You know tossing and turning leaves you blurry, distracted and irritable, but have you considered how it makes you look? We investigate what lack of sleep can do to your skin – and how to look like you got eight hours even if you are scraping by on five.

While you sleep, your body works hard, making repairs on night shifts. The human body releases a growth hormone that plays an important role in mending tissues and cells throughout the body, plus the skin. Not getting enough sleep cuts that vital repair time, which can inflict chaos on your skin. Fine lines become more obvious, dark circles show up and your complexion turns pasty and lifeless. Getting the required dose of Vitamin Zzzzz is not just about ensuring a glowing face, it also means keeps health evils and skin problems at bay.

Slumber Upgrades Beauty When you forgo sleep, you decrease the ability of the skin to recoup from the daily wear and tear. Your skin locks in the moisture and debars microbes from getting in. Skin cells are made up of keratin, a protein that hems in the skin hydration. Moisture fattens up your skin and fills out the creases on it. Improper sleeping patterns can cause dehydration, which in turn makes wrinkles and fine lines more evident. Dehydration can also trigger dark circles, the classic signs of sleep deprivation. This is because there is lesser fluid to obscure the blue blood vessels that exist right under your eyes. These blood vessels are more obvious on the surface, showing up as dark circles. Moreover, sleep time is regenerative time so if the skin does not get a chance to turn over, you have dead skin cells left on top, causing it to look dull.

Sleep Debt Takes its Toll

Collagen Collapse: Collagen helps you retain your youthful looks by acting as a support and preventing it from sagging. Scientists state that your immune system compromises when you miss taking enough rest. These changes affect collagen production.

Stress Spike: Sleep deprivation increases stress hormones in the body. Prolonged spikes in the levels of stress hormones cause skin inflammation that subsequently accelerates aging and acne.

Pillow-time Patterns Your napping style and position can also damage your complexion. Sleeping on your sides breaks the collagen, which can cause wrinkles and make your skin appear saggy. Sleeping on your back prevents etching of fine lines on your skin overnight. If you find this difficult then try silk or satin pillowcases, which are soft and do not tag your skin.
Proper sleep habits are necessary for a hale and hearty life. However, sleep is just as important for youthful and healthy skin. It allows your skin to regain its natural poise and provides plenty of benefits.

• Try and sleep for eight hours

• Remember not to oversleep as getting too much sleep is as detrimental as getting too little. Oversleeping can in fact intensify skin cell breakdown.

It has been known for some time that our skin is the most receptive and penetrable after dark. Hence, the pervasiveness of the night creams, skin care sleep-masks and anti – ageing treatments seek to address the changes that occur when the body’s circadian rhythm gets shaken as a result of exposure to unnatural light, working late or even jet lag.

Try these tips to get your Beauty Sleep

• Develop a regular slumber habit and stick to it

• Follow a bedtime beauty regimen.

• Become a back sleeper.

• Avoid caffeine 5 – 6 hours before bed.

• Limit heavy foods before sleep.

• Use soft pillows with silk pillowcase.

• Invest in a good mattress.

• Get regular exercise (this is great for the skin too as it increases blood circulation and delivers oxygen and nutrients to the skin)

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