Beauty Sleep: Why Rest and Relaxation Impact Appearance

The Science Behind “Beauty Sleep”

Sleep plays a key role in maintaining and repairing the entire body, from the brain and immune system Trusted Source National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. View Source to metabolism and even the skin Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Many restorative processes occur during sleep, such as:

• Increased production of growth hormone, which is thought to help with muscle growth and rebuilding of cells
• Strengthen the immune system to prevent sickness and fight infection
• Formation and maintenance of pathways in the brain related to learning and memory
• Decrease of stress hormones and regulation of hormones

These processes can play a role in a person’s physical appearance, which may influence their self-perception of beauty.

How Sleep Deprivation Can Affect Appearance

Sleep deprivation can impact a person’s physical health , mental health, and physical appearance. Experts recommend adults get at least seven hours of sleep each day, but over a third of the American adult population regularly gets less Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source than that amount.

A night of poor sleep can cause unwanted effects on the skin, mouth, and eyes, such as:

• Paler skin than usual
• Wrinkles and fine lines
• Hanging corners of the mouth
• Drooping or hanging eyelids
• Red or swollen eyes
• Dark circles below the eyes

Changes in appearance caused by sleep deprivation can also lead to a number of social implications. Face perception affects judgments of character, aggression, and trustworthiness. Researchers have found that people who are sleep deprived appear sadder and more fatigued than people who have had sufficient sleep.

A small study Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source investigating social perception and sleep deprivation showed that sleepy-looking people are seen as less attractive and less healthy. This perception increased their likelihood of being avoided by others.

The Potential Benefits of Beauty Sleep

During sleep, the body goes through a number of growth, repair, and restore processes. Some of these processes influence elements of a person’s physical appearance, including the skin and hair. Getting sufficient sleep each night may lead to desirable effects in these areas.

Reducing Wrinkles

One potential benefit of beauty sleep may be a reduction in wrinkles. The skin is made up of several proteins, such as collagen and elastin, that make the skin elastic and flexible. Research suggests that without sufficient sleep the immune system is weakened, which can impact the amount and strength of collagen Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source produced. As a result, the health of the skin decreases, potentially causing wrinkles.

Insufficient sleep has been associated with increased wrinkles Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , crow’s feet, and frown lines. A small study of Korean women in their 40s found that these changes occurred after just one day of sleep deprivation. The elasticity of the skin, or its ability to bounce back into place, also significantly decreased.

Further research can identify to what extent a lack of sleep plays a role in increased wrinkling and how good sleep can prevent or reduce wrinkling.

Enhancing Complexion

Regular quality sleep may also play a role in maintaining a clear skin complexion. The circadian rhythm not only regulates the body’s internal clock and tells the body when it is time to sleep, but it also regulates functions of the body’s organs, including the behavior of the skin .

At night, the skin has its highest levels of blood flow, which increases body temperature and helps repair badly damaged skin. Researchers have also found that the body’s peak time for repairing skin cells damaged by exposure to UV sunlight is in the early morning.

Both insufficient sleep and late bedtimes are linked to undesirable changes in skin complexion. Peeling skin, skin dehydration, and glossy skin have been observed in participants of sleep deprivation studies. Late bedtime is associated with decreased skin hydration Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , increased water loss, and increased production of oily secretions, which can lead to some types of acne .

“During sleep, cell production can more than double. This expedites skin repair from daytime damage.”

Dr. Lulu Guo

Sleep Medicine Physician

Reducing Dark Circles

To observers, dark circles under the eyes often signal sleep deprivation and fatigue. One theory suggests that a lack of sleep decreases oxygen around the eye which can lead to dilation of the vessels under the eye. However, current evidence of beauty sleep reducing dark circles is limited Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

A number of factors are associated with dark circles, also called periorbital hyperchromia. People with darker pigmented skin or a family history of circles under the eyes may be more likely to experience dark circles themselves. Others may have naturally thin skin or loose, sagging skin under the eyes that makes a change in the skin color more noticeable.

Strengthening Hair

Insufficient sleep may negatively impact hair look and strength. Poor sleeping habits can place high levels of stress on the body, leading to the release of the stress hormone cortisol Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . When cortisol levels are raised, the body produces more sebaceous oil including at the root of every hair. The increased oil production can result in greasy hair and dandruff.

Stress, including stress caused by a lack of sleep, can also cause hair loss Trusted Source National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . Normally, hair grows in a repeating cycle with three stages: growth, degeneration, and falling out. Researchers have found that excessive production of stress hormones disrupts this cycle and prevents the growth stage from happening after the falling-out stage.

Tips to Get More Beauty Sleep

Sleep hygiene is a set of habits and or behaviors that can improve sleep. To get more beauty sleep and all the benefits that come with it, it’s important to practice good sleep hygiene.

• Keep a regular sleep schedule: Waking up and going to bed at consistent times each day, including the weekends, ensures your sleep schedule is not disrupted.
• Create a quality sleep environment: A good sleep environment is quiet, dark, and kept at a cool temperature. Accessories that reduce noise and light distractions, such as earplugs or blackout curtains, can help make a space comfortable for sleep.
• Exercise regularly: Frequent exercise offers many health benefits, including making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Experts recommend exercising at least a few hours before going to sleep so that the heart rate is not elevated before bedtime.
• Wind down in the evening: A quiet nighttime routine can help the body relax and prepare for sleep. Consider calming activities such as taking a bath or reading.
• Put away electronics: In the hour before bedtime, avoid devices such as cell phones, TVs, computers, and other electronics. Exposure to the blue light from such devices before bedtime can make it difficult to fall asleep.
• Avoid lying awake in bed at night: If you cannot fall asleep after 20 minutes of lying in bed, move to another room and do a calming, quiet activity until you feel sleepy.

When it comes to sleep issues, it is also important to communicate your concerns with your doctor. Address any sleep disorder symptoms that may be interfering with quality sleep.

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