If you’ve been diligent about caring for your skin, but are not seeing the smooth, radiant results you want, Dr. George Sanders has the solution. The best part is, it’s free and it’s available almost immediately: a full eight hours of quality sleep. To understand exactly why sleep can affect your skin’s appearance, enjoy the latest blog post from Dr. Sanders.
Why Is Sleep So Important?
The reason why your skin may look dehydrated, broken out, wrinkly, splotchy or otherwise dull is that you are not getting the amount or quality of sleep that your body needs to nourish itself.
Adequate sleep is crucial because your body’s regenerative processes occur when you are in a deep, restful sleep. Your skin naturally heals damaged cells, clears out dead cells and makes room for new cells. Your body also rebalances its hydration as you sleep so the skin has adequate moisture levels.
Chronic sleep deprivation exacerbates existing skin conditions and creates new ones. One of the effects of poor sleep is a spike in stress hormones, which over the long run increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation can cause the body’s supply of collagen and hyaluronic acid (essential for healthy skin) to break down — that’s why wrinkles and lines start to appear. Sleep deprivation also prevents the skin from staying hydrated and supple. And, without the proper amount of sleep, the skin may become more sensitive and unable to protect itself from daily environmental pollutants or chemicals.
Tips for Great Sleep and Beautiful Skin
- Remove all your makeup before going to bed. Dirty skin inhibits the cell turnover process. For nights when you’re too tired to wash your face, keep a stash of makeup remover wipes in your nightstand.
- Sleep on soft fabrics that don’t tug on your skin as you toss and turn at night. Even the slightest pulling can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Look for silk or pima cotton pillowcases.
- Switch your sleep position. Sleeping on your stomach can cause puffiness and bags under your eyes. Try sleeping on your back instead (it’s also better for your alignment).
- Avoid alcohol within 90 minutes of bedtime. Consuming alcohol too close to your bedtime prevents your body from entering deep REM sleep in which the cells regenerate.
Is “Beauty Sleep” Not Helping?
If you normally get a good amount of restful sleep, but your skin tells a different story, Dr. Sanders can help. He offers a variety of cosmetic treatments designed to revitalize your skin and give it a beautiful glow. Non-surgical treatments like laser skin resurfacing, Botox and fillers can address a range of common imperfections, and surgical procedures can provide more comprehensive tightening and lifting. Please call our office at (818) 981-3333 today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanders and discuss your skin care needs.
