The science of sleep
The skin’s natural cell turnover process is kick-started while you sleep, helping repairs to be made and new cells to be created – this is what keeps the complexion bright and glowing. When you don’t get enough sleep, the skin quickly begins to look dull and grey and evens start to feel more sensitive. Tiredness and fatigue are also responsible for some of the most visible signs of skin damage, accentuating the signs of ageing as well as leaving dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.
Quality vs quantity
It isn’t just about how many hours of sleep you get, but also the quality, as deep sleep is when your skin does the best job at repairing itself. You can avoid a restless night by making some simple changes such as avoiding caffeine at least eight hours before going to bed, and alcohol at least three hours before turning in. Gentle exercise, such as yoga, can also help your mind to relax after a busy day, and it’s advisable to turn off laptops and smart phones at least an hour before bed. The blue light emitted from many electronic devices can suppress melatonin production, the hormone that controls sleep cycles.
A well-rested body and mind is proven to have better immunity from things such as common colds, and even more serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. You may also find that if you haven’t slept well, your body craves all of the wrong kinds of food. This is due to a rise in hormones : *ghrelin is resonsible for making you crave fatty and sugary foods, while a rise in cortisol encourages the body to hold onto visceral fatty tissue around the tummy. A study by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism also showed that just one bad night’s sleep reduces the body’s ability to process sugar the next day, leading to greater fat storage.