Nowadays, as people watch their children go to bed cuddling kid friendly smartphones instead of teddy bears, with dreams of Facebook, not fairies, in their heads, it comes as no surprise that so many of us are sleep-deprived. Technology brought with it opportunity and insomnia. However, did you know that you may be affecting your skin by not getting enough sleep?
Technology's assistance with increased sleep deprivation
The standard recommended nightly hours necessary for a restful night is about eight. Most people, however, only get around five to six per night. Many individuals with ever-present sleep troubles admit to keeping tablets, smartphones, and TVs on for distraction. But one thing you may not know is this habit could greatly hurt your skin's physical appearance.
Seriously, didn't your mother ever tell you to get your beauty sleep? Don't you hate it when she's right, especially when she's timelessly correct? Well, mother always knows best, and she certainly knew what she was saying as far as your skin goes. Following is a list of the most shocking skin consequences you can experience if you don't get that beauty sleep. So pay attention, and plan on getting in that full eight hours tonight.
Top 4 terrible skin consequences of sleep deprivation
You might be surprised to learn that a restful night's sleep not only allows the skin to keep a healthy barrier that prevents water loss, which also gives moisturized skin its healthy glow, but it also increases the process of collagen formation. During restful sleep, the immune system gets a boost for the next day, and immune synchronization, which happens when you are asleep, directly links to collagen production in the skin. And you probably already know this, but collagen is what keeps people looking young and maintains skin health.
Without it, you are likely to experience some of the following consequences:
1. Dark ulcerous lesions on the legs. Studies done with sleep-deprived animals have shown that prolonged sleep deprivation creates extremely unsightly sores on the lower areas of the body.
2. Bacteria invading the skin. The less sleep, the more likely skin is to quit the battle with bacteria, allowing for all kinds of skin problems, including sores and acne. Bacterial presence also makes it much harder for these problems to heal.
3. Psoriasis and eczema. People that lack sleep are not able to produce the necessary interleukin-1, a protein that both defends against invasion and increases collagen. This skin dysfunction ultimately increases the cortisol present in the skin, which triggers both psoriasis and eczema.
4. Dermatitis. This skin consequence occurs because of the lack of immunosuppressant proteins found in the skin, which is the result of a lack of sleep and the inability of the immune system to help the body recuperate.
Healthy rest equals healthy skin
What so many that suffer from the above-mentioned skin problems fail to realize, and are often not told by their dermatologists, is that addressing these issues is possible with time and plenty of rest. So, if you want to keep up that youthful glow, or restore it, start planning in more nightly sleep, and you'll be amazed at how corrective this simple action can be for both how you look and how you feel. After all, if you manage to accomplish a healthy sleep cycle, you can bask in the fact that your mother would be proud.