How Sleep Affects Our Skin


Sleep is a "natural, temporary loss of consciousness" (Robinson, 1941) necessary for our bodies to build up energy reserves and regenerate body cells and tissues. During sleep, the heart beats more slowly, breathing becomes slower, growth hormones peak, muscles relax and body temperature lowers. Newborn infants sleep almost continuously, gradually decreasing their need for sleep. In early childhood, 12 to 13 hours of sleep are generally required and this amount decreases to approximately 8 hours in adulthood. After the age of 50, sleep is often characterized by frequent night time wakenings, shorter dream lengths and less overall sleep (Bricklen, 1990).

Many consider sleep to be of low priority among the many daily activities engaged in. It is estimated that the world's population is depriving itself of one less hour of sleep per night than is needed (Awake!, 2004). Despite this view of night-time rest, sleep is a necessary, sophisticated process regulated by the brain. Operating as a 24- hour clock, chemical substances, such as melanin, are released in the body to trigger sleepiness.

There are two main stages of sleep classified according to eye movement. The first is REM or rapid eye movement which is a shallow, dream-filled sleep. There are four sub-stages within REM sleep. The first sub-stage lasts 30 seconds to 7 minutes, and during this time the muscles relax while the brain produces irregular wave activity. The second sub-stage lasts 20 percent of the night and brain waves become larger as the body is asleep. The next sub-stage is called delta sleep, where growth hormones peak, and cell and tissue repair take place.

Without delta sleep, which accounts for half of a night's sleep, one will feel tired the next day. Every 90 minutes the brain enters the dream sub-stage, where brain wave activity is similar in pattern to being awake, but muscles are not able to move as when awake. This stage lengthens each repeated cycle during the night, and is crucial to preserving mental health and long term memory, since the brain sorts through short term memory and 'deletes' unimportant data. The second major stage of sleep is non-REM, or non rapid eye movement, where blood pressure drops and heart rate slows as the person enters a deep sleep.

Short term sleep deprivation causes little physical harm, since the body compensates for the lack of sleep by increasing its adrenaline levels during the day. The body also attempts to get more sleep at a later time. A temporary shift in attitude may occur, such as feelings of pessimism or negativity (Bricklin, 1990). Sleep deprivation, even short term, can be dangerous if driving a car, or operating machinery. Sleep deprivation is thought to be the cause of half of all traffic fatalities on U.S. highways, and being awake 17 to 19 hours can cause the same limited reaction and ability as having a 0.05 percent blood alcohol limit (Awake! 2004). It is also implicated in many workplace accidents.

Chronic sleep deprivation, which is caused by prolonged shortages of sleep, can lead to paranoia or hallucinations. This is also termed 'sleep debt', and is characterized by irregular sleep patterns that do not allow the body to enter delta sleep. This can bring on a short attention span, memory and vocabulary loss as well as other symptoms. Among women aged 25-50 who tend to be "perfectionists", many tend to suffer from shallow sleep as the wake centre of the brain remains active when it should be relatively inactive. Other complications from sleep deprivation include obesity, premature aging, fatigue, chronic memory loss and increased risk for diabetes, infection, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disease. It is important, therefore, to obtain an adequate amount of sleep each night, since sleep also helps the body metabolize free radicals, which are thought to accelerate aging and cancerous growths.

Obtaining a good night's rest can be achieved. The following are suggestions to help towards the goal of night-time rest:

- Avoid stimulants like caffeinated drinks before bed.

- Avoid eating a heavy meal at night. A light snack might help if hunger causes you to wake up at night.

- Create a pleasant, warm (body temperature drops when sleepy), noise-free bedroom with a comfortable mattress and pillow.

- Avoid exercise before bed, however, regular exercise during the day aids sleep.

- Avoid activities that increase anxiety, such as considering financial matters or discussing serious problems before bed.

- If possible, a quick daytime nap lasting 20 to 30 minutes can impart positive physiological benefits. Prolonged naps impair sleep at night and may cause insomnia.

- If experiencing insomnia, try getting up and engaging in another activity for a brief time and then attempt sleep again.

