Celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger and Penelope Cruz all attribute their good skin to a good night’s rest. Some of us have heard of the old adage, “an hour (of sleep) before midnight is worth three after”, but is there any real truth to it?
Research has shown that the body has an internal clock (biological clock or circadian rhythm) by which it regulates its activities. This clock directs commencements of many activities, including regeneration of skin and hair. According to chrono biological experts (who study the biological clock), stimulation and hydration takes place between 8pm and 11pm, followed by nutrition and regeneration from 11pm to 3am. Resting occurs from 3am to 5am. The ideal sleep duration is between seven and eight hours; any more and you can wake up feeling and looking sluggish.
Night Sleep Better than Night Creams
Lack of sleep, especially if it happens chronically, can result in decline of health and regeneration, from the skin to other body parts. It is only during sound sleep for instance that your growth hormones take action to repair and rebuild cells. Lack of sufficient sleep can cause tightening of capillaries, impairing nutrient flow to the scalp and skin and causing dullness.
Nighttime heralds the fastest cell renewal process, which is why night cream manufacturers say that their products can do wonders. However, no matter how effective a product is, its potential benefits can be negated by sleep deprivation. Applying skincare products prior to sleeping allows your skin to fully reap the nutrients for renewal and regeneration, provided they do not clog your pores.
Sleep on Your Back for Best Results
Sleeping in an uncomfortable position can leave you tired at the end of the night because it causes constriction of blood flow around the body as the night progresses. Sleeping face-down can cause constriction of vessels, in turn causing ‘pooling’ of congested fluid to result in the dark circles under the eye. These can disappear when you wake up, but as you grow older, they take longer to disappear, eventually becoming permanent.
Instead, sleeping on your back is recommended (unless contraindicated for any reason e.g. pregnancy). This prevents fluid accumulation and puffy eyes. Ensure your head is raised above your body by using a comfortable pillow and keep the room cool by reducing heating or opening a window.
Of course, having a comfortable mattress to sleep on is vital for wholesome rest as well as maintaining your bone and muscle structural well-being. If you don’t have a good mattress, save up to invest in one and to visit a qualified retailer that specializes in selling mattresses.
Conclusion
As you can see, sleeping isn’t just about sleeping. It’s a complex process that involves regulation of hormones to allow growth and regeneration, which is important for general body wellbeing and skin health. Long, uninterrupted sleep featuring slow-wave sleep (very deep sleep) and rapid eye movement sleep (light, dreamy sleep) are important. Train your body to sleep and rise around the same time to have a regular sleep pattern and hence allow the body to accomplish its regenerative tasks like clockwork. If you still have trouble sleeping, you can always try supplements and research peptides but use them accordingly.
Author Bio: The author is a renowned chiropractor with over 7 years experience in mattress retail at City Mattress Lancaster 4970 Transit Rd. In his free time he likes to travel and spend time with his family as well as share industry insights on various platforms, where he has been published.
I am an early to bed and early to rise person. If I stay in bed too long in the morning, I feel groggy during the day. Guess that is just the way my internal clock works.
I am a nightowl… and I almost always have been. I wonder how the internals clocks work for those who tend to be ‘afternoon’ or ‘evening’ people. I do get about 8 hours of sleep (if the cat doesnt wake me up) and feel mostly alright. I know sleep is very important, but a morning person I will never be.
One of the best investments is a good mattress for sure!
Although I knew sleep was important I was not aware of its effects on the skin and wrinkles. I have always believed in the importance of sleep. I have never heard of City Mattress, but there is a store located near my son.