How Sleep Affects Skin Repair and Ageing

Why your sleep quality matters as much as your skincare routine

There’s a growing body of research showing that skin health is directly linked to sleep quality. And it’s not just about getting more hours. Disrupted or shallow sleep can impair the skin’s natural repair processes, reduce collagen production, and dull the effects of your efforts to nourish it from within.

A major 2023 review in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology revealed that sleep deprivation impacts multiple pathways that maintain healthy skin. It alters circadian rhythms, disrupts the skin’s protective barrier, and increases water loss through the epidermis. This not only causes dryness and irritation, but also worsens skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Meanwhile, a 2025 study in Archives of Dermatological Research found that collagen supplements worked better at reducing visible ageing when combined with high-quality sleep.

In other words, good sleep doesn’t just improve how your skin feels. It improves how it responds to everything else you're doing for it.

How Sleep Impacts Skin Function

When you sleep, your body switches into repair mode. In the skin, this means rebuilding collagen, renewing cells, and clearing damage from UV exposure and pollution. Melatonin levels rise naturally in the evening, helping regulate this cycle. But poor sleep interrupts that flow. The result is higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which break down collagen and weaken the skin’s defence barrier.

This breakdown leads to more visible fine lines, dull tone, and increased dryness. The skin literally loses more water overnight when sleep is poor, a process known as transepidermal water loss. This makes the surface more vulnerable to irritation and damage. That’s why even the best skincare or supplements can feel ineffective when your sleep is off.

In the 2023 review, researchers found that sleep deprivation had direct effects on the stratum corneum, the outer layer of the skin. Disruptions to this layer reduced elasticity, hydration, and resilience. And the benefits of topical or oral skin interventions were muted.

Why Sleep Quality Enhances Collagen Supplementation

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your skin. As we age, its production declines. Many people turn to collagen powders or capsules to slow this process, with varying results. The 2025 study explored why those results might differ. It found that participants with higher sleep quality saw greater improvements in skin firmness, hydration, and wrinkle depth when using collagen supplements.

This makes sense. If your skin’s repair mechanisms are compromised by poor sleep, collagen synthesis can’t keep up, no matter how much you take. But when you sleep deeply and consistently, your body has the right conditions to absorb and use that collagen more effectively.

So if you’re investing in skincare or supplements, improving your sleep can amplify your return.

References

• Maguire, J., & Hashim, M. J. (2023). Sleep deprivation and the skin. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 48(10), 1113–1119. https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llad067

• Papakonstantinou, E., & Aletras, A. J. (2025). Can good sleep quality enhance the benefits of oral collagen supplementation in the prevention of skin aging? A brief report. Archives of Dermatological Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-025-03860-5