Without regular, quality sleep, many people begin to notice an increase in fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced elasticity in their skin. Simply put, they look older than their actual years would indicate because lack of sleep weakens the skin's ability to repair and rejuvenate itself.
Sleep deprivation also was associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth. People also looked sadder when sleep-deprived than after normal sleep, and sadness was related to looking fatigued.
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. This might not seem like a big deal, but it has the potential to bring on a lot of other diseases.
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.
Sleep deprivation in both men and women was related to looking significantly more fatigued, having more hanging eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes, darker circles under the eyes, more wrinkles/lines around the eyes, more droopy corners of the mouth, and being perceived as more sad.
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.
A good night's sleep also has skin-centric advantages. Getting plenty of rest helps your skin stay plump with water, and cortisol and insulin production work to speed up the creation of collagen while you rest. Both water and collagen are necessary for resilient, moisturized skin.
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.
As we mature, some physical skin changes occur naturally: Collagen production slows down – so skin loses its firmness. Elastin production decreases – and skin becomes less elastic. Fat cells start to disappear – and skin starts to sag.
Sleep need gets less with age until around 20 years old when it stabilises. How much and how fast this happens depends on the person. It is normal for children to have daytime naps until 3 to 5 years old.
While some people regularly function on short periods of sleep, research mostly agrees that six hours of sleep is not enough for most adults. Experts recommend that most adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Without regular, quality sleep, many people begin to notice an increase in fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced elasticity in their skin. Simply put, they look older than their actual years would indicate because lack of sleep weakens the skin's ability to repair and rejuvenate itself.
The primary signs of sleep deprivation include excessive daytime sleepiness and daytime impairment such as reduced concentration, slower thinking, and mood changes. Feeling extremely tired during the day is one of the hallmark symptoms of sleep deprivation.
Going a night with little to no sleep can also decrease production of growth hormone, which helps to maintain the process of skin's tissue repair, as well. Skin repairs itself as we sleep to maintain its youthful appearance. If you don't sleep well at night, you may find yourself looking “older” in the morning.
What Is Beauty Sleep? When you get a good night's sleep, you wake up refreshed and your skin glows naturally from within. Sleeping for 7-9 hours is vital for healthy skin.
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.
The biggest changes typically occur when people are in their 40s and 50s, but they can begin as early as the mid-30s and continue into old age. Even when your muscles are in top working order, they contribute to facial aging with repetitive motions that etch lines in your skin.
“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.”
This can be a single night or last for weeks, months or even years. If a person has sleep deprivation, they can recover by getting sufficient quality sleep. However, when sleep deprivation is severe or has lasted a long time, it can take multiple nights — or even up to a week — for a person to recover.
Sleeping on your back is considered the best sleep position for healthy skin. When you sleep on your back, your face is not pressed against a pillow, which can help prevent wrinkles and acne caused by the friction and pressure of the pillow.