How Circadian Rhythms effect our Beauty
Circadian Rhythm? is that like...a drum??
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark and affect most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes.
You may have heard the term “biological clocks” or natural timing devices regulating the cycle of circadian rhythms. These internal clocks are composed of proteins that interact with cells throughout the body. Nearly every tissue and organ in our body contains their very own biological clocks!
What's that have to do with our Skin?
If every cell in our body knows what time it should be resting and what time it should be up and active, then we can arm our skin cells with what it needs to optimize its resting phase and its protection mechanisms during the day.
How Blue Light Effects Our Rhythms
Studies in fruit flies suggest that these proteins help activate feelings of wakefulness, alertness, and sleepiness. However, signals from the environment also affect circadian rhythms. Blue light from electronic devices at night can confuse our biological clocks. These changes can cause sleep disorders, and may lead to other chronic health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
Blue light produces damage effects on our skin through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory mechanisms. Certain active ingredients can help combat the damaging effects of blue light. To learn more read a previous blog about Blue Light here.
Day + Night
During the Day, our skin is focused on:
- Protecting our DNA via production of antioxidants
- Reducing Inflammation
- Active Wound Response
- Skin produces more enzymes for digestion and assimilation of nutrients
During the Night, our skin is focused on:
- Cell Replication and Repair
- Exfoliation, Healing and Hydration
- Distribution of Skin Nutrition
- Detoxification
