It's no secret that a consistent lack of sleep can wreak havoc on brain health and memory support. Never mind the amount of scientific research pointing to that fact, just think about how you felt the last time you pulled an all-nighter. But not only is sleep deprivation bad for the mind, but apparently it's bad for your skin too!
This is all according to a brand new study, sponsored by the skincare company Estée Lauder, which found that participants with poor sleep habits exhibited greater signs of aging skin. Subjects who did not get enough sleep on a regular basis were slower to recover from environmental stressors — such as sunburns and UV-related damage — that contribute to uneven pigmentation, diminished elasticity and fine lines throughout the skin.
On the other hand, according to ScienceDaily, those who consistently received quality sleep demonstrated healthier and younger skin, likely because of sleep's rejuvenating effects on the immune system and the body's overall physiology.
"Our study is the first to conclusively demonstrate that inadequate sleep is correlated with reduced skin health and accelerates skin aging. Sleep deprived women show signs of premature skin aging and a decrease in their skin's ability to recover after sun exposure," the team's primary investigator, Dr. Elma Baron, said in an official statement. "Insufficient sleep has become a worldwide epidemic. While chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to medical problems such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and immune deficiency, its effects on skin function have been previously unknown."
A good night's rest is essential to a healthy brain, a healthy body and — apparently — healthy skin! Click here to learn about our selection of sleep support supplements.