Does less sleep really ruin your looks?

“What happens to your face if you don’t get 7 hours of sleep a night”

This post was written by Gaia Mizzi and Sinead Rhodes

A recent article by the Daily mail warns that getting less than seven hours of sleep leaves you with brittle nails, a bloated belly and blotchy skin, utilising AI generated images to show just how terrible you might look after a few rough nights. But how much of this is actually backed by science and how much of it is sensationalism?

Firstly, the article reports from a study performed by SIMBA, a bed & mattress company, where they surveyed “2175 adults about their sleep habits, health and overall appearance.” They reported that 1 in 4 participants had sensitive skin and were overweight, with additional stats like 32% reported bloating. Overall message = If you don’t get at least 7 hours sleep, you’ll ‘look terrible.’ While there’s no doubt that a good night’s rest is crucial for skin health, metabolism and overall well-being, is it really as simple as: seven hours of sleep = great face and health ? So while the science discussed in the article, about cortisol, blood flow and metabolism is rooted in scientific reality, the article neglects to mention the myriad of other contributing factors like diet, lifestyle and genetics.  

Ignoring the sensationalism created by using AI to generate fear based visuals, the article does not report the massive conflict of interest where a mattress company creates ‘studies’ that demonises a bad night’s sleep and who happen to sell the solution.

The same author penned a second article, seemingly aimed at older people, discussing the effects of sleep deprivation on facial aging. Simbas AI generates a different set of images, specifically to showcase signs of aging like eyebags and wrinkles. Similarly the same misrepresentations about contributing factors and the questionable use of AI throughout hammers home the point that these articles are not trying to educate about healthy sleeping habits but rather scare the public into investing in Simbas products.

So in conclusion, sleep is important—not just for how you look, but for your overall health. While this article includes bias and exaggeration, the core message is true: lack of sleep is bad for you. But don’t let clickbait headlines and AI-generated scare tactics convince you that a few restless nights will ruin your appearance forever. There’s always more to the story, with real health risks that go far beyond skin, nails and how your jeans fit in the morning. If you do struggle with sleep, The Sleep Charity, mentioned in the article, is a great resource worth checking out.