The Circadian Rhythm and your Skin

All living creatures have a circadian rhythm. In humans this refers to our bodies 24 hour physiologic, metabolic and behavioral rhythms or the ‘skin’s 24 hour clock’.

During the day, it’s all about protection. Protecting your skin from damage by the sun and other environmental factors such as pollution is crucial. A Sunscreen is an absolute must to protect against premature ageing and DNA damage. We see the highest sebum production, highest pH and skin thickness, and lowest skin permeability during the day.

At night it’s all about cell renewal and DNA repair. Did you know a good sleep is crucial for this? Here we see the opposite of day, where skin permeability is higher, Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is higher, and a higher blood flow. This TEWL can cause itching at night! It is therefore, beneficial to hydrate and moisturise your body at night.

Because of the ‘skin’s 24 hour clock’ there are optimal times to apply different skincare products to be more beneficial to your skin. I know most of us don’t want a complicated skincare routine, however to get the best results for your skin, use the products recommended for either night or day time at the right times. Lo’eme Australia has day and night products formulated to benefit these fluctuations.