Did You Know 'Beauty Sleep' is a Real Thing?

The ultimate secret to flawless, glowing skin? Besides your go-to beauty products and sworn-by skincare rituals, sleep plays an important part—and unfortunately, is often compromised. 

If you happen to be one of those who functions optimally on a mere four hours of sleep, and brags about your endurance, let us break it to you—your poor sleeping habits are ruining your skin! Research has proven, time and again, that a lack of sleep may cause significant changes in your body, by increasing one’s risk for serious health concerns. On the other hand, managing to attain a good night's rest—for at least eight hours—will boost your immune system, improvise your memory and attention span, and will help you cut down on unhealthy snacking through the day.

And if you didn't know already, sleep can do absolute wonders for your skin! “Your skin regenerates and repairs itself at night. Apart from having fewer dark circles and puffy eyes, getting sound sleep makes your skin look refreshed and youthful,” explains Dr Simal Soin, Aayna Clinic. In fact, a research study found that two days of sleep restriction negatively affected participants' perceived attractiveness, health, sleepiness and trustworthiness. So, what seems like an overnight issue could quickly transform into something more permanent and damaging!

According to celebrity dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad, our body produces growth hormones while we are asleep. Collagen production is enhanced by this hormone, which in turn helps your skin remain soft, supple and wrinkle-free. Acne is also said to heal during one's sleep, owing to the activation of an anti-inflammatory pathway. Besides, getting eight hours of beauty sleep boosts blood flow to your face, giving you that flawless morning glow!

With respect to overall health and well-being, sound sleep can curb inflammation in the body, keeping illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis and premature ageing at bay. By releasing cytokines while we're asleep, a protective system gets activated in our body.

So, the next time you plan to skip or compromise on your crucial sleep-time, remember—it’s not just about looking good. Instead, it’s about maintaining a healthy body, mind and skin, for years to come, by adopting a healthier way of life.