A dermatologist's guide to rest and skin health
We recently sat down with dermatologist Dr. Saima Ali to discuss the connection between rest, relaxation, and skin health.
How does relaxation and sleep impact skin health?
SA: There are so many factors that play a role in skin health, and sleep is definitely one of them. When we don’t sleep as well, our stress hormone, cortisol, rises and our body isn’t able to relax. This can cause both short- and long-term changes in our skin health. I’m sure we’ve all woken up with our skin feeling more puffy or dull or with a new zit, when we haven’t sleep as well. But studies have even shown that chronic lack of sleep can contribute to an older skin age!
What is your relationship with rest and relaxation and how has this changed throughout your life?
SA: The most important thing I’ve learned is that rest and relaxation look different at different stages of our life. Nowadays, relaxation for me looks like spending time at the gym where my mind can escape but that definitely wasn’t my go-to when I younger!
When I was younger I found relaxation in watching the sun rise and feeling at peace with the quietness of the morning. But, as I got older and life demands increased, I had to find new ways to incorporate rest and relaxation in my day that worked around my schedule. Practicing mindfulness, going to the gym, taking time for reflection and developing a night time routine helps keeps me calm throughout the day and night.
You’re obviously in a very demanding profession, how do you find ways to incorporate rest and relaxation throughout your day?
SA: I’m still working on the best way to do this, but throughout my training I’ve tried to find small ways to incorporate rest and relaxation throughout my day. One seemingly small piece of advice I was given by a mentor was to stop and take a breath between each patient. These few seconds of mindfulness throughout the day allows me to reset between patients and regain my composure, especially when the waiting room is getting full and I’m running behind. I also try to not take work home so that I can fully destress and relax when I am home!
Going through residency and medical school often involves long nights and an unpredictable schedule. What advice would you give others in a similar position for prioritizing rest?
SA: There are definitely lots of demands in medical training and each one is a new learning experience - I had never pulled an all-nighter until I was on 24-hour call for the first time in medical school! The best tip I can give is try as much to plan your week, one week at a time. I would look at my school schedule on Sunday nights to try and plan moments for me, such as going to the gym, going on a hike, or seeing my family or friends, during the week. This not only gave me something to look forward to but forced me to schedule relaxation in my calendar. I think the other thing to remember is that training is short and your work life is long - try to use your training to find the activities that bring you peace!
Going through residency and medical school often involves long nights and an unpredictable schedule. What advice would you give others in a similar position for prioritizing rest?
SA: Great question! My holy grail skincare item has got to be sunscreen! No matter your skin type, skin color, or age, sunscreen is always beneficial. From reducing skin cancer risk to improving hyperpigmentation, I don’t think your skincare routine is complete without it. And I have to add, keep your skincare routine simple. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything we see on social media nowadays, but stick to the basics and your skin will love you!
