Why sleep is important for health and aging

Here's why getting adequate sleep each night contributes to a healthier you, inside and out.

A woman waking up with a smile on her face.

Want a simple and natural way to look younger and refreshed each day without the need for expensive eye creams, injections, or plastic surgery? Just spend more time between the sheets.

When people in a study got at least 8 hours of sleep, they were deemed to look healthier, compared to evaluations made about their appearances after only a little sleep.

Face-refreshing sleep

No doubt about it, a lack of sleep may show up on your face, which can give the appearance of aging skin. So it's no surprise that when people were kept awake for 30 hours in the study, they were perceived as "tired looking." The way sleep affected looks went even deeper, though.

After a good night's sleep, the same people were not only deemed healthier looking but also were considered to be more attractive in general—just based on other people's perceptions of a morning-after photograph. Maybe there is something to the notion of "beauty sleep."  

Best face forward

A lack of sleep doesn’t just contribute to aging skin. It affects the way your brain, endocrine system, and immune system work, too. And sleep deprivation can contribute to serious health problems, including high blood pressure and weight gain. Are droopy eyelids and dark circles broadcasting your sleep battles in the bedroom? Time to do something about it. You may not only look younger, but you’ll feel better, too.

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