How Sleep Affects Your Hormones & Skin, From A Dermatologist 

Want this dermatologist's most coveted skin-saving secret? Well, there's a very good chance you're already doing it. The problem, however, is you're probably not doing it enough or getting good quality. What is this precious recommendation? Move over retinol, vitamin C, or lactic acid. The most important thing this dermatologist says you can do for your skin is to improve your sleep hygiene.

The importance of sleep on your hormones and skin is twofold: melatonin and cortisol. The former is our sleep hormone, and the latter is what's called our stress hormone. Melatonin is only released at night, during rest, and cortisol is released when we feel stressed, upset, and overwhelmed. Understanding how these two hormones affect our skin is vital for understanding why sleep is so important. 

Cortisol, on the other hand, breaks down our skin. "Cortisol plays a significant role in our collagen and elastin. So those supportive tissues in the skin really give us that supple youthful appearance," she says. "Well, cortisol breaks those tissues down, so you'll see accelerated fine lines and wrinkling. But the other thing is that it also impairs repair." 

So by skipping out on sleep—deep, restful sleep—not only are you limiting your body's ability to release a hormone that can repair and heal your skin, but your body is more likely to increase cortisol levels (lack of sleep makes us stressed), and this will actively break down skin. 

Here at mindbodygreen, we believe that no product can replace the simple act of taking care of yourself. You can apply the fanciest night cream and slather on retinol in the evening—but if you are not getting quality sleep regularly, your skin will show for it.