Aesthetic surgeon explains what can happen to your face if you don’t get eight hours of sleep

Lack of sleep can affect everything from our mood and eating habits to our appearance.

And now an expert has revealed what happens to your skin if you don’t get your eight hours of rest.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Glyn Estebanez, from Chester, told FEMAIL that her skin’s pH becomes unbalanced when she doesn’t get enough sleep, along with mild puffiness around her eyelids.

From dark circles under the eyes to loss of elasticity, she warned of four different ways that lack of rest could have a serious impact on the face.

Meanwhile, he also provided remedies for these common symptoms.

1. THE PH OF THE SKIN IS IMBALANCED

Dr. Estebanez explained that when you don’t get enough sleep, moisture levels in your skin drop and your pH levels drop.

He said: ‘Unbalanced skin is often quite dehydrated. This will cause redness and breakouts and we’ll lose that nice glow associated with a well-rested appearance.’

The skin’s pH is vital for moisture production, and therefore when your skin is unable to produce the levels of hydration it needs, it can not only leave skin looking drier, but can also exacerbate acne. and rosacea, causing redness and triggering breakouts.

If you can’t get a good night’s sleep, Dr. Estebanez advises changing up your skincare routine.

She explained: ‘Skin care to keep the skin at a slightly acidic level will really help here. It keeps the skin hydrated but also reduces bacteria on the skin.

“If your pH balance is too alkaline, your skin will start to look too flaky and red, but if it’s too acidic, this can exacerbate conditions like eczema and acne.”

2. DARK CIRCLES AROUND THE EYES

While dark circles under your eyes can be caused by a myriad of things, lack of sleep can of course be a factor.

He explained: “When you don’t have access to the right amount of restful sleep at night, your blood vessels dilate.”

The skin under the eyes is much thinner than the skin on any other part of our body, which means that it is susceptible to breaking down and prone to laxity and shows signs of aging.

The cosmetic surgeon explained that when we increase blood flow we will notice a dark tint caused by the increased blood volume.

She suggested trying a cold compress, which can reduce swelling, and drinking dilated blood vessels to lessen the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

However, some topical creams also work by moisturizing the skin, but they do not cause the blood vessels under the eyes to constrict.

3. SWOLLY EYES

The expert revealed: ‘When we talk about puffy eyes, we usually mean a slight swelling of the upper and lower eyelids.

“Swollen eyes can be caused by lack of sleep but also by allergies, nasal congestion, and dehydration,” explains the aesthetic doctor.

“We may also notice scallops, or malar mounds, which refers to swelling in the lower eyelids and upper cheek area, which is usually caused by poor lymphatic drainage.”

Dr. Estebanez suggested trying cheek fillers as an effective solution that can provide a camouflage effect when expertly placed.

He said: ‘Often I will place filler in the zygomatic arch (cheekbone) to help lift the tissue and smooth out the malar pocket.

“We can also re-inflate the anterior cheek/midface to help create a fresher apple of the cheek and also reduce the prominence of the apple of the cheek to malar pouch transition.”

4. SKIN CAN LOSE ITS ELASTICITY

Not getting enough sleep could cause the skin to lose its thickness, according to the skin care expert.

He explained that during the first hours of sleep, we secrete our growth hormone, which is one of the things responsible for the production of collagen and, in turn, the elasticity of the skin.

“If this fails, we will start to notice loose skin and wrinkles developing at a faster rate than we would normally expect,” Dr. Estebanez explained.

He said that if you can’t get a good night’s sleep, an injectable concealer may be a good option here.

He explained: ‘Volume loss, in the form of bone and fat, is a major factor and in suitable patients we can remedy this with carefully injected fillers.

“These can plump up the skin and support the tear duct to give a smoother, more even appearance under the eyes.”