In the modern age, having long, tiring days are more often that one can think. There must be days when you're too tired, and snuggle in bed as soon as you reach home. On such days, the thought of standing at the sink washing your face is a mountain you're not prepared to tackle, hoping that missing one night of washing your face can't be bad. Well, you’re wrong, or at least, not quite right. In an exclusive interview with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, our expert, Dr Sanjeev Gulati, Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology, Sharda Hospital, Noida, explained what happens when you dont wash your face at night. Read ahead to know.
What Happens If You Don’t Wash Face at Night?
Even though it may not seem to be doing much harm, skipping your evening face wash can create all sorts of skin problems and even make you age faster. Let's find out what really happens when you don't wash your face in the evening, and why your skin may be quietly pleading with you to wash before you sleep through an expert’s lens.
1. Dirt, Oil, and Pollutants Accumulate
All day long, your face accumulates dirt, oil, sweat, bacteria, and pollution from the environment. Unless you wash them away at night, they remain on your skin, clogging pores and dulling your skin.
"Your skin is your body's first line of defense. But it also works like a sponge. By the end of the day, there's a lot sitting on your skin that doesn't belong there," said Dr Gulati.
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2. Breakouts Become More Likely
Not washing your face before bed is one of the major causes of acne, blackheads, and whiteheads, regardless of whether you otherwise have problem skin or not. If makeup, oil, and bacteria remain on your face overnight, pores can become clogged and lead to inflammation. Remember this simple formula, sleep + dirty skin = breakout heaven.
3. Your Skin Can't Repair Itself Properly
Nighttime is when your skin goes into repair mode. During sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, and your body boosts collagen production and cell turnover. But if your skin is coated in grime and dead cells, it’s harder for that process to happen efficiently.
"Consider nighttime cleaning to be priming your skin to heal and regenerate. Without a clean canvas, the active ingredients in your nighttime moisturisers or serums cannot penetrate,” advised Dr Gulati.
4. Premature Ageing
Yes, neglecting your evening face wash can actually age you prematurely over time. Free radicals caused by pollution and UV damage remain on your skin if you don't remove them, and eventually, that oxidative stress can cause collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and looking young, to break down.
5. You May Be Irritating Your Eyes
If you use eye makeup, kajal, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, skipping to remove it leads to eye irritation or even infections such as styes or conjunctivitis. Wearing mascara to bed can also result in lash breakage. The eyelid skin is fragile. Daily depositing residue on it is a formula for dryness, redness, and puffiness.
6. It Disrupts Your Skin's Natural pH Balance
Your skin contains a natural defense barrier, which is known as the acid mantle, and it acts to defend against bacteria and stress from the environment. Sleeping with a dirty face will break this balance, depleting your barrier and leaving skin more sensitive, red, and dry.
But What If I Don't Wear Makeup?
Even without makeup, there's still oil, sweat, and pollution building up on your skin. Cleansing isn't about stripping off product, it's about reviving your skin from the day's abuse.
A Simple Routine at Night Is All You Require
A face wash doesn't have to be a 10-step affair. For the average person, a gentle cleanser, moisturiser, and maybe a special treatment (such as retinol or hydrating serum) are sufficient. Give this expert-approved 2-minute routine a try:
- Cleanse with a mild cleanser to take out dirt and oil.
- Pat, don't rub, with a clean towel.
- Put on moisturizer to seal in the moisture.
- Optional: Toss in a serum or treatment that's right for your skin type.
Bottomline
Not washing your face at night occasionally won't ruin your skin, but doing it every now and then can cause avoidable issues like breakouts, dullness, irritation, and even premature ageing. Spending two minutes washing your face when you go to bed is not only a skincare routine, it's self-care. Your skin will reward you in the morning.