Investigation of the skin recovery dynamics following acute sleep deprivation and the correlations among biological parameters

Abstract

Background: Sleep deprivation leads to changes in circadian rhythm, causing skin problems and aging. Whether acute sleep deprivation can be normalized after 14 days of natural skin metabolism is an important indicator for guiding treatment of sleep-related skin physiological changes and mechanisms.

Methods: This study aims to investigate skin biophysical changes after one night of acute sleep deprivation and to assess a 14-day post-sleep deprivation recovery period to understand the most relevant skin biophysical changes correlated with circadian rhythm disruption. Forty-four Chinese women aged 21-49 participated in a single-center, self-controlled study in Beijing, China.

Results: After one night of sleep deprivation, their 14-day recovery status was observed using a variety of skin physiological parameters. We found that the impacts of sleep deprivation on skin condition could not be fully recovered. Key correlations were identified, such as between skin lightness and pigmentation intensity. Skin transparency was more closely associated with hydration, yellowness and redness.

Conclusion: These insights provide a foundation for further research into the long-term impacts of sleep deprivation on skin health and the development of innovative assessment and intervention methods. The machine learning model has the potential to be integrated into portable devices for real-time skin health monitoring, enabling more personalized and effective skin care strategies.

Keywords

acute sleep deprivation / circadian rhythm / dermatologist grading / image analysis / skin biophysical indices

References

[1] Knutson KL, Spiegel K, Penev P, Van Cauter E. The metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation. Sleep Med Rev. 2007;11(3):163-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2007.01.002

[2] Pilcher JJ, Huffcutt AJ. Effects of sleep deprivation on performance: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 1996;19(4):318-326. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/19.4.318

[3] Drummond SP, Brown GG, Gillin JC, Stricker JL, Wong EC, Buxton RB. Altered brain response to verbal learning following sleep deprivation. Nature. 2000;403(6770):655-657. https://doi.org/10.1038/35001068

[4] Ferrara M, De Gennaro L. How much sleep do we need? Sleep Med Rev. 2001;5(2):155-179. https://doi.org/10.1053/smrv.2000.0138

[5] Porkka-Heiskanen T, Zitting KM, Wigren HK. Sleep, its regulation and possible mechanisms of sleep disturbances. Acta Physiol. 2013;208(4):311-328. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12134

[6] Kronholm E, Partonen T, Laatikainen T, et al. Trends in self-reported sleep duration and insomnia-related symptoms in Finland from 1972 to 2005: a comparative review and re-analysis of Finnish population samples. J Sleep Res. 2008;17(1):54-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00627.x

[7] Knutson KL, Van Cauter E, Rathouz PJ, DeLeire T, Lauderdale DS. Trends in the prevalence of short sleepers in the USA: 1975-2006. Sleep. 2010;33(1):37-45. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/33.1.37

[8] China Sleep Big Data Report. China sleep big data center. 2023.

[9] Wang JX, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, et al. Annual Sleep Report of China 2023. Social Sciences Academic Press; 2023.

[10] Kocevska D, Lysen TS, Dotinga A, et al. Sleep characteristics across the lifespan in 1.1 million people from the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nat Hum Behav. 2021;5(1):113-122. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-00965-x

[11] Sandu C, Dumas M, Malan A, et al. Human skin keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts contain distinct circadian clock machineries. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2012;69(19):3329-3339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-012-1026-1

[12] Sporl F, Korge S, Jurchott K, et al. Kruppel-like factor 9 is a circadian transcription factor in human epidermis that controls proliferation of keratinocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012;109(27):10903-10908. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1118641109

[13] Yosipovitch G, Xiong GL, Haus E, Sackett-Lundeen L, Ashkenazi I, Maibach HI. Time-dependent variations of the skin barrier function in humans: transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and skin temperature. J Invest Dermatol. 1998;110(1):20-23. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.1998.00069.x

