We grow up and we don't look quite the same. But all this is only on the outside. Beneath the surface, your body is aging too, and sleep loss can speed up the process. A study done by UCLA researchers discovered that just a single night of insufficient sleep can make an older adults' cells age quicker.
Results show that the faces of sleep-deprived individuals were perceived as having more hanging eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes. Sleep deprivation also was associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth.
Though it may not seem like a huge deal, getting less than seven hours of sleep can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. And there's one, more visible side-effect of getting too little sleep: premature aging of the skin.
Skin makes new collagen when you sleep, which prevents sagging. “That's part of the repair process,” says Patricia Wexler, MD, a dermatologist in New York. More collagen means skin is plumper and less likely to wrinkle. Only getting 5 hours a night can lead to twice as many fine lines as sleeping 7 would.
If a person is a night owl they often find themselves working against their biological clock and missing out on quality sleep, causing a state known as social jet lag. This can lead to a variety of health consequences including lower immune system, high blood pressure, and risk of heart disease.
Teens should try to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. Adults should try to go to sleep between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
Nothing that makes you look older faster than not getting enough sleep. We're talking bags, dull skin and a dragging lack of energy. Studies show we need between 7-8 hours of sleep per night so that we're ready to attack our days with gusto.
“The skin regenerates and rebuilds itself during sleep,” says Tess Mauricio, MD, dermatologist and CEO of M Beauty Clinic in Beverly Hills. “Studies show that peak cell division happens at night, so your skin cells get rebuilt while you are sleeping.”
Round faces tend to age very well compared to other face shapes due to the fact they store a lot of fat in the cheek area. This can keep you looking younger for longer than those who lose fat quicker. This means that a gaunt and dull complexion takes longer to develop.
People who go to bed late and wake up late can often experience health problems because their body clock does not align with the regular rhythms of modern society. However, a new study suggests that a few easy routine adjustments could go a long way for night owls.
Evening: 6-9 p.m. Late at night: Midnight-6 a.m. Toward morning: 3-6 a.m.
"Night owls have higher risk of dying sooner: Evening types have 10 percent higher risk of dying than morning counterparts." ScienceDaily.
Sleeping on your back
According to Dr. Vasyukevic, the supine position is the best position all around for prolonging youthful skin. Not only does it prevent wrinkles due to the lack of wrinkle-inducing friction, it also stops the skin from feeling the pressure of your face "folding" into the pillow.
You Wake Up With Healthier-Looking Skin
It also allows your body to recuperate and helps your cells regenerate. Your body can also increase collagen synthesis to help repair skin damage. You're also less likely to have dark circles and puffy eyes in the morning when you follow an early bedtime.
There is no question that sleeping on your side will flatten your face on that side and give you a less symmetrical shape, which can be quite distinct in some people. Regularly changing your sleeping position to ensure you are less likely to have a one-sided sleep is ideal.
Do you ever feel your skin looks better in the morning? The reason is often attributed to the fact that your skin gets thicker in the morning, as it prepares to protect against stressors throughout the day. And yet, even at its thickest point, our skin is less than a tenth of an inch thick.
If you've noticed how you wake up with creases, lines, and wrinkles on your face after sleeping in a sideways position, then that most likely is one of the major causes of aging on your face. Sleeping on your side squashes your face into the pillow, causing wrinkles.
While almost everyone knows that around seven to eight hours of sleep is essential for healthy skin, the time of sleep also matters. The best time to sleep for healthy skin is between 9 PM to 11 PM. If you wake up early, hit the bed by around 9-9.30 PM.
For Caucasian women, it's typically around the late 30s. "This is when fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes, less-elastic skin, and brown spots and broken capillaries from accumulated sun damage crop up," says Yagoda. If you're a woman of color, the tipping point is more likely in your 40s.
In short, the answer is a resounding yes. Getting plenty of rest will help you look your best, as long as you don't fall asleep in your makeup. But not all sleep is created equal, so let's take a look at why beauty rest works and what you should know to maximize the advantages.
It's up to the individual to find their best time to go to sleep and wake up, but as a rule of thumb: adults need around 8 hours of sleep a night (give or take), so a sleep schedule of 10pm to 6am, or 11pm to 7am may work well for you.
“This large study suggests that going to sleep between 10 and 11pm could be the sweet spot for most people to keep their heart healthy long-term.
Daily rhythm helps our subconscious know when its time to slow down and get some sleep. Chaotic hours are likely to lead to sleep issues. The best hours for regenerative sleep for most people are between 10pm and 2am, so getting to bed before 10 can make a difference, although this varies between individuals.