A study of skin characteristics with long-term sleep restriction in Korean women in their 40s.

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated increased pore size and darkening skin color with total sleep deprivation. There are many studies of skin characteristics with short-term sleep restriction, but there are few studies on skin characteristics when sleep is restricted more than three consecutive days. This study evaluated skin changes with sleep limited to 4hours per night for six nights. The study included 32 Korean women in their 40s. Skin hydration, desquamation, barrier recovery, texture, gloss, transparency, elasticity, crow's feet, frown lines, and color were measured. Individual sleep time was monitored by smartwatches. Subjects slept 8hours per night for six nights in week one and 4hours per night for six nights in week two. Skin hydration was significantly reduced after 1day of sleep deprivation, and it continued to decrease. Skin gloss, desquamation, transparency, elasticity, and wrinkles were significantly aggravated after 1day of sleep deprivation. Skin texture was significantly aggravated on the fourth day of sleep restriction. Elasticity was most affected by reduced sleep, with a standardized coefficient of -.320, indicating a significant decrease over time as compared to other characteristics. Skin hydration was gradually decreased with sleep restriction. Skin texture did not change after only 1day of sleep restriction. It is a new finding that elasticity decreases more than other skin characteristics with prolonged sleep restriction.