Enhancements
Facial Plastic Surgery &
Laser Specialists
5201 William Penn Hwy.
Easton, PA 18045
Tel: 610.250.1933
Toll-free: 888.228.2424
Facts about Sleep and Your Skin
by Dr. Scott Sackman, Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
When you sleep, your skin has the opportunity to repair and refresh itself from the wear and tear that it suffers during the day. It can do the most thorough repair work only if given the proper "set-up" and tools to do so.
HYDRATION of the skin is the key element of skin repair. Your pores dilate during sleep, in part, from muscle relaxation and, in part, from the warmth that your body generates. This allows your blood vessels to dilate too, and IF you drink sufficient amounts of water during the day, the vessels can share some of that water with your skin. Skin rehydration can come from inside your own body ONLY if you drink sufficient amounts of water.
Moisturizing creams and lotions also get absorbed through these dilated pores. However, your skin can just as easily lose water/hydration through the dilated pores if you don't prevent that from happening. A very dry room will draw water out of the pores, so a humidifier in your bedroom is essential. Creams and lotions can minimize this drying, but without the help of the humidifier the best they can do is prevent further moisture loss. They can't add any additional moisture. All of your skin that is likely NOT to be under the blankets when you sleep (face, hands, arms) should be coated with moisturizer every night in order to prevent further drying-out.
Drink water, humidify your bedroom, and apply moisturizer every night and you will be doing the best you can to help your skin take care of itself.