- A warm glass of milk contains tryptophan, a natural substance thought to aid sleep.

- Keep the bedroom dark, since the area of the brain which controls the sleep cycle is close to the optic nerves and thus sensitive to light (feeling awake) and dark (feeling sleepy).

- Quit smoking, which increases blood pressure, heart rate and brain wave activity.

How can you know if you are a healthy sleeper?

- Sleep comes easily at night.

- You rarely wake up during the night and can fall back asleep with ease.

- You wake at the same time each morning without an alarm.

- You feel alert during the day and do not feel the need to nap.

Getting a good night's rest refreshes the body, mind and attitude. It is as vital to our health as good food and exercise. The phrase "beauty rest" is more than a quaint idea, it is a fundamental task in the quest for external and internal beauty.

References:

- Bricklin, Mark, (1990). The Natural Healing and Nutritional Annual, Ed., Rodale Press, Pennsylvania.

- Robinson, Victor M.D., (1941). The Modern Home Physician, Ed., Musson Books, Toronto.

- Tleac, Deborah, (2000). Everyday Health Tips, Ed., Rodale Press, Pennsylvania.

- Awake! Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Canada, March 22 2003.

- Awake! Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Canada, February 8 2004.

- http://www.naturalcosmetics.ca

Lori Stryker has been researching and developing all natural skin care and make-up for the purpose of offering men and women safe, natural cosmetics for everyday use. She brings to her research a specialist in human biology from the University of Toronto, coupled with a professional home economics degree and an education degree from the University of British Columbia, fusing chemical and biological knowledge with food, family and textile sciences.

You may use this article but any modification or publication of this article for fiancial gain must be approved of by the author. The author's name, Lori Stryker and her company's name, The Organic Make-up Company, needs to by noted when used.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News)
French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune)
The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance)
A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. DIVA TALK: Chatting with In the Heights ' Mandy Gonzalez Plus News of Fraser, Testa and Bundy (Playbill)
News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

Site: news - Google News
Palm Shares Soar As New Smartphone Wins Wall Street Praise - CNNMoney.com

Sydney Morning Herald

Palm Shares Soar As New Smartphone Wins Wall Street Praise
CNNMoney.com - 10 hours ago
The stock price has nearly doubled over the last two days since the company announced its new Pre smartphone and WebOS operating system at the Consumer ...
Palm's new smart phone steals the show MarketWatch
The pre's got Mojo: a developer speaks about Palm's new SDK Ars Technica
Palm's new Pre smartphone gets lots of good buzz USA Today
Kansas City Star - CNET News
all 809 news articles
Live-blog: Obama news conference on Intel choices - USA Today

FOXNews

Live-blog: Obama news conference on Intel choices
USA Today - 11 hours ago
The news conference is now set to get started at 10:45 am ET (though Obama has been known to begin things early). Hit the "refresh" button, ...
Video: Spies from outside the fold ReutersVideo
News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA New York Times
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News ... CBS News
FOXNews - CBS News
all 3,447 news articles
New UN resolution on Gaza: final compromise reached, but hard to ... - Xinhua

WELT ONLINE

New UN resolution on Gaza: final compromise reached, but hard to ...
Xinhua, China - 5 hours ago
The resolution was being drafted and amended at the UN Headquarters in New York while the Israeli offensive against Gaza was going on and diplomatic efforts ...
Video: No Cease Fire In Gaza CBS
AP Top News at 7:12 am EST The Associated Press
Liberation News Flyer: Israel Out of Gaza! Bay Area Indymedia
Aljazeera.net - Xinhua
all 12,055 news articles
Tax Cuts Receive New Emphasis?and Some Criticism?in Stimulus Debate - U.S. News & World Report

