Our skin while we sleep

During the day, the skin protects our body from harmful environmental influences and determines our external appearance. She regenerates at night. Lack of sleep not only harms our health - unfortunately it can also be seen in our faces. Here you can find out exactly what happens to our skin while we sleep and why a restful sleep is crucial for healthy and beautiful skin.

Table of Contents

1. Our skin
2. StructureStructure & function of the skin
3. Skin & Sleep
1. Lack of sleep damages the skin
2. This is how the skin regenerates while you sleep
4. Support for skin health & beauty sleep
5. Conclusion

1. Our skin

The skin is one of the most important organs in our body and forms the basis for a well-groomed external appearance. It covers the entire surface of the body, is one of our sensory organs and represents a vital protective barrier that protects the body from numerous harmful influences. Especially during the day, our skin suffers from the effects of light and UV radiation, heat, cold, injuries and infections. Depending on the time of day, the moisture content, pH value, temperature and activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands fluctuate. At night, when we rest and sleep, numerous important regeneration processes take place in our body and the skin also recovers from the harmful influences to which it is exposed in everyday life. Sufficient and restful sleep is therefore of great importance for maintaining and caring for healthy and strong skin.

2. Structure and function of the skin

The skin is made up of three different layers of skin. They each fulfill different functions that are crucial for our health not only externally but also within the body.

1 - Epidermis (upper skin)
The epidermis consists largely of a stratum corneum and forms the skin's top protective barrier. It is therefore primarily responsible for defending against harmful substances and pathogens and also offers mechanical protection against shocks, cuts or blows.

2 - Dermis (dermis)
The dermis located under the epidermis consists of collagen-containing connective tissue fibers that are responsible for elasticity and firmness. The dermis also contains many blood and lymph vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands as well as numerous nerve fibers, vessels and muscle cells.

3 - Subcutis
The last layer of skin is made up of loose connective and fatty tissue and separates the skin from other tissue inside the body.

The different layers of skin take on numerous different functions. These include, for example, protection against toxins and harmful radiation or the defense against pathogens through the important protective acid mantle. The skin also plays an important role in regulating our body temperature, protects the body from dehydration and high stress caused by intense heat or cold and, as a sensory organ, is able to detect a wide variety of stimuli (e.g. b temperature, pain, pressure). And the skin also fulfills important tasks inside the body. It contains important immune cells, produces vitamin D, which is important for the organism, and is used, among other things, to store water, fat and various metabolic products.

In addition to these tasks, which are crucial for our health, our skin is also crucial for our external appearance. The appearance of our skin makes it easy to see when we are sick or when our body is lacking nutrients. An even, smooth complexion is also considered attractive, which is why our appearance and beauty also benefit from healthy skin.

3. Lack of sleep damages the skin

During the night, our organism breaks down harmful substances and rebuilds the skin's natural protective barriers, maintains its tone and elasticity and regulates the moisture content. Important growth hormones are released, which are involved in almost all functions in our body, help build connective tissue and control enzyme production and cell renewal. Lack of sleep disrupts these natural recovery processes and slows down the skin's own repair mechanisms. If we don't sleep enough, the body releases more cortisol, known as the "stress hormone", which puts the organism in a state of stress. Too high a cortisol level promotes inflammation in the tissue structures, increases the activity of the sebaceous glands and inhibits the body's own production of hyaluronic acid. Redness, inflammation and increased wrinkling occur. The skin also loses firmness and moisture, becomes dry and cracked and appears visibly aged. In addition, cortisol damages the barrier function of the skin and leads to an increase in blood sugar, especially in the long term, whereupon the collagen structures solidify and the skin's elasticity is reduced.

Lack of sleep therefore damages our skin immensely and leaves visible consequences in the short and long term. Our skin loses tone, elasticity and moisture. This results in dark circles under the eyes or a pale complexion the following day, a reduced function of the defense and protective barrier and a higher susceptibility to injuries. A restful sleep, on the other hand, helps maintain healthy skin and also counteracts the natural signs of aging.

4. This is how the skin regenerates while you sleep

Metabolism and cell renewal

At night and especially during deep sleep phases, more growth hormones are released and the body's own collagen production is also in full swing. This promotes cell renewal in muscles and connective tissue, old cells are broken down, damaged cells are repaired, harmful substances and degradation products are removed and new cells are built. At night our skin also receives better blood flow, so that metabolism improves, the skin cells are supplied with nutrients and oxygen more effectively and the removal of harmful substances is accelerated.

New studies also assume that the sleep hormone melatonin can also have a positive effect on our skin. Melatonin functions as an antioxidant and is therefore able to neutralize so-called free radicals inside the body and protect the cells from damage caused by these aggressive substances and stress. It also has a positive effect on collagen production and can help protect the skin from UV radiation and the resulting damage such as wrinkles or pigment spots.

Fat and moisture content

During the day, the skin is exposed to numerous environmental influences, so that the moisture content, pH value, temperature and activity of the sebum and sweat glands, which are located in the middle layer of the skin, fluctuate depending on the time of day and stress. At night these stresses do not occur and the activity of the sebaceous glands decreases. In this way, deposits in the skin pores are removed, the oil content of the skin can be regulated and the moisture stores can be replenished.

Tension and elasticity

The body's own substances collagen and hyaluronic acid play an important role in the tone and elasticity of our skin. Our skin consists of 80% of the structural protein collagen, whose fibers support the skin layers and ensure strength. Hyaluronic acid is a main component of connective tissue and is responsible for a firm complexion and the moisture content of the skin. The production of these important building materials runs at full speed, especially while we sleep, so that the tone and elasticity of our skin is maintained. This prevents the formation of wrinkles and lines and promotes a healthy and firm complexion.

5. Support for skin health & beauty sleep

To support skin regeneration overnight, you should ensure that you sleep for sufficient duration, but also that the quality of your sleep is as high as possible. The essential growth hormones are released and the most important repair processes are carried out, especially during deep sleep. Find out more about the individual sleep phases here or read our tips for healthy sleeping habits. Before going to bed, proper care and a sufficient supply of nutrients are of great importance so that the skin is free of impurities and the body has sufficient material available for cell repair and renewal. You can find the most important and effective tips on how you can optimally prepare your skin for sleep in this article.

More about the perfect evening routine and the ideal beauty sleep:

5 ultimate tips for your beauty sleep
Why good sleep makes you beautiful

6. Conclusion

• The skin consists of three layers (epidermis, dermis, subcutis) and protects the body from harmful environmental influences such as UV radiation, heat, injuries or infections.

• Lack of sleep damages the skin, reduces its barrier capacity and impairs healthy, beautiful skin.

• During sleep, the skin recovers and numerous regeneration processes ensure cell repair and renewal, the regulation of fat and moisture content and the maintenance of tone and elasticity.

Greetings and see you soon!