Discover the Hidden Truth: How Bad Sleep Quality Ravages Your Skin

Everyone knows that poor quality sleep often manifests as dull-looking skin. During slumber, your skin enters a reparative state; hence, inconsistent sleeping habits become visibly apparent on your complexion the following day. Inadequate rest impacts collagen generation—a crucial component for keeping your skin hydrated and elastic—and insufficient shut-eye may result in inflammation along with a weakened skin barrier. Additionally, pressing your face against the pillow could create lines or wrinkles on your skin.

Poor quality of sleep frequently stems from stress, which notably affects your skin health,” explains Dr. Ritu Gupta, a dermatologist based in Sydney. “Moreover, long-term inadequate sleep is far more detrimental compared to transient sleeping problems.

She explains that inadequate sleep causes collagen degradation and reduces skin barrier functionality. This increases vulnerability to conditions like eczema, as well as irritations and infections. “The decline in collagen speeds up the aging process, and insufficient rest also diminishes lipid levels in the skin, causing it to lose elasticity.”

How much sleep should one aim for then? Typically, the guideline suggests around eight hours. Below are some suggestions to aid your skin in achieving quality rest throughout the night.

Elevate your head by sleeping on two pillows, ideally in silk pillowcases such as those from
Slip
($115). Elevation decreases facial swelling and improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage, says Gupta. “Some extension of the neck means that finally our ‘tech necks’ can have a much-needed rest. Having your neck constantly flexed by looking at a phone screen creates horizontal lines. Sleeping slightly elevated means a reprieve from that position.”

If you’re capable of sleeping on your back, it can help minimize the development of chest and facial lines that might appear when you sleep on your side or stomach. Consider using an Orthopedic cervical pillow priced at $80, available from
Ergonomist
) that supports your neck, ensuring proper alignment of your head and shoulders. This aids in decreasing pressure on the neck muscles.

Night creams, with their rich, hydrating ingredients to plump, firm and brighten, are bedtime essentials. An oldie but goodie is
Estée Lauder
Advanced Night Repair ($199) with tripeptide-32, hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid. Peptides serve as messengers between skin cells to encourage them to produce more collagen, accelerating wound healing and protecting the skin barrier.

For additional enchantment during the night hours, we prefer
Neutrogena
Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Night Cream ($33). And for eyes, try
Medik8
Advanced Night Eye ($96), which has great de-puffing powers, boosts radiance and targets dark circles. (As an added bonus, this cream also works like a charm under make-up.) For lips, we love
Laneige
Lip Sleeping Mask ($25).

Our final word: research shows that repair of DNA-damaged skin peaks at night – all the more reason to apply a great night cream to help the skin’s natural repair system.

ASK STEPH

What’s the best way to care for dry cuticles?

Dry cuticles may lead to uncomfortable hangnails; hence, taking good care is essential. It’s best not to trim your cuticles since doing so can harm them. Use a cuticle remover — our recommendation is Try
Mavala
Cuticle Remover ($20) – immerse your nails in warm water for about five minutes, after which carefully push back the cuticles using an orangewood stick. Conclude by rubbing some cuticle cream into the area.

Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.

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