Skin and Sleep in the Autumn Months

Bedtime is the ultimate me-time, but when your skin is giving you grief, it can be hard to completely relax, switch off and enjoy a refreshing night’s rest. Our skin is the largest organ in our body, but it is often overlooked when it comes to healthcare and even self-care. Let’s talk about skin and sleep, particularly in the autumn months, and what you can do to ensure better bedtimes! 

What is the impact of the change in season?

“The transition from summer’s warmth to autumn’s chill can wreak havoc on your skin. The cooler weather and lower humidity levels lead to drier air, which can exacerbate several skin conditions,” says Dr Aleksandar Godic. “Additionally, increased indoor heating and fluctuating temperatures can strip your skin of moisture, leaving it feeling tight and uncomfortable.”

Now that cosy season is officially here, and the shops are filled with orange tones and Halloween decorations, it can signal a time to really look at our skin and what we might need to change at this time. 

How can our skin impact our sleep?

For many of us, skin conditions can have a real impact on bedtime comfort. We might be kept up at night scratching due to eczema, psoriasis or allergies, or find it difficult to know what way to lie comfortably due to patches of acne, hives, bites or burns. Even those without diagnosed skin conditions might sense a change during the autumn; your skin might feel drier, or you may notice more breakouts than usual. Traditional fabrics might irritate our skin, or we might feel hot and bothered, leading to excessive sweating. Beyond this, we might feel anxious or depressed about how our skin looks or feels, leading to sleepless nights. Better skin can lead to better sleep! 

How can sleep impact our skin?

Of course, it goes both ways! If you struggle to sleep due to your skin, you’ll spend the following day feeling groggy and tired, which in turn can elevate your cortisol levels, leaving you feeling stressed and ultimately making your skin (or skin condition) even worse. Sleep is a fantastic healer, allowing our cells to regenerate and repair. So if you’re not sleeping, for any reason, your skin is missing out on the opportunity to heal. Insufficient sleep can lead to reduced collagen production, which is a vital part of ensuring your skin’s texture and integrity remain intact. And so better sleep, it seems, can also lead to better skin.

Improving skin comfort at bedtime

The first step in ensuring you sleep better if you suffer from skin issues is to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible in bed. Having a supportive mattress, pillows that suit your sleeping position and a cosy duvet is one thing, but your bedding is what matters most here. Bamboo is an incredible choice if you do have problem skin; superbly soft and buttery smooth, it glides across the skin with ease and without snagging on any dry patches. Naturally antibacterial, it gently wards off any bacteria that could aggravate acne – and, of course, bamboo is hypoallergenic too. This makes it ideal for individuals with skin allergies and conditions such as eczema. Our 100% Bamboo Bedding is perfect if you’re looking to improve skin comfort at bedtime. 

Bedtime skincare during autumn

As the weather starts to cool down, it can be tempting to turn the central heating up. But this can sometimes be detrimental to our skin, drying it out further or causing us to overheat and sweat during the night. It’s best to try and keep your room at a comfortable temperature for sleep – around 18°C. Including bamboo in your sleep set-up, whether that be a bamboo mattress and pillows or even wearing bamboo pyjamas, can help keep you cool and comfortable.

Your skincare routine is vital when you suffer from skin issues – from thick moisturisers to medicated creams, the products you use can often transfer to your bedding. This means two things: they could be damaging your sheets, and they might not be working as well as they could otherwise be. You want your lotions and potions to be as absorbed as possible before you get in bed, so they’re doing the magic throughout the night. Moisture-wicking bedding, like bamboo, is much less likely to absorb your products too.

If you enjoy a soothing bath or shower before bed, wrap up and dry off with a bamboo towel – incredibly soft and gentle on the skin, quick-drying and really cosy, our Bamboo Bath Towels have recently been voted as the best towel for sensitive skin by The English Home!

Super foods for skin and sleep

There are plenty of foods you can incorporate into your diet during the autumn months, which will help improve the look and feel of your skin, as well as help you sleep better during this transitional season. These include:

• Pumpkin (tasty in soups and pies)
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Walnuts
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Dark chocolate
  

Skin and sleep at bedtime

By snuggling in with bamboo bedding, eating better and following your skincare routine to the letter, you can hopefully enjoy the autumn months with clearer, healthier skin – and sleep better too. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy cosy nights and an earlier bedtime, give your body the time it needs to rest and recuperate.