New York Times

Tax Cuts Receive New Emphasis?and Some Criticism?in Stimulus Debate
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 3 hours ago
But at Friday's news that unemployment had soared to 7.2 percent, a 16-year high, countervailing forces roiled Democrats. Some want quick action. ...
Video: Obama: New Layoffs Show Need for Urgent Action AssociatedPress
Obama: New layoffs show need for urgent action The Associated Press
NEWS: Obama Warns of Economic Disaster Without Stimulus Plan Opposing Views
Christian Science Monitor - WDEF News 12
all 7,273 news articles
Lloyds TSB Settles New York Probe for $350 Million - Bloomberg

Lloyds TSB Settles New York Probe for $350 Million
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago
Morgenthau said that $350 million in funds terminated in the US and ?several billion? dollars went through New York banks, in violation of US law. ...
Walt Disney, Shanghai Propose New Theme Park in China - Bloomberg

Walt Disney, Shanghai Propose New Theme Park in China
Bloomberg - 3 hours ago
The new site will likely be larger than one in Hong Kong that has faced criticism for being too small, said David Miller, a Los Angeles-based analyst with ...
Nokia's new Supernova 7510 - CNET News

CNET News

Nokia's new Supernova 7510
CNET News, CA - 5 hours ago
When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions ...
A Fitness Revolution for the New Year's Resolution - CNNMoney.com

A Fitness Revolution for the New Year's Resolution
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
Just in time for the infamous New Year's weight-loss resolution, FASTrainer, (Flexibility And Strength Trainer), offers fitness optimists a revolutionary ...
CNET News Daily Podcast: Deconstructing Ballmer - CNET News

CNET News Daily Podcast: Deconstructing Ballmer
CNET News, CA - 5 hours ago
But Steve Ballmer had more on his mind than Windows 7 and he shared some very frank opinions with CNET News' Ina Fried. Ina stops by for a visit to our ...
Stocks Close Down On Unemployment News - Forbes

ABC News

Stocks Close Down On Unemployment News
Forbes, NY - 4 hours ago
Citi was down slightly on the news. In the markets, stocks were stuck in negative territory for most of Friday, after another weak jobs report. ...
Business Highlights The Associated Press
Reading Rubin's Move Forbes
all 564 news articles

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for beauty
Documentary on beauty hits Napa; local couple get their message out (Napa Valley Register)

Is America obsessed with beauty? It?s a question a Napa couple have helped answer in a highly-decorated documentary film about to play in Napa. Fashion Beauty Music (Scoop.co.nz)

Drawing only the best crowds, providing a party atmosphere like no otherand always raising the bar, FASHION BEAUTY MUSIC has established itself asa premium high profile event with a reputation of quality. First Beauty Contest for Hybrid Falcons to be Held in Capital (Khaleej Times)

abu dhabi ? The International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition ? Abu Dhabi 2008 ? will host the first beauty contest for hybrid falcons, organisers of the event said on Thursday. Beauty from the inside out, outside in (Midland Daily News)

They were already, all of them, beautiful young women. But on the stage at Coleman High School early Saturday afternoon, they positively glowed with a new awareness of the unique beauty each possessed. From the audience, cheers, whistles and applause confirmed their newly heightened confidence. FALLING FOR FALL BEAUTY TRENDS (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The fall runways were good to the beauty industry. Rather than send out looks that let the clothes do all the talking, designers collaborated with beauty artists to capture a complete vision. Audience members didn't know which to glue their eyes to, the garments or the hair and makeup. Flaming Gorge: Beauty and variety (The Salt Lake Tribune)

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area - A guy like Emmett Heath, who has spent much of his adult life hanging around Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River, might be excused if he took the area's beauty and wildlife for granted. Real beauty at Palace (Redditch Standard)

HIGHLY acclaimed European Ballet presents classic and enchanting ballet Sleeping Beauty at Redditch's Palace Theatre this Sunday (September 14, 5.30pm). Robber strikes beauty supply store in Merced (Merced Sun-Star)

Merced police are on the lookout for a man who committed a robbery at Sally's Beauty Supply store on Tuesday. Beauty Therapist (Maternity cover) (World Leisure News)

Nuffield Proactive Health has a great opportunity for a Beauty Therapist to work within one of Europe?s largest corporate Wellness facilities in Canary Wharf. This Corporate Club of the Year 2005 is 41,000 sq. ft in size and has a team of 24 members of staff. Delgado's late run a thing of beauty (MLB.com)

