Getting Beauty Sleep
Monday, February 14, 2011 at 9:58PM 
courtesy of Scientific AmericanNot one but two colleagues complimented me on my skin this morning. "You look radiant" one of them told me. The other remarked that my skin seems really clear and smooth. I was perplexed. To what did I owe the compliments to? I racked my brain. I hadn't changed my skincare regime lately. I hadn't changed my diet (or rather I should say it hadn't improved recently.) Just when I was about to shrug and chalk it up to coincidence, it dawned on me that something had changed recently. I had broken my 26 days streak of not enough sleep. Due to a series of work and aromademic commitments, I had woken up to an alarm every morning for 26 days in a row until last weekend when I actually got to sleep in. Now I love sleep as much as the next person, in fact I have an above average need for it, as anyone who has tried to have a coherent conversation with me after 10:30pm can attest to. However I had no idea that a few nights of blissful sleep and no alarm clock could produce such visible effects on my face!
According to non-profit organization Sleepdex, all kinds of good things are happening when we sleep:
Early in the nightime sleep cycle, people typically have a surge in growth hormone. This period of deep sleep, stages 3 and 4 sleep, contributes to what people call "beauty sleep" as secretion of growth hormone helps repair and rebuild body tissues like muscle and bone. Many of the body’s cells also show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins during deep sleep. Since proteins are the building blocks needed for cell growth and for repair of damage from factors like stress and ultraviolet rays, deep sleep may truly be "beauty sleep."
In the British Medical Journal an abstract of a Swedish experiment last year found that sleep deprived people were perceived as being less healthy and less attractive compared to non-sleep deprived comparators. Although we might not be surprised by the results, it is interesting that we’re (apparently) noticing and judging others who aren’t sleeping enough.
Putting growth hormones and other people’s judgement aside, I don’t need any more excuses to get more sleep. I just like sleeping because it feels good. A hot bath, a little meditation on my yantra mat, and a little lavender essential oil on my pillow. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........
Reader Comments (3)
This is so true, i normally can tell the difference in my skin when i have had a good nights sleep.
True beauty comes from the light in the eyes, a natural smile on the face, and the glow of good health that shines through the skin, regardless of age.
A good night's sleep does wonders. Some say that sleep is essential for a beauty regimen. Hence, beauty sleep is coined.