So what happens when we don’t have our date with Mr. Sandman? As Ashley Magovern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Manhattan Dermatology in Manhattan Beach, Calif., explains, when we don’t sleep, our rest doesn’t get to go into its nightly ‘fix it’ mode. “Like the rest of our body, our skin repairs damage and inflammation that has wreaked havoc during the day,” she explains. Even if your body has adjusted to little rest, your body is still experiencing stress. This type of pressure leads to inflammation throughout your system, increasing the likelihood of red patches and acne breakouts, says Dr. Magovern. And unfortunately, it can actually make you look older, too. “Stress hormones also break down collagen, which is a key hormone for keeping the skin young and healthy-looking,” she says. “Breaking collagen down by lack of sleep will contribute to premature aging.” When we sleep, our bodies work to stimulate cell regeneration and repair DNA damage. Because of this, a lack of sleep shows on our faces, according to Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MCDS: Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Centers in New York City. In fact, one study revealed that poor sleep can have an effect on our appearance, including hanging eyelids, swollen eyes, dark circles, paler skin, and more wrinkles or fine lines. Now that we got the bad news out of the way, here’s a bit of good news—there are some things you can do about it. If you’re in for a sleepless night, read on to find out how you can make up for it the next morning. RELATED: You’re Probably Not Drinking Enough Water—Here Are Two Simple Ways to Check RELATED: Exfoliation Is the Secret to Glowing Skin—But Only If You’re Doing It Right RELATED: Hyaluronic Acid is the Anti-Aging Ingredient You Need for Glowing Skin
