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The Truth About Beauty Sleep: Myth or Fact?

Sleep is one of the most important factors that contribute to physical and mental health. Chronic lack of sleep has been shown to lead to a variety of short-term and long-term health issues, ranging from lowered immune system function to an increased risk for car crashes. When it comes to skin care, getting enough sleep is equally important.

Sleep deprivation linked to decreased perception of attractiveness

A Swedish study sought to find if sleep deprivation would make subjects appear less healthy and attractive. Photographs of the participants were taken after getting eight hours of sleep and after a night of reduced sleep. Afterwards, both photographs were randomly presented to untrained individuals for them to rate. A visual analogue scale was used to rate the photographs based on perceived attractiveness, tiredness, and appearance of health.

Based on the results, the researchers concluded the following:

“Our findings show that sleep-deprived people appear less healthy, less attractive, and more tired compared with when they are well rested. This suggests that humans are sensitive to sleep related facial cues, with potential implications for social and clinical judgments and behaviour.”

How does sleep deprivation affect the state of your skin?

The human body is amazing. Most of the time, it can repair itself as long as it’s given the opportunity to do so, and getting enough sleep is a good example. Long-term sleep deprivation prevents your skin from having time to perform its maintenance work, ultimately leading to acne breakouts, skin allergies, and delayed skin healing. It also makes the skin more susceptible to premature aging and the appearance of unwanted wrinkles, creases and folds.

If you have been having sleep issues, you’ve probably also been having skin issues. Schedule an appointment with our aesthetician, Robin White, today. She will evaluate the current state of your skin, perform a facial the same day and recommend which medical grade products will benefit you the most. Call 702.732.9600 today!