Insomnia's Mask: Beauty of sleep

25 May 2015 - 02:14 By Katy Young, © The Daily Telegraph

Sleep deprivation damages your skin, a new study has confirmed. That grey pallor, those fine lines, the redness and irregularity that you detect in the mirror after a rough night are all due to lack of sleep , scientists say. Wanting to delve a little deeper into the effects of getting just six hours of sleep a night (as many people do) compared with seven to eight (as we should) on our skin, the study enrolled 30 women in an experiment.Subjects, including British model Jodie Kidd, slept for just six hours a night on five nights, then for eight hours for the following five nights. They had their photograph taken and skin tested using the Visia complexion analysis machine after each stint.During the six-hour patch, the women's faces showed a 45% increase in wrinkles, redness was up by 8%, spots by 13% and brown spots by 11%.One woman doubled the wrinkles on her face during the sleep-deprivation period, while Kidd's facial pores increased by more than 56%. ''Having seen the really quite significant effects of just five nights of six hours' sleep, I realise that rest is an important part of it," Kidd said.Never mind what happens after five days, however, imagine what could happen in a few sleep-deprived years. The scientists involved in the study believe people should expect premature ageing, permanent discolouration, increased breakouts and increased skin sensitivity.''After taking part in this study I will certainly be paying more attention to my routine and prioritising getting a good night's sleep," says Kidd.The founder of The Sleep School and leading sleep expert, Dr Guy Meddowes, warns: ''As the results of this study show, not only does sleep deprivation have serious effects on mood, cognitive ability and concentration, but also on appearance and self-esteem."Sleep is a time for the body to heal, renew and eliminate toxins from the skin.''Sleep deprivation is endemic in Western society, with half the population regularly sleeping for 25% less than the recommended seven to eight hours."So there's a one in two chance that you're one of the sleepy sufferers.The study also found that after just six hours of sleep, hunger levels increased by 33%, while cravings went up by 60%.Sleep easySupplementIt should contain magnolia to relax muscles, calm nerves and lower levels of cortisol (the naturally occurring stress hormone in the body), as well as ziziphus, which boosts the alpha waves in the brain that help us sleep.Yoga StretchThe vipareeta karani, or legs-up-the-wall pose, calms the nervous system. Stay in the stretch for five to 10 minutes.Essential oilA blend of vetivert, camomile and sandalwood essential oils is a more effective sleep aid than lavender alone. Vetivert induces a feeling of peace and tranquillity. Camomile and sandalwood are grounding.MineralTry 200mg of sleep-inducing magnesium last thing at night.TipLeave the bedroom window open, even during winter. The body temperature needs to drop when you fall asleep. Aim for a constant, cool room temperature...

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