This month, we are celebrating men and their skin! With Father’s Day coming up we thought we’d shine some light on the Men in our lives and their skincare. Traditionally, the skincare industry has been dominated by women; but in more recent years, we have been starting to see skincare companies bringing out men’s skincare ranges. This is great news, because it is just as important for men to have a healthy skin as it is for women.
We all know that men and women have different needs, this applies to what our skin needs too. Men and women’s skin differ quite significantly; one of the most obvious differences is that men are able to grow a beard and women can’t (thank god!). Other differences that are apparent are thickness of the skin, texture, hydration, collagen density and the loss of collagen as we age. Let’s look at these aspects in a little more depth.
Men’s Skin Explained
The thickness of an individual’s skin varies with age, sex and where they are from. For men, testosterone plays a huge role in the thickness of the skin; in fact, men generally have skin that is 25% thicker than that of a woman’s skin. Interestingly, a man’s skin will gradually thin with age, however the thickness of women’s skin remains more constant up until menopause after which it will start to thin more rapidly.
Generally speaking, the texture of a man’s skin is rougher or coarser than a woman’s and the stratum corneum (the top layer of the skin) is thicker. Men’s skin also produce more sebum than what women do, this production occurs at puberty and is attributed to male hormones such as testosterone, it is also the reason why men experience longer lasting acne. With thicker skin and more sebum it is critical that men start to look after their skin at a younger age in order to control breakouts.
The difference in the composition of sweat between males and females also plays a role in men’s hydration levels. Luckily for them, men have more lactic acid in their sweat which means that their pH is naturally lower (.05 lower), this then means that their hydration levels are higher as lactic acid is a natural humectant that draws water to itself. As men are more likely to sweat more than females, these hydration levels stick around for longer.
Another positive for men is that they have a higher collagen density than women do. This is one of the reasons why women tend to look older than men of the same age. However, as men are typically out in the elements more than women, they are exposed to environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution which equalises the ageing processes just a bit! This is another reason why it is especially important for men to protect and take care of their skin. Interestingly, the rate at which men and women lose collagen in their skin is the same; being around 1% a year starting around their mid 20’s.
During August and for most of September we have some amazing specials on products and treatments designed for the men in our lives. Of course the women in their lives are just as important – which means you can partake and spoil yourself too!
If you’d like personalised advice on what skincare products and treatments are best for you or your man you can book now – online or in-clinic.
Book Your Skin Advisor Consultation.
Still not sure?
Fill in the Online Skin Consultation and Gaye, our registered nurse will happily help you to choose the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.
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