Understanding Men's Skin

Skin care for men is just as important as skin care for women and more and more men are discovering the benefits of taking care of their skin. However, did you know that there is a difference between the skin of a man than that of a woman? Let’s take some time to discuss the skin of men.

Antioxidants

Because men have less estrogen, they also have less antioxidant protection than women. Because of this, men are more susceptible to damage from free radicals such as stress, pollution, sun damage, etc., and experience higher levels of oxidative stress leading to chronic inflammation in the skin. Inflammation in the skin can cause breakdown of collagen and elastin, the function of the cells and can lead to skin cancer and other skin diseases as they age. Men also tend to have more sensitive skin and can struggle with seborrheic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.

Collagen & Thickness Men’s Skin

Men’s skin is thicker than that of a woman and thins gradually as they age. It can be as much as 25% thicker and because the density is thicker, men’s skin is slower to show signs of aging than that of a woman.

Hydration Content

Men’s skin generally contains more lactic acid in their sweat, which lowers the pH. Since men tend to sweat twice as much as women, it can be inferred that, combined with the fact that they have a higher sebum level and naturally producing more lactic acid, their skin tends to be better hydrated than that of a woman.

Sebum/Oil Content

Men have larger pores and produce more sebum/oil than women. With the increase of sebum, men can be challenged with problematic skin such as clogged pores, blackheads and acne. The sebum production remains constant throughout their life and does not decrease with age.

Treatment & Home Care

Skin care for men is important. Men, just like women, need peptides, retinols, antioxidants, hydration, omegas and acids.

Men can benefit from facial treatments using enzymes and acids to dissolve, digest dead skin cells and get that cellular turn over going. Serums are used to infuse nutrients into the skin as well as a hydrating mask to hydrate, reduce inflammation and soften the skin. 

When working with men, I find the less in the routine the better for homecare. I recommend men start simple with a cleanser, vitamin c (antioxidant), a moisturizer, and a broad-spectrum sunblock that protects against UVA (aging) and UVB (burn) rays. For many (not just men) this can be as challenging as getting your children to eat their veggies. However, sunscreen is so important, especially living in Arizona. Sun exposure attributes to about 85-90% of aging in the skin (men tend to have deeper wrinkles than women as they age), not to mention skin cancer and melanoma.

Last but not least, it is also important to check moles and freckles for any changes. A good rule of thumb is to check for anything new, changing, or unusual using the ABCDE technique (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving).