Are Your Sleeping Enough? Why Sleep is Important for Beauty and Wellness

If you think losing a little sleep now and then is no big deal, think again. Consistently not getting enough sleep contributes can cause serious impairment of functioning.

Need a little proof?  Guess what caused the Challenger Space Craft explosion, the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear disasters, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill?  These tragic accidents have been attributed to human error resulting from sleep loss.  In addition, according to University of Maryland, the 24/7 mentality in our workplace culture is attributable to over 100,000 car crashes per year, an estimated $16 billion in costs and up to $100 billion in indirect costs in the US alone.

Do you sleep enough?

By the looks of the numbers, it seems as though most adults do not.

• According to the University of Maryland, six out of every 10 adults say they have problems a few nights a week or more.
• Eight-five percent of American adults tell the Better Sleep Council they have trouble sleeping at night.
• One in ten suffers from more serious chronic insomnia, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• In 2014 the CDC declared sleep deprivation a “public health epidemic.”

How much sleep should you get?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults aged 18–60 years get at least 7 hours each night to promote optimal health and well-being. Less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and frequent mental distress.

Electronics – Are they your biggest nightmare?

It comes as no surprise that the biggest modern contributor to sleep loss now has been attributed to use of electronic devices.  At least 95 percent of people use some kind of electronic device — TV, a computer, a phone or a tablet — within an hour of bedtime, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Nearly one in five adults sends or receives work-related email before bed.  Furthermore, using devices right before bed increases the brain’s electrical activity, stimulating neurons, which is detrimental to a sleep-inducing mental state.   Maybe more insidious: the physical act of responding to an email (who doesn’t?) can trigger a stress response similar to fight or flight, resulting in cortisol production in the adrenal glands, a stress hormone, which then unleashes its own portfolio of detrimental physical effects.

Can trips to the spa help you sleep more?

Besides putting your phone away and turning those devices off, trips to the spa can actually help. According to studies, relaxation techniques including massage can be very beneficial to help reduce anxiety¹.  Visiting an esthetician or a massage therapist for a facial massage or facial experience with aromatherapeutic scents can help those who are stressed and deprived of their zzz’s.  Sleep is also an essential part of beauty. According to a new study conducted by Case Western Reserve University² chronic inadequate and poor quality accelerates intrinsic aging, including uneven pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles and skin laxity. Next week I will discuss more on this topic and how estheticians can help.

Have questions for me? Leave them in the comments below!

¹ “Lower back pain and sleep disturbance are reduced following massage therapy.”  Field, T., Hernandes-Reif, M., Diego, M., Fraser, M.,  Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, (2007, Nov. 2).

² “Does poor sleep quality affect skin aging?”  P. Oyetakin-White, B. Koo, M. S. Matsui, D. Yarosh, K. D. Cooper1 and E. D. Baron,  Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Version of Record online: 29 SEP 2014

*This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your doctor or health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about a medical condition.