5 Reasons Sleep is Critical for Healthy Skin

In a world where we are working harder and sleeping less, among several other physical ways our bodies suffer, another concern with sleep deprivation is that our skin pays the price as well. I am a full believer in our need for “Beauty Sleep”. Here are five reasons sleep is critical for healthy skin.

1. Sleep deprivation causes a rise in cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol levels can contribute to all kinds of skin related issues. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is responsible for your fight and flight response.  Which is good if you are being attacked by a bear in the wood, but elevated cortisol levels can raise havoc on your body and your skin. Elevated cortisol can affect the way your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) releases the hormones that helps the body maintain dynamic equilibrium or what is also known as homeostasis during sleep.  Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to stress and inflammation in the body which contributes to inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema, andpsoriasis. High cortisol levels also send a signal to the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum resulting in clogged pores and increased acne. Poor sleep patterns can increasingly worsen these conditions. However, the good news is getting a good night’s sleep will help to clear skin up as your skin is in it best restorative state during a good night’s sleep when your body is in a state of homeostasis.
2. Lack of sleep contributes to increased inflammation in the body, which affects the bodies ability to regulate the immune system. This increases the likelihood of flares of immune-related skin conditions.  Our bodies and our ability to fight off viruses and disease are not the only thing reliant on a strong immune system, our skin ability to heal is also dependent on a healthy immune system which isreliant on a good night’s sleep. Cellular turnover or the process of producing new skin cells and shedding dead skin cells happen during a good night’s sleep.
3. Moisture retention in the skin is critical for the health of your skin and is the number one anti-aging combatant. During a good night’s rest your body’s hydration level rebalances and your body produces hyaluronic acid, which isimportant for your skin’s ability to retain moisture. When we do not get a good rest, we become dehydrated and this is evident when we wake with puffiness and dark circles under the eyes, dry skin, and more visible wrinkles.  Hydration is the number one anti-aging combatant so without hydration your skin care products cannot penetrated the epidermis of the skin as well.
4. During the skin’s renewal mode your skin is most receptive to your skin care products. Dermatologist confirm that during the skin renewal cycle, your skin canbreak down the active ingredients in your skin care products allowing your products to penetrate the skin better and do their job in anti-aging and hydration. Natural Products containing vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, and retinol, just to name a few can contribute to healthy, youthful looking skin.
5. A good night’s sleep can make you look younger. This is my favorite reason! Sleep does not stop the aging process, but it can slow it down. The deepest stages of sleep are when your body produces the most growth hormones which are necessary for cell and tissue repair as well as your skins production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin, the protein responsible for keeping your skin strong and firm. A good night’s sleep also allows your blood supply to bring oxygen to the skin cells giving your skin that beautiful glow in the morning when you rise to greet the day!