Beauty sleep is real! Here’s how a well-rested sleep can help you wake up prettier

If you aren’t giving your sleep schedule the due attention it deserves, chances are that its impact will be visible on your skin as well. No, we aren’t kidding.

Adequate and regular sleep is very important to maintain the natural beauty and delay the manifestation of aging signs. Lack of sleep not only reflects itself on the skin and eyes, but can also deprive you of the benefits of beauty sleep. During sleep, the body is most relaxed and the essential body processes slow down. This is when the repair and restoration process of the body goes on and the renewal of new cells speeds up. 

A good night’s sleep can provide these 3 skin benefits:

1. Increased blood flow
Good sleep helps increase blood flow to the top layer of your skin, particularly to your face, which can reduce puffiness under the eyes. Poor blood flow results in pooling under the eyes, which causes dark under-eye circles.

An adequate amount of water and a sound night’s sleep can lighten your under-eye circles, leaving you looking awake and fresh.

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2. Helps in collagen production
When you go to sleep, your body produces growth hormones that help your body in a number of ways—including repairing collagen-producing cells. Collagen is necessary to prevent wrinkles from developing.

The growth hormones ensure that your skin is producing enough collagen, which keeps your skin tight yet elastic. It further allows your skin to repair acne and scarring across your body.

3. Helps keep fine lines at bay
While you sleep, your body also produces the chemical melatonin, which serves as an antioxidant that fights off dark spots, fine lines, and skin cancers by helping protect the skin against the most harmful effects of UV radiation.

Melatonin also helps repair cells and keeps skin flush and radiant. Because of its properties, melatonin can also be effectively applied to the skin topically for skin-level health benefits.

What constitutes “adequate sleep” can be an individual matter. Some people function well enough with less sleep, while others need seven to eight hours of sleep daily.

Also, read: Here is why beauty sleep is important. Hint: It helps you get through exhausting days

Many do not feel refreshed even after getting adequate sleep. Others have problems going off to sleep and there are those who have disturbed sleep—getting up every one or two hours. These patterns can be due to our stress levels and our ability to cope with stress.

Follow these tips to get your sleep pattern in check:

• Try to have fixed hours for going to sleep and waking up.
• Do not go to sleep immediately after a meal and also avoid exercising before bedtime.
• Avoid having stimulants like coffee before bedtime. Instead, add one tablespoon of honey to a glass of warm milk and have it before bedtime. It is said that minerals like calcium and magnesium help by inducing relaxation and calming the mind. Many of the B vitamins are also said to promote sleep.
• Avoid keeping a television in your bedroom. You can try reading a book instead. It may make you feel drowsy. So, have a bed switch to turn off the lights, so that you do not have to get out of bed.
• Your bed should be comfortable and firm and the room temperature should neither be too hot, nor too cold.
• Draw the curtains, if street lights or other lights are visible. Do not force yourself to sleep as doing so can itself keep you awake.
• Conscious relaxation or meditation, before bedtime, calms the mind and helps induce sleep.
• Try doing deep breathing—breathing in and out slowly and deeply. This will also help you calm down.

However, if you have severe insomnia and these tips do not help, you should get a doctor’s advice and treatment without any delay.