Three-quarters of women feel they are not getting enough sleep, survey claims

Three-quarters of women feel they are not getting enough sleep, a survey has claimed.

A poll of 2,000 women found a poor night’s sleep can impact the way a woman feels about her appearance for a whole day.

Seven in 10 said they could see a noticeable difference in the way they look when they have not slept enough.

Experts suggest seven to eight hours sleep each night is optimum, yet a survey by skincare brand YourGoodSkin showed the average woman got just six and a half.

One-fifth said they tend to have just five hours sleep or less, which can have a detrimental effect on the quality of your skin.

Fifty-six per cent of the women polled said the believed poor sleep left them looking "pale or washed out", and one-fifth said that it made them more prone to spots and breakouts.

Dr Eleanor Bradley, skincare scientific advisor for YourGoodSkin, said: “Our research shows that lack of sleep affects women’s skin and can leave them feeling less able to face their day.

“The average person should be getting nearer eight hours sleep a night, and yet the average woman is functioning on much less.

“As well as having a detrimental effect on mood, outlook and ability to carry out normal tasks, it can also affect the quality of your skin.”

The study also found the average woman believed that if they had another couple of hours’ sleep a night, the quality of their skin would be better.

Unfortunately, the findings showed many women will go to great lengths to hide the effects of a bad night’s sleep, with 36 per cent applying more makeup to hide it.

A further three in 10 said they drank more caffeine to keep themselves awake, while a tenth cancel social plans so they do not have to be seen.

A bad night’s sleep left 30 per cent of women with puffy looking skin, and one-tenth said it made their skin feel more sensitive.

Dr Guy Meadows from The Sleep School added: “The idea of getting your so called ‘beauty sleep’ has been around for centuries, but it’s only recently that we’ve begun to understand why.

“Sleep is when our skin cells actively grow and repair themselves in response to the wear and tear of the day.

“Scientific research now confirms that a lack of sleep accelerates the ageing process by reducing the time available for essential skin repair.

“This research highlights a worrying trend among society at large, whereby most of us are regularly getting less than the required seven to eight hours of sleep per night, despite knowing its benefits.''

''Making sleep a priority in our lives is essential for maintaining our mental, emotional and physical health, which includes keeping our skin healthy and balanced.

“The good news is that this can be achieved by adopting simple habits such as going to bed and getting up at the same time everyday, and having a good evening wind down routine to help prepare the mind and body for a good night's sleep.”

Despite worries about their skin health, just over half of those polled said they do not have a night-time skincare routine.

Women in Yorkshire are the most likely to have a night time skincare routine, with those in the south west the least likely, according to the poll.

SWNS