How Lack of Sleep Impacts Your Appearance

You’re probably tired of hearing about the value of a good night’s sleep and the many health benefits that go with it.

Especially if you’re not ready to end the night or you want to stay up to binge another episode of your current favorite show.

But did you know that lack of sleep impacts your appearance too? Yep. It turns out that ‘beauty sleep’ is an actual thing.

The Real Science of Beauty Sleep

Here’s the deal. Sleep is an important restorative process. It’s crucial for giving the body, the brain, and the immune system the break each needs to function at their optimal levels.

With sleep comes increased production of growth hormones to rebuild muscle and cells. There is also decreased production of stress hormones. The pathways in the brain related to memory and learning are formed and maintained. And slumber strengthens the immune system to prevent illness and fight infection.

So what do all of these have to do with how you look?

How Lack of Sleep Impacts Your Appearance

Some of the above-mentioned restorative processes influence elements of your physical appearance. After all, lack of sleep means your skin and hair are going to be negatively impacted too.

Not getting enough sleep (at least 6-7 hours, though more is preferable) could leave you with the following:

Dull Complexion

Your natural circadian rhythm regulates your body’s internal clock. It tells you when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to rise. It also regulates the functions of your body’s organs. And your skin is an organ.

At night and in the very early morning hours when we should be sleeping, the skin has its highest levels of blood flow. It’s during these times when damaged skin cells are repaired.

Insufficient sleep and/or very late bedtimes appear to be linked to negative changes in the skin’s complexion. Participants in sleep deprivation studies have higher levels of dehydrated, peeling, or glossy skin. Late bedtime is also associated with increased production of oily secretions that can lead to acne.

Increased Wrinkles

Collagen and elastin are the magical proteins that give our skin elasticity and flexibility. When the body produces less of these, the health of the skin is compromised. This can result in wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines.

Because the immune system is weakened with a lack of sleep, the body will compensate by slowing the production of these proteins to support immunity – which takes precedence.

Greasy and Weakened Hair

Another unsavory side effect of poor sleeping habits or lack of sleep is stress. When the body releases stress hormones such as cortisol, it also produces more sebaceous oil – including at the root of every hair. The result? Greasy hair and dandruff.

In addition, stress from lack of sleep also disrupts the repeating cycle of hair growth. There are normally three stages: growth, degeneration, and falling out. Increased stress hormones prevent the growth stage from happening following the falling-out stage. So hair loss becomes an issue.

You Don’t Need to Lose Sleep Over This

Now that you know how lack of sleep impacts your appearance, you may be more motivated to get the slumber you need.

And if sleep doesn’t resolve your wrinkles or hair loss, contact us to schedule a free consultation. You’ll have the opportunity to speak to a skincare specialist or plastic surgeon who will advise you on ways you can tackle these issues.

Sweet dreams!