The Benefits Of Sleep For Your Hair, Skin, And Nails

Sleep is essential for our health internally and externally. When we are sleeping our body repairs damaged skin cells and increases blood flow to the skin, which helps produce collagen. Collagen is 30% of our body’s protein that provides structure and function to your skin, joints and bones. It also keeps skin cells plump and supple, and helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Sufficient sleep is crucial for your hair, skin, and nails to be as strong and healthy as they can.

Skin

Sleep helps replace old skin cells that can cause acne and inflammation, therefore if we don’t get adequate sleep, we can damage our skin causing it to age faster than normal. When we are sleeping our bodies maintain moisture distribution, which helps cells produce more collagen, which in turn helps our skin to glow from within.

Sleep deprivation can cause a rise in stress hormones like cortisol which can interfere with the body’s ability to heal itself overnight. One study was found that just four nights of sleep deprivation can significantly reduce skin hydration and worsen skin texture.

Hair

Sleep can help your body produce growth hormones that promote hair growth and repair. When you get the right amount of sleep the cells repair themselves and increase collagen production, which can make your hair look and feel healthier.

However, sleep deprivation can lead to less human growth hormone production, which can cause hair thinning/ hair loss, as well as hair to look dry, dull, and lifeless. Stress is also a big factor that contributes to hair loss, increased levels of cortisol, and oily hair overtime.

Nails

When we do not get enough sleep, our body sends stress hormones to the body which can cause weak, and brittle nails. Stress can affect the nail matrix where the nail is produced and cause an abnormal growth of the nail. Sleep will help cells in the body maintain their natural moisture distribution, which helps your body produce more collagen, making your nails stronger, grow faster and healthier.

Poor sleep has been associated with immune dysregulation and inflammation which can spike anxiety levels, infuriate breakouts, and lead to dryness and redness. Every night seven to eight hours of good quality sleep, can overall improve the appearance of your hair, skin and nails. We must maintain enough hours of sleep per night, stay active and eat healthy to keep our body’s cells regulated and thriving, therefore not increasing the rate of natural aging.