Did You Know Sleep Quality Can Effect The Look Of Your Skin?
It seems that in recent clinical studies scientists found that sleep quality affects skin function and aging. The recently completed study, commissioned by Estée Lauder, showed that people who had sleep trouble also had increased signs of skin aging and slower recovery from a variety of environmental stressors, such as disruption of the skin barrier or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Poor sleepers also had worse assessment of their own skin and facial appearance.
This interesting study was the first to demonstrate that inadequate sleep is correlated with reduced skin health and accelerates skin aging. Sleep-deprived women show signs of premature skin aging and a decrease in their skin's ability to recover after sun exposure. Inadequate sleep has become a worldwide problem. We already know that sleep problems can be linked to medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and immune deficiency, however the effects of how poor sleep effects are skin is something new altogether. The researchers found that good quality sleepers recovered more efficiently from stressors to the skin. Recovery from sunburn was more sluggish in poor quality sleepers, with (redness) remaining higher over 72 hours, indicating that inflammation is less efficiently resolved.
Additionally, poor quality sleepers were significantly more likely to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). For example, 23% of good quality sleepers were obese compared to 44% of poor quality sleepers. Not surprisingly, self perception of attractiveness was significantly better in good quality sleepers (mean score of 21 on self evaluation) vs. poor quality sleepers (mean score of 18). This research shows for the first time, that poor sleep quality can accelerate signs of skin aging and weaken the skin's ability to repair itself at night. So ladies and gents, get a great night's sleep and you'll not only feel refreshed, but you will look better too.