Delgado's late run a thing of beauty Site: beauty - Google News
OQO OLED Notebook Is A Luminous Beauty - Wired News

OQO OLED Notebook Is A Luminous Beauty
Wired News - 9 hours ago
The little American beauty called OQO model 2+ is based on the 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor, has 2GB RAM and a Qualcomm chip to support 3G worldwide. ...
Beauty and the Beast at Eastlight Theatre - MSNBC

Beauty and the Beast at Eastlight Theatre
MSNBC - 1 hour ago
By WEEK Multi-Media Content Producer The play is Beauty and the Beast Jr. with a twist. Teaming the Easter seals organization, the Penguin Project gives ...
Group performs ?Beauty and the Beast? Pekin Daily Times
all 2 news articles
Contestants Are Secretly Tested During Second Week Of ABC's "True ... - AHN

Contestants Are Secretly Tested During Second Week Of ABC's "True ...
AHN - 9 hours ago
Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - ABC's reality show "True Beauty" returns for its second week on Monday, with challenges that secretly test the remaining contestants ...
True Beauty Hotties Lie About Charity To Get Ahead Cinema Blend
Hadiyyah-lah Fatimah Sa'id the first contestant cut from 'True Beauty' Reality TV World
all 4 news articles
Beauty Reporter Blog - Allure Magazine

Allure Magazine

Beauty Reporter Blog
Allure Magazine, NY - 9 hours ago
Former Allure staff writer Jessica Matlin has covered beauty, fashion, diet, and more for W, Harper's Bazaar, O, and Tatler. Jessica spent much of her ...
Palm pre with webOS is a Beauty - I4U

Sydney Morning Herald

Palm pre with webOS is a Beauty
I4U - 20 hours ago
At first the new Palm pre webOS smartphone looked weired with its curvy shape. Now spending some time looking at more detailed Palm pre photos I actually ...
Palm Generates Pre Buzz Wireless Week
Palm Unveils The Palm Pre And Web OS At CES 2009 G4 TV
Palm Pre mobile phone - First Look Pocket-lint.co.uk
Crave
all 809 news articles
Reese Witherspoon: Brentwood Beauty - The Gossip Girls

The Gossip Girls

Reese Witherspoon: Brentwood Beauty
The Gossip Girls - Jan 8, 2009
Fresh off of a big night at the People?s Choice Awards the previous evening, the ?Legally Blonde? beauty and her gal pal then went shopping at the Polly ...
Samsung's New Cameras Remove Skin Blemishes - PC Magazine

CameraTown.Com (press release)

Samsung's New Cameras Remove Skin Blemishes
PC Magazine - 6 hours ago
Though "Beauty Shot" is unique, Samsung is not the only manufacturer to offer this feature. Last year Casio released a compact point-and-shoot, ...
Hands-On With Samsung's Double-Stable Digicam Wired News
Samsung makes HZ concept a reality with HZ10W Digital Camera Reviews
Samsung HZ10W Consumer Electronic Show
all 36 news articles
Users Respond to the Lenovo W700ds: "A thing of beauty" or "ugly ... - The Industry Standard

Users Respond to the Lenovo W700ds: "A thing of beauty" or "ugly ...
The Industry Standard, CA - 3 hours ago
Beneath a Notebook Review.com blog post, CommSoft called the new laptop "a thing of beauty" for those who want two screens they can take with them. ...
Splashes of beauty - guardian.co.uk

guardian.co.uk

Splashes of beauty
guardian.co.uk, UK - 2 hours ago
As I dive in and taste some of the sweet, pure water, I feel things have finally come full circle - Kerala's waters are most definitely a thing of beauty, ...
Rare Bugatti beauty is worth £4m - Scotsman

Rare Bugatti beauty is worth £4m
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 2 hours ago
It was well-polished and shining like new after being discovered ? covered in cobwebs and dust ? in a garage in Gosforth, near Newcastle. ...
Home | Site Map | Resource Links