[14] Jang SI, Lee M, Han J, et al. A study of skin characteristics with long-term sleep restriction in Korean women in their 40s. Skin Res Technol. 2020;26(2):193-199. https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12797

[15] Sundelin T, Lekander M, Kecklund G, et al. Cues of fatigue: effects of sleep deprivation on facial appearance. Sleep. 2013;36(9):1355-1360. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.2964

[16] Sundelin T, Lekander M, Sorjonen K, Axelsson J. Negative effects of restricted sleep on facial appearance and social appeal. R Soc Open Sci. 2017;4(5):160918. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160918

[17] Holding BC, Sundelin T, Cairns P, Perrett DI, Axelsson J. The effect of sleep deprivation on objective and subjective measures of facial appearance. J Sleep Res. 2019;28(6):e12860. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12860

[18] Kahan V, Andersen ML, Tomimori J, Tufik S. Can poor sleep affect skin integrity? Med Hypotheses. 2010;75(6):535-537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2010.07.018

[19] Denda M, Tsuchiya T, Elias PM, Feingold KR. Stress alters cutaneous permeability barrier homeostasis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000;278(2):R367-R372. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.2000.278.2.r367

[20] Kao JS, Fluhr JW, Man MQ, et al. Short-term glucocorticoid treatment compromises both permeability barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity: inhibition of epidermal lipid synthesis accounts for functional abnormalities. J Invest Dermatol. 2003;120(3):456-464. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12053.x

[21] Altemus M, Rao B, Dhabhar FS, Ding W, Granstein RD. Stress induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. J Invest Dermatol. 2001;117(2):309-317. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2001.01373.x

[22] Garg A, Chren MM, Sands LP, et al. Psychological stress perturbs epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis: implications for the pathogenesis of stress-associated skin disorders. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137(1):53-59. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.137.1.53

[23] Mostaghimi L, Obermeyer WH, Ballamudi B, Martinez-Gonzalez D, Benca RM. Effects of sleep deprivation on wound healing. J Sleep Res. 2005;14(3):213-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2005.00455.x

[24] Irwin M, Thompson J, Miller C, Gillin JC, Ziegler M. Effects of sleep and sleep deprivation on catecholamine and interleukin-2 levels in humans: clinical implications. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;84(6):1979-1985. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.84.6.5788

[25] Spiegel K, Leproult R, Van Cauter E. Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function. Lancet. 1999;354(9188):1435-1439. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(99)01376-8

[26] Härmä M, Tenkanen L, Sjöblom T, Alikoski T, Heinsalmi P. Combined effects of shift work and life-style on the prevalence of insomnia, sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998;24(4):300-307. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.324

[27] Salehpour F, Farajdokht F, Erfani M, et al. Transcranial near-infrared photobiomodulation attenuates memory impairment and hippocampal oxidative stress in sleep-deprived mice. Brain Res. 2018;1682:36-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2017.12.040

[28] Vitaterna MH, Takahashi JS, Turek FW. Overview of circadian rhythms. Alcohol Res Health. 2001;25(2):85-93.

[29] Chen ST, Choo KB, Hou MF, Yeh KT, Kuo SJ, Chang JG. Deregulated expression of the PER1, PER2 and PER3 genes in breast cancers. Carcinogenesis. 2005;26(7):1241-1246. https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgi075

[30] Tanioka M, Yamada H, Doi M, et al. Molecular clocks in mouse skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129(5):1225-1231. https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2008.345

[31] Day D, Burgess CM, Kircik LH. Assessing the potential role for topical melatonin in an antiaging skin regimen. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(9):966-969.

