Beauty Sleep – Myth Or Fact?

Written By Sarah Kaminski / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

It's no secret that a good night's sleep makes for one of the best remedies out there. Whether you're combating the flu, preparing for a big presentation, or dealing with a busy week at work, a solid seven to nine hours of sleep is sure to help.

But, as research has pointed out time and again, the benefits of sleep don't stop there. In addition to boosting our immune function and helping us achieve peak cognitive performance, sleep also appears to play a role in making us look and feel beautiful.

With this in mind, we ventured to find out whether the idea of beauty sleep was fact or a myth. Here's everything we found out.

The Science of Sleep & Skin

There's a Link Between Disrupted Sleep & Skin Disorders

Quite recently, in 2020, the Current Sleep Medicine Reports scientific journal published a scientific overview of the interconnectedness of obstructive sleep apnea and skin disorders.

And the findings go to show that high-quality sleep does equal beauty. According to this article, there is a direct connection between disordered sleeping and skin issues, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Chronic Sleep Deprivation May Lead to Poor Collagen Production

In 2010, scientists studied the connection between sleep and immune function. What they found was that sleep deprivation may have a detrimental impact on collagen production. Knowing the multifaceted benefits of collagen for the skin, this is a fascinating find. That's especially for those looking to slow down the signs of aging or reduce the visibility of wrinkles and scars.

There's one more fascinating thing about this study. The scientists found that sleep deprivation could also lead to a break in the skin barrier function, as a result of the changes in the immune response and collagen production.

Now, this can be quite problematic. The skin barrier function is essential for protecting the internal organs from the external threats we're exposed to on a day-to-day basis.

Poor Quality Sleep Speeds Up Aging

In 2014, a group of scientists from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, conducted a study examining the connection between chronic sleep deprivation and the visible signs of aging.

They found that poor sleepers had:

• Significantly higher scores for transepidermal water loss
• A 30 percent poorer recovery after skin barrier damage
• Slower improvement following UV light exposure.

Diversely, those who got a sufficient amount of sleep each night scored high on all of these points, backing up the concept of beauty sleep as a fact.

Sleep Deprivation Makes Us Look Less Healthy, Less Attractive, and More Tired

Finally, the last piece of scientific evidence supporting the idea of beauty sleep is a 2010 scientific article about the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep-deprived people. The researchers photographed 23 healthy, sleep-deprived adults. Then, they had 65 untrained individuals rate the photos based on health, attractiveness, and tiredness.

The results were clear. They showed that the same photographed individuals looked significantly less healthy, attractive, and more tired when sleep-deprived versus when they were well-rested.

The Natural Path to Healthy & Beautiful Skin

Considering all this information, it's easy to conclude that the path to healthy-looking and functioning skin doesn't necessarily depend on expensive chemical or surgical treatments. Instead, we can accomplish equally impressive results with an entirely natural approach.

In addition to using high-quality natural products to improve skin function and rejuvenate the complexion, we can also adopt high-impact behavioral changes that will further improve our external appearance.

So, for example, if we know that the concept of beauty sleep is indeed a scientific fact, we can look for ways to prioritize healthy sleeping habits. Building a better bedtime routine is the first step. It also helps to adapt the bedroom environment to promote better rest. We can even achieve it by taking up a hobby such as yoga or meditation.

What matters is that we're aware of the connection between beauty, health, and sleep. We also need to do our absolute best to provide our body and mind with the help they need to operate at their peak. Moreover, we need to be aware of the other lifestyle factors that affect our skin, including:

• nutrition
• exercise levels
• stress exposure
• mental health

Unfortunately, addressing just one of the culprits of aged, tired, or problematic skin won't be enough. Instead, looking healthy requires a holistic approach that can take both time and effort. And, sometimes, even professional help from a trusted dermatologist.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there has been a good amount of research conducted on the connection between sleep and beauty. And as you're probably already aware, the rest of our daily habits impact our appearances as well.

This is both good news and bad. On the one hand, it means that there's no shortcut to a healthy glowing complexion without addressing all aspects of our lives. But on the other hand, it also proves that the tools to achieve our appearance goals – like beauty sleep – lay in our hands. All we have to do is apply them and trust nature and our bodies to become in sync again.

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Written By:

Sarah Kaminski  is a life enjoyer, positivity seeker, and a curiosity enthusiast. She is passionate about an eco-friendly lifestyle and adores her cats. She is an avid reader who loves to travel when time allows.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com. 

Photo by Ashley Byrd on Unsplash