You probably know how unsightly a tired face gets. This is from hanging eyelids, droopy mouth corners, and pale skin. When it becomes the order of the day, you will quickly develop dark circles under the eyes, wrinkles, fine lines, and spot saggy skin. Such concerns can significantly impact your anti-aging regimen, emphasizing the need for quality rest. Nonetheless, enjoying quality sleep and rest is not always possible, and not just because of a demanding schedule. Hormonal changes, health concerns, and your routine could get in your way. You can seek Plano, TX age management specialist services if you have tried sleep aids and other hacks with little or no success.
But why pay so much attention to your sleep? How does sleep, or lack thereof, impact your anti-aging measures? Here is a glance at what happens when you sleep, emphasizing the need to give it more weight as you strive to retain your youthful looks.
First stage
During your first sleep stage, typically three hours in, the pituitary gland starts to secrete somatotropin. This growth hormone impacts how effectively the skin can maintain its striking and healthy looks. Sleep deprivation means that your body does not produce enough somatotropin, which impacts the ability to repair from daily stressors. As the hormone levels continue to drop, the aging process accelerates. This could be the culprit causing the stubborn aging signs that do not seem to subside despite investing your time and energy in a practical anti-aging regimen.
Second stage
Following the first stage, melatonin hormone production starts and increases for the next two or more hours. This hormone acts as an antioxidant and helps protect the skin from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that contribute to aging and cause illnesses. If you are sleep deprived, it means the hormone levels will gradually lessen, leaving your skin vulnerable to damage. It worsens when you are also not producing enough somatotropin for self-repair, further accelerating aging. This also makes the skin unhealthy, meaning it cannot efficiently function and effectively protect other organs.
Third stage
This is the final stage, also referred to as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. During this phase, cortisol, a stress hormone, starts to decrease. The skin temperature also drops, cooling it and relaxing your muscles. This increases collagen production, a protein that keeps your skin smooth, supple, and flexible. Collagen production lessens as we age and worsens with sleep deprivation. Quality sleep facilitates more collagen production, giving your skin the best and strong recovery.
Sleep deprivation impacts your body in many ways. Besides daytime drowsiness, fatigue, poor concentration, increased irritability, and low libido, it can impact your skin looks and health. Quality sleep can supercharge your anti-aging regimen through increased somatotropin and collagen production and lower cortisol levels. This emphasizes the need to see a sleep specialist to help you discover why you can’t fall and stay asleep, adopt a healthier sleep routine, and, if necessary, treatments, including hormone replacement therapy. Call The Riegel Center today for more on sleep quality and how it can help improve your anti-aging measures.