[32] Matsunaga N, Itcho K, Hamamura K, et al. 24-hour rhythm of aquaporin-3 function in the epidermis is regulated by molecular clocks. J Invest Dermatol. 2014;134(6):1636-1644. https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2014.13

[33] Plikus MV, Van Spyk EN, Pham K, et al. The circadian clock in skin: implications for adult stem cells, tissue regeneration, cancer, aging, and immunity. J Biol Rhythms. 2015;30(3):163-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730414563537

[34] Bergstresser PR, Taylor JR. Epidermal ‘turnover time’-a new examination. Br J Dermatol. 1977;96(5):503-509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb07152.x

[35] Iizuka H. Epidermal turnover time. J Dermatol Sci. 1994;8(3):215-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/0923-1811(94)90057-4

[36] Lee JA, Osmanovic S, Viana MA, Kapur R, Meghpara B, Edward DP. Objective measurement of periocular pigmentation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2008;24(6):285-290. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00377.x

[37] Ly BCK, Dyer EB, Feig JL, Chien AL, Del Bino S. Research techniques made simple: cutaneous colorimetry: a reliable technique for objective skin color measurement. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140(1):3-12.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2019.11.003

[38] Matsubara A, Deng G, GongLL CE, et al. Sleep deprivation increases facial skin yellowness. J Clin Med. 2023;12(2):615-625. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020615

[39] Altemus M, Rao B, Dhabhar FS, Ding W, Granstein RD. Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women. J Invest Dermatol. 2001;117(2):309-317. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2001.01373.x

[40] Bernard A, Latreille J, Gardinier S, et al. Effect of chronic sleep deprivation on skin status in healthy young women. In: Communication Dans Un Congrès Année. 2011.

[41] Kim M, Kim E, Kang B, Lee H. The effects of sleep deprivation on the biophysical properties of facial skin. J Cosmetics Dermatol Sci Appl. 2017;7(1):34-47. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2017.71004

[42] Vorona RD. Skin pigmentation changes in a patient with a sleep disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007;3(5):535-536. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.26921

[43] Kenichiro Y, Takanor I. Evaluation device for skin translucency. Japan patent, 2009101218 A. May 14, 2009.

[44] Yasuo S, Junichi N. Transparency measuring device and transparency measuring method. Japan patent, 2011130806 A. July 7, 2011.

[45] Ukai H, Ueda HR. Systems biology of mammalian circadian clocks. Annu Rev Physiol. 2010;72(1):579-603. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-physiol-073109-130051

[46] Zanello SB, Jackson DM, Holick MF. Expression of the circadian clock genes clock and period1 in human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2000;115(4):757-760. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00121.x

[47] Chang J, Garva R, Pickard A, et al. Circadian control of the secretory pathway maintains collagen homeostasis. Nat Cell Biol. 2020;22(1):74-86. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-019-0441-z

[48] Hirao T, Aoki H, Yoshida T, Sato Y, Kamoda H. Elevation of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist in the stratum corneum of sun-exposed and ultraviolet B-irradiated human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1996;106(5):1102-1107. https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12340143

[49] Shreedhar V, Giese T, Sung VW, Ullrich SE. A cytokine cascade including prostaglandin E2, IL-4, and IL-10 is responsible for UV-induced systemic immune suppression. J Immunol. 1998;160(8):3783-3789. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.160.8.3783

[50] Takashima A, Bergstresser PR. Impact of UVB radiation on the epidermal cytokine network. Photochem Photobiol. 1996;63(4):397-400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.1996.tb03054.x

[51] Franceschi C, Bonafè M, Valensin S, et al. Inflamm-aging. An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000;908:244-254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb06651.x

[52] Kammeyer A, Luiten RM. Oxidation events and skin aging. Ageing Res Rev. 2015;21:16-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2015.01.001

[53] Howell MD, Kim BE, Gao PS, et al. Cytokine modulation of atopic dermatitis filaggrin skin expression. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;120(1):150-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2007.04.031

[54] Fisher GJ, Datta SC, Talwar HS, et al. Molecular basis of sun-induced premature skin ageing and retinoid antagonism. Nature. 1996;379(6563):335-339. https://doi.org/10.1038/379335a0

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2026 The Author(s). Sleep Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Chinese Sleep Research Society.