Aging : The Impact of Sleep on Skin | by Tyler Peters
“ racoon eyes ” are telltale signs . It is , however , a little more difficult to see the impact of poor sleep habits on the skin . In 2016 , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) reported that one-third of Americans are considered poor quality sleepers . At least 70 million American suffer from a variety of sleep disorders ( of which there are 80 ).
we can set about the task of increasing positive treatment results and promoting healthier skin .
Sleep Cycles
To understand how sleep loss negatively impacts the skin , let ’ s look at the stages and purpose of sleep .
Sleep cycles consist of light sleep , deeper slow-wave sleep , and rapid eye movement sleep ( REM ). Each full cycle lasts from 90-110 minutes and repeats throughout the night . On average , a healthy sleeper runs through five cycles every night . Most sleep falls into the non-REM stage . We engage in REM sleep only about 20-25 % of the time .
Although dedicated skincare professionals work hard to improve the health and vitality of those in their charge , client decisions may be irreversible . Since those determinations and actions occur outside of any clinic or office , they are unquestionably out of any professional ’ s control . Diet , lifestyle , and stress levels all factor into the skin aging process . And so does sleep .
When it comes to sleep , we reap what we sow . Poor sleep or bad sleep habits contribute to accelerated aging and increased health risks . Once the essential role of sleep is recognized , however ,
When we do not get adequate sleep , we truncate the number and thoroughness of the cycles with detrimental effects to our overall health – and to our skin .
Stage N1 ( Non-REM 1 ): “ light sleep .” Almost no one goes comatose the minute the head touches the pillow . Once we commit to sleeping , the body slowly transitions from wakefulness to sleep . Sleepers are aware of surroundings and gradually shift into a relaxed state . Equaling only 5 % of total time asleep , N1 – what we call “ falling asleep ” – lasts up to seven minutes per cycle . It is a relatively short period , but it serves as the launching pad for every other stage .
Stage N2 ( Non-REM 2 ): also “ light sleep .” The difference here is that the body begins to disengage from the sur-
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