I have always heard that a good night’s sleep supports well being, and took this advice at face value, without putting too much more thought into it.  Several years ago I faced some serious health issues and remember my doctor asking me if I got enough sleep at night. Well my husband snored and I was NOT getting a good night sleep. In fact, I was more irritable and not feeling well at all. My doctor’s advice was to have my husband sleep in the guest room for a while, so I could get a good night sleep. He told me that if I didn’t, I would not get healthier because my body needed sleep in order to heal itself. That is when I took an interest in what it means to get a good night of sleep and why it’s important.
The brain and body do not shut down during sleep; rather they perform important tasks that promote mental and physical health, such as producing hormones that help repair cells and fight off illnesses.
Science tells us that good sleep is essential for repairing, regenerating and restructuring the skin. Sleep is the foundation for building and maintaining health, well being and guarding against stress and age-related diseases. The list can go on and on. Since we are a natural skin care blog, we are going to concentrate on skin!
Lack of sleep can decrease collagen production in skin as well as increase water loss. The loss of intracellular water is the ultimate pathway to aging because it severely impacts skin cells and skin connective tissue (collagen and elastin).
Eight hours of good sleep from the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is the best quality time for good skin health. That’s because every night your skin undergoes a natural rejuvenation process where your cells divide and replicate the fastest. This process is controlled by a biological rhythm that kicks in around 11:00 p.m., Get your best sleep then and you will reap the maximum skin health benefits!  This is also a good time to apply a good collagen-boosting moisturizing night cream to your skin. The actives in the cream will work synergistically with your skin’s natural renewal cycle for superior, graceful aging results. Sleep is a period of net water loss in your body. It is important to encourage the body to hold as much healthy water in cells and connective tissue as possible. This is another reason why an extra hydrating night cream should be part of an overall skin care regiment that helps preserve and promote the health and strength of the skin’s barrier.
The concept of beauty sleep is not a myth. Good sleep is essential for good skin health, well-being and overall health! Â Here are some quick tips on getting a good night sleep.
- Turn off all blue-light sources, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and computers one hour before going to bed.
- If you must nap, do it early in the day and not for more than 20 minutes.
- Make sure your pillow aligns with the natural curve of your neck.
- Keep your bedroom temperature between 68 and 72 degrees.
- A consistent sleep routine helps create a natural sleep-wake schedule
We wish you all good sleep!
YASOU.