WHY IS SO SLEEP IMPORTANT?
We’ve been looking into sleep and how the quality and the amount we get can affect our health and wellbeing. It’s a fascinating (if not a bit scary) subject and if you don’t get enough, can lead to all sorts of negative implications.
The lack of sleep is becoming a worldwide epidemic - 47% of British adults say they ‘would try anything’ to improve their sleep quality and an estimated 10 million people in the United States remain un-diagnosed for Insomnia. With plenty of ‘over the counter’ (OTC) and natural remedies available to improve the sleep state and relax the mind, it feels we might be missing an opportunity to focus on the physical affects that sleep loss can have on the skin and hair.
Why do we have trouble sleeping?
Why do we fall into negative rhythms and what can be done?
Our bodies work off a Circadian clock that regulates everything from the body’s temperature, pH balance and repair processes. Whilst we are winding down (usually in the evening) and preparing for bed, the compound adenosine rises in the brain which signals a shift towards sleep and our body temperature naturally decreases by 1 to 2 degrees in order to conserve energy for other functions. Whilst our body and mind should be preparing for sleep, unfortunately, our most essential Circadian rhythm, the ‘sleep-wake cycle’ is regularly being disrupted by external factors such as environment temperature, stress and anxiety. Although you may not think a bad night’s sleep can have such a harmful effect, a regular lack of sleep can cause long-term effects such as varying mood states, memory loss and trouble concentrating and a weakened immune system which can lead to skin breakouts and more seriously, can increase the risk of developing diabetes. When these natural ‘sleep-wake’ inclinations are interrupted, as well as leaving us feeling exhausted (and often even more stressed), there is also a detrimental effect on mental and physical wellbeing.
Why is good nights sleep important?
Getting a good night’s sleep or enough non-REM sleep (deep sleep) is crucial for the brain and bodily functions to repair themselves. Whilst we are in deep sleep, which should account for 40% of our sleep time, our blood pressure drops and breathing becomes very slow. The brain is in rest state and carries out little activity so blood supply to our (usually overworked) muscles increases. This allows for large amounts oxygen and nutrients to be delivered into the muscles which facilitates healing and growth. Our bodies also clear themselves of the build-up of adenosine which allows us to feel alert and refreshed upon waking up.
As well as allowing our minds to rest and restore, a good night’s sleep is vital to allow skin cells to regenerate, renew and rid of toxins. Sleep deprivation causes skin to become imbalanced and for the blood vessels to dilate which causes the appearance of dark circles beneath the eyes. When the pH levels drop, skin is unable to produce the optimum moisture levels which in turn leaves skin looking and feeling dry, uneven and less radiant. Matt Walker discusses in the TED talk ‘Sleep is Your Super Power’ that having a restricted 4 hours of sleep in a single night shows a 70% drop in natural killer cell activity, which shows a concerning state of immune deficiency hence leading skin to be more vulnerable to bacteria and in turn breakouts. He shares a number of further sleep deprived experiment results and also some extremely interesting stats regarding daylight saving, for example, there is a 24% increase in heart attacks the following day!
Our minds, bodies and skin are programmed to follow our Circadian rhythms, especially the ‘sleep-wake’ cycle to ensure that our internal systems are functioning optimally. When these cycles are broken, we are essentially disrupting rhythms that keep us healthy; we are at higher risk of physical and emotional illnesses. Sleep allows for the healing properties to work, for example, our hormones rebalance to be in sync with the brain, the immune system is recharged and cellular repair of all the organ systems (including skin) is accomplished. Essentially, sleep equals a healthy body as well as a healthy mind, so although missing out on a good night sleep might not seem to affect you (or this is what you choose to believe whilst on your third black coffee of the day), it can have significant internal and external consequences.
So what can be done?
There is always some new thought on how much sleep we should be getting, what we should be doing and why our lifestyles are to blame–we do know that avoiding phones and tablets before bed, does help the brain to kick into the ‘sleep process’ – blue light is reported to negative effects on the brain as well as the skin so by changing behaviours, we know we can make small steps to make improvements. Obviously, there are many brands we can buy into, with a great selection of products which claim to help, but not all necessarily available at a reasonable price point. In the beauty sector, there are brands offering products such as face serums, body creams and pillow sprays with incredible sleep and skincare claims, but some do come with a significant price tag. Regardless of the great reviews, is it right that the ‘promise’ of sleep comes at a higher price point? Given the stats and the apparent size of the problem, should there be more affordable sleep solutions more widely available?
We think that this area is one to watch and look forward to seeing how the category develops solutions to an increasing problem for people of all ages and demographics - an opportunity that we think is significant for both retailers and consumers.