The skin is the largest organ in the human body. Together with its accessory structures, it performs a variety of essential functions, such as protecting the body from the invasion of microorganisms, chemicals, and other environmental factors; preventing dehydration; acting as a sensory organ; modulating the body temperature and electrolyte balance; and synthesising vitamin D.
The skin protects the rest of the body from the basic elements of nature such as wind, water, and ultraviolet sunlight. It acts as a protective barrier against water loss and it is the first line of defense against the abrasive activity resulting from its contact with grit, microbes, or harmful chemicals. The sweat excreted from the sweat glands deters the microbes from overtaking the skin surface by the production of dermicidin, which possesses antibiotic properties.
All of these properties apply to both the male and the female skin. But what specific features characterise both of them, and should men also take special care of their skin? In the following lines, you will find the answers to these questions and some more.
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Why do men need special skin care?
The skin of the two sexes differs primarily due to the structurally and hormonally determined differences in its thickness, sebum secretion, aging, facial hair, hydration, pigmentation and texture.
Dermatologically, it has been established that the male skin is about 25% thicker than the female skin, and this causes the different formation of wrinkles in men and women. Men tend to develop fewer fine lines than women, but due to the repetitive facial expressions of the stronger sex, they are often deeper.
Due to the more active sebaceous glands in the male skin, men produce almost twice the amount of sebum in comparison to women. Therefore, the male skin often appears quite oilier. The sebum production in men does not change over time, while in women it decreases with aging.
On the other hand, collagen declines at a constant rate in men over the years, while in women this begins to show more rapidly only after menopause. But it is precisely collagen that determines the skin thickness in both sexes. This is also the reason why the signs of aging appear earlier in women.
The most basic difference between men and women in terms of their skin type is in their facial hair. The regular shaving results in negative consequences for men, such as irritation, inflammation, and ingrown hairs. The shaving removes the topmost layer of the epidermis and leaves it unprotected. That is why sometimes men experience dryness, redness, or hypersensitivity after applying an aftershave.
All these features of the male skin undeniably demonstrate that daily skin care is no less important for men than for women. The correct use of cosmetic products and the application of procedures in clinical settings are of key importance to the maintenance of a healthy, radiant, and hydrated appearance.
Steps to the establishment of a daily cosmetic routine
Adequate daily skin care for men should include 4 steps: deep cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and sun protection. If followed as prescribed, these steps would ensure a youthful appearance for your face. They would also prevent the formation of wrinkles, and they would keep the acne, the redness, the dryness, the post-shaving sensitivity, and the sun damage under control – especially during the winter months.
Skin cleansing
The deep cleansing procedure needs to be performed both in the morning and in the evening daily in order to remove the impurities deposited on the skin during the day, the excess sebum, the harmful toxins, as well as the bacteria. Otherwise, they build up and clog the pores, which may result in rashes, acne, or ingrown hairs. It is important not to use a soap or a 5-in-1 shampoo to cleanse the face. Instead, select a cosmetic product that is suitable for your skin type, such as a cleansing foam or gel. The deep cleansing procedure needs to be performed both in the morning and in the evening daily in order to remove the impurities deposited on the skin during the day, the excess sebum, the harmful toxins, as well as the bacteria. Otherwise, they build up and clog the pores, which may result in rashes, acne, or ingrown hairs. It is important not to use a soap or a 5-in-1 shampoo to cleanse the face. Instead, select a cosmetic product that is suitable for your skin type, such as a cleansing foam or gel.
Exfoliation
It is recommended to perform the exfoliation procedure once or twice a week depending on your skin type. The more frequent performance of exfoliation may create the opposite effect of drying. Through this procedure, the dead cells are removed from the surface of the epidermis and its regeneration is facilitated. There are various exfoliating products on the cosmetic market, such as gels, creams, scrubs, etc., but it is best to consult a specialist when making your choice, so as to be sure that you have the most appropriate solution at your disposal.
Hydration
A good hydrating product should balance the skin and its natural pH after cleansing. Depending on whether you have dry, oily, or combined skin, you may need a thicker or more liquid cream. For additional hydration, professional beauticians also recommend the application of sheet masks at least once a week, and you can decide on the target of their action: anti-acne, anti-aging, moisturising, toning, or some other action.
Sun protection
Although the male skin is thicker than the female skin, this certainly does not mean that men do not need sun protection. The harmful ultraviolet rays can penetrate deep and cause permanent pigmentations even in the cold months. Therefore, the year-round use of products with a sun protection factor of at least SPF30 is mandatory.
Popular aesthetic treatments for men
In recent years, the number of men expressing interest and making daily efforts to maintain their appearance has been on a steady increase. Contemporary men are equally exposed to all possible forms of pressure regarding their appearance, and this motivates them to attribute an ever-growing importance to the care for it. An equally ever-growing number of them are also interested in undergoing suitable aesthetic procedures, through which they could retain their youth and beauty for a longer time. But which are the most sought-after and popular aesthetic therapies that men are turning to according to the leading dermatologists?
Botox and fillers
According to dermatologists, botox and filler injections are becoming increasingly popular among men as a means of softening facial lines, attaining a more youthful appearance, emphasising male features (masculinisation), treating hyperhidrosis or a gummy smile, and more. Botox blocks the nerve signals and thus causes the corresponding muscle to contract and reduce its activity. 1 – 2 days after its injection, the