Study Finds Link Between Sleep And Perception Of Attractiveness

Individuals who are unhappy about their appearance just might need some more sleep.

According to a study published on the British Medical Journal website, researchers have discovered that the amount of sleep people log can affect their facial appearance and even their attractiveness. The study was led by John Axelsson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

A total of 33 people between the ages of 18 to 31 participated in the study. Each individual was photographed in the afternoon following a night of normal sleep and after a night of no sleep. Smokers were excluded from the research and no alcohol consumption was allowed in the day days prior to the experiment.

The collection of photos were then examined by 65 observers, who rated them based on attractiveness and how healthy each individual looked. The observers judged the faces of sleep-deprived participants as less healthy and less attractive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults sleep between seven and nine hours each night. Individuals who want to maintain healthy sleep hygiene should consider sleeping in a quiet, dark and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot nor too cold, according to the CDC.