Protect and Improve Your Skin While You Sleep

Quality skincare and treatments are not the only things that can do wonders for your skin. Sleep also offers a host of benefits, from improving the skin’s renewal rate to boosting the production of beneficial substances. The body goes into regenerative mode while you sleep, repairing daytime damage caused by UV light and other environmental aggressors.

The way you sleep and take care of your skin while you doze off can affect these repair processes and how your skin looks when you wake up. Below are a few ways to protect and improve your skin during your slumber.

Wash your face before sleeping

No matter how tired or sleepy you are, make sure to cleanse your face before bedtime. This applies whether or not you apply makeup. Proper cleansing removes dirt, oil, and other impurities that build up on the skin during the day. Make sure to follow up with an anti-aging serum or eye cream, and seal everything off with a moisturizer.

If you’re in the market for new skincare formulations, we recommend visiting drsylviaskincare.com. We have a range of new products that can nourish and protect your skin for a younger-looking complexion. One worth considering is Dr. Sylva’s Multi Peptide Youth Infusion, which is a complete skin rejuvenation serum that can help:

• Stimulate collagen
• Firm and tighten the skin
• Improve the appearance of dark spots
• Protect the skin from environmental stressors

Change your pillowcases regularly

Every time you lie down, the oils, chemicals, and dirt on your hair and skin can get transferred to your pillowcases and bed sheets. Sleeping on the same pillowcases night after night enables bacteria to grow and dirt to accumulate on your pillow. This only makes it important you change or wash them regularly, particularly if you’re prone to breakouts.

You might also want to consider switching to silk or satin pillowcases. Both are hypoallergenic and less absorbent compared to other materials such as cotton. These allow your skin and hair to glide smoothly against the fabric, preventing unnecessary friction that could lead to unwanted creases.

For further reading: Does Sleeping Cause Wrinkles?

Seal in skin’s hydration

Sleep can dry out your skin due to transepidermal water loss. This is a normal process where water evaporates through the skin and into the air. Transepidermal water loss happens throughout the entire day but speeds up significantly at night. This can lead to a number of side effects, including flakiness, rough skin texture, and more prominent lines and wrinkles.

Maintaining a healthy skin barrier can help prevent transepidermal water loss. This includes using gentle and hydrating products, as well as avoiding over washing and harsh cleansers. You might also want to use a humidifier, especially if you live in a place with low humidity.

Keep your hair out of your face

Pull your hair up or wrap it in a scarf before sleeping. This is to reduce friction that could lead to breakage or waking up with tangled hair. Doing so can also prevent the natural oils on your hair from rubbing off your skin and getting transferred to your pillowcase. Just make sure not to do so tightly and avoid metal or rubber hair ties.

The right way to wear your hair up is with a loose top knot or a loose braid at the nape of your neck using a silk or satin scrunchie. If you, however, cannot sleep with your hair up, use a silk or satin bonnet, sleep cap, or pillowcase. Avoid sleeping with wet hair, as it may lead to tangles and damage, as well as fungal and bacterial infections.

Consider changing your sleeping position

There is no need to switch up if you sleep on your back. If you, however, sleep on your stomach, you may want to flip over, as this position puts extra pressure on your face. Over time, this can lead to unwanted fine lines and wrinkles. It is advisable to sleep on your back to avoid pressing down your face against the pillow.

Keep your bedroom cool

One main benefit of sleeping in a cool room is that it can help you fall asleep quickly. As body temperature naturally drops at night, a cooler temperature can help reinforce the body’s natural instinct to doze off. It can also stimulate the production of melatonin, a hormone that encourages sleep and provides anti-aging benefits.

Other benefits of sleeping in a cool room include:

• Improved sleep quality
• Reduced stress levels
• Increased energy during the day
• Helps prevent insomnia

Wake up and energize your skin

The best way to do this is, of course, to get adequate and quality sleep at night. Aesthetic treatments are mostly beneficial if you suffer from dull skin that is making you look sad, tired, or angry even when you’re not. Below are three recommendations for energizing your look for a refreshed and youthful appearance.

• Botulinum toxin – Fine lines and wrinkles can give your face negative facial expressions even when you feel otherwise. Cosmetic injectables such as botulinum toxin can temporarily weaken the muscles responsible for these expressions to relax and soften your wrinkles. This makes you look refreshed and happier.
• Imperium Deep Restoration – This non-invasive face treatment cleanses, nourishes, and repairs the skin while providing a lifting and firming effect. It uses the pulsed crown RF, which targets the skin’s superficial layer and helps stimulate collagen. It can regenerate skin tissues and reduce the look of deep wrinkles for a more refreshed appearance.
• VI Peel – This medical-grade chemical peel targets different skin concerns to improve the tone, texture, and clarity of your skin. It removes or resurfaces the damaged layers and encourages the production of new skin cells. It can soften lines and wrinkles, lighten hyperpigmentation, and smooth away rough skin.

Never skimp on sleep. Make positive lifestyle changes to make sure you get quality and adequate sleep every night. Don’t hesitate to contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics for skin issues you wish to treat or improve, as well as non-surgical treatments that help you look and feel your best. Schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors today.