We spend a lot of time focusing on the effect that the sun and environment have on our skin, but few of us stop to think about the detrimental effects that our modern lifestyle—and its stress and lack of sleep—has on our appearance. Most of us are familiar with dark circles after a late night out, but more and more research is showing that lack of sleep and stress have far-reaching skin implications.
Both lack of sleep and stress prompt our bodies to produce a hormone called cortisol, which causes blood sugar levels in our bodies to rise. This can lead to weight gain, heart problems, and now recent research is shedding light on the connection between cortisol production, stress and lack of sleep—and the effect this has on our skin.
