During our sleep, many processes take place in the body. For example, our muscles relax and produce antibodies and new cells. Our brain processes the day’s information and reorganizes itself for the next day.

The nervous system relaxes and the immune system produces cytokines, a protein that is beneficial in inflammation and infection and in trauma. And these are just a few. Our bodies are hard at work while we sleep. So a good night’s sleep is hugely important for the proper functioning of the body, but how does that relate to appearance?

Where did the term “beauty sleep” come from?

You’ve probably had a period in your life when you had a hard time catching sleep, due to stress at work or something else unpleasant. Probably that was not a period when you looked your best. In fact, sleep deprivation ticks quickly. When we sleep too little, puffiness and dark circles under the eyes appear, our skin becomes duller and we get facial wrinkles faster.

What is a good night’s sleep?

Some can get by with a few fewer hours and others need longer, but in general we function best on a good 7 hours of sleep per night. During a good night’s sleep, our bodies have plenty of time to recover. Now, a short night doesn’t directly affect our appearance, but if you don’t get enough hours over a long period of time, you’ll soon see it reflected in the mirror. This is because sleep deprivation also affects the processes in the body that we associate with appearance, such as collagen production and cell renewal. In addition, sleep deprivation has a negative effect on our hormone levels.

The perfect afternoon nap

The beauty nap is also often used as a synonym for an afternoon nap. A short nap of up to 20 minutes will make you feel sharp again. Are you hours short at night and really tired? Then a 90-minute power nap will help. To avoid disrupting your normal night rhythm, it’s best to schedule your afternoon nap between 1 and 4 p.m. in the afternoon.

Sleep problems due to melatonin deficiency

A common cause of sleep problems is a lack of melatonin. This hormone is produced by the pineal gland and regulates day and night rhythms. Melatonin is also important for other biological processes such as the immune system, your metabolism and blood pressure. Sufficient serotonin is needed to make melatonin. This hormone is produced in the intestines. Therefore, a healthy gut flora is also important for a good night’s sleep.

Collagen production during sleep

Collagen is a protein that gives structure to all kinds of tissues. It supports organs and gives strength to blood vessels – it’s even in your teeth and bones – but is especially associated with the skin. In fact, collagen keeps skin firm and elastic. Collagen production is highest at night. And just like the rest of the body, skin repairs itself at night. As we age, collagen production gradually decreases. So even more than in our younger years, sufficient sleep is important to prevent (too many) wrinkles and sagging skin.

Good bed partners

Give your skin a helping hand? Then consider a good bed partner that caters to all your needs. These night creams promote recovery and nourish the skin.

Too much cortisol causes skin aging

Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands. Cortisol is the hormone that influences our fight and flight response. Enormously useful in exciting situations where quick action is important, but harmful if too much of it is produced. With chronic sleep deprivation, a lot of cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. The body is then in constant stress. This demands a lot from the body and disrupts other processes, such as collagen production and cell renewal. An excess of cortisol over a long period of time, therefore, makes us age faster. The skin becomes dull, loses elasticity and wrinkles.

In order to sleep well, it is important to monitor hormonal balance. In addition, there are other factors that can interfere with the quality of sleep. Consider blue light (from your phone and laptop), smoking and alcohol, too little sunlight during the day and a fluctuating sleep pattern.

Create a nice quiet atmosphere in the bedroom. Avoid blue light, go to bed on time, eat healthy and using a good night cream is the way to go. Good night!