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According to the NHS, one in three of us probably didn’t get enough sleep last night. And, while this isn’t so much a problem if it happens once in a while, missing out on sleep regularly has an adverse effect on your health, wellbeing and your skin.
How Much Sleep Do You Need?
The amount of sleep you need depends on several factors, including your age, sex, and overall health and wellbeing. If you’re aged between 18 and 65, you will need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. The amount you need, however, will change as you get older (reducing over time).
Why You Need Sleep
Short-term, missing out on sleep will leave probably leave you tired and groggy but not much more than that. Longer-term, however, lack of sleep may see you struggle to concentrate or experience memory problems. You may also be unsteady on your feet, increasing the risk of accidents or your mood may change.
In addition, lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain, increase the risk of heart disease, or reduce your body’s ability to fight off everything from the common cold to more serious illnesses.
Why Our Skin Needs Sleep
When it comes to your skin, a lack of sleep is often first seen in dark circles under your eyes, which may also be dry or puffy. You may look less perky than normal, missing your usual glow. As with your general health, however, lack of sleep can significantly affect the condition of your skin in the long-term. It can cause premature aging and aggravate skins conditions such as acne and eczema.
This is because, while you sleep, your body rests and your cells regenerate. This reverses the damage from UV rays and pollution. It also helps negate the impact of the way we live our lives, including the fact that most of us spend too much time staring at a computer or phone screen. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have enough time to makes the repairs it needs to.
In addition, lack of sleep or a restless night, increases cortisol levels, a stress hormone that can damage the skin. Getting a good night’s sleep reduces cortisol levels. It also helps the body produce collagen and maintain the skin’s pH balance and moisture levels. Without collagen, your skin will lose its elasticity. It will start to sag, and wrinkles will appear. Without the right levels of moisture, your skin will dehydrate, leading to issues such as a sallow complexion or redness.
How To Protect Skin From Lack Of Sleep
Our busy – often stressful – lives mean, sometimes, it’s not possible to get the sleep we need. If this is something you find happening regularly, there are things you can do to help you sleep better. You could, for example, not take your phone to bed with you, or avoid caffeine late in the day.
As well as this, you can start considering how to focus on your skincare as well. You need to make sure you stay hydrated, for example. Eating food low in sodium and rich in vitamins and minerals can help to support healthy skin. A supplement such as One Nutrition Ocean Mag not only helps to induce relaxation and rest but allows you to maintain healthy skin from the inside out.
Skincare Regime
You can also maintain healthy skin from the outside in by following a beauty regime that includes cleansing and moisturising. This regime is especially important on an evening as it will help your skin repair itself as you sleep. Make sure, therefore, that you remove your make up every night before you go to sleep and protect the skin’s barrier with a vitamin-rich moisturising night cream.
When it comes to night creams, choose one with active ingredients such as retinol, hyaluronic acid, or peptides, which support collagen production. Night creams tend to be thicker and heavier than day moisturisers because they trap in moisture, which can otherwise be lost at night. Day creams are lighter and work better under make-up. To make sure you protect your skin from UV rays, however, choose one with a built-in SPF.
Cleaners should be gentle on the skin but still be able to remove your make-up. Choose one that works with your skin type. If you have delicate skin, for example, try Manuka Honey Soap. It is strong enough to remove make-up yet gentle enough to use every day and not dry out your skin. The soap, along with other skincare products and supplements that support healthy skin is available in the Inspired Health online shop.