236: How Sleep Impacts Your Skin (Tips + Strategies) PT 3 w/ Michelle Nilan, MS, CNS
Poor sleep quality can affect the skin in a number of ways. Sleep is a time for our bodies to repair, and poor sleep does not allow that to happen efficiently. Today, my guest and I will discuss exactly how sleep and skin health are linked, as well as ways to improve your sleep quality.
THIS IS THE FINAL SEGMENT OF A 3-PART INTERVIEW.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO PART 1.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO PART 2.
My guest today is my colleague, Michelle Nilan, CNS. Michelle is a clinical nutritionist, yoga teacher, and ACSM-certified personal trainer. She is the associate clinical nutritionist in my private practice and has been working with me since June 2020!
She has a master's in human nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and a bachelor's in philosophy from Humboldt State University.
Through her work with me, Michelle has developed an extensive understanding of the complex relationship between the skin, gut, and overall health, and values being able to turn this into practical, actionable guidance to help others become well. She is additionally well-versed in metabolic conditions, insulin resistance and diabetes, and nutrition for high-risk pregnancies.
Michelle also has a history of her own skin struggles with severe cystic acne, fungal acne, and tinea versicolor, as well as with managing thyroid, hormone, and autoimmunity issues, and knows all too well what it feels like to have significant life-impacting symptoms completely dismissed and be told by doctors that she’d “just have to live with it.”
She is grateful for the opportunity to help others avoid the years of suffering she had to endure while trying to find and address the root causes on her own. Due to her work in philosophy, as well as her personal history of childhood trauma, she has a deep appreciation for the invisible mental and emotional suffering of skin and health issues that aren't obvious from the outside, and allows this to guide her approach of seeing a whole person rather than merely a collection of symptoms or a problem to fix.
When she’s not working with clients, Michelle enjoys staying updated with the latest nutrition research, lifting weights, reading, going to museums, spending time in nature, drinking coffee while people-watching, and playing with her cat Daoshi.
Join us for the final part of a 3-part interview all about sleep and the skin. In this series, we've been discussing circadian rhythm, sleep hygiene, why sleep is important, and so much more! Today, we'll focus on how sleep affects skin health.
Has improving your sleeping habits helped your skin? Let me know in the comments!
In this episode:
- What role does sleep play in skin health?
- Nighttime itchiness
- How does stress affect sleep quality?
- What is mouth-taping?
- Why are appropriate mattresses and pillows important for sleep?
- Magnesium for relaxation and calm
Quotes
“Sleep was actually found to be more important than nutrient intake for wound healing speed.” [46:55]
“Your skin cannot properly repair damage and inflammation if your sleep is poor.” [47:21]
Links
Book an Assessment Call with Michelle to become a client in my clinical practice
Sleepy Milk Recipe (To Help You Fall and Stay Asleep)
Healthy Skin Show ep. 049: Why Are My Skin Rashes Making Me So Tired?
Healthy Skin Show ep. 85: Picking The Best Magnesium For Your Skin Rash Protocol