleeping facedown makes the blood vessels in the face to become constricted, thereby increasing the risk of waking up with puffy eyes and dark circles.
  • Some conditions that may induce earlier sleep include turning the lights off, begging off caffeine before bedtime, and avoiding intense physical activity.

Having difficulty sleeping?

Although some people deliberately skip sleep in order to finish up on work or play games, others can’t force themselves to sleep for some reason. For instance, if you have trouble pulling yourself to sleep because of hot weather, you need to check out these tips on how to sleep even on warm nights.

The Sleep Foundation also recommends following a fixed sleep schedule, avoiding afternoon naps, and sleeping on a comfy mattress and pillows.

More than its benefits on skin age, getting enough sleep will give you an overall better health. Besides, you don’t want to appear grouchy and stressed due to lack of sleep, right?

Jon Navarro works as a certified nutritionist, but he looks at it as more than just a job description. He is passionate to help people live better and longer through proper eating habits, physical fitness, and well-being of the spirit. Check out his blog www.healthexcellence.net to learn more about how to live a healthy and nutritious lifestyle.

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How Does Sufficient Sleep Make Your Skin Look Younger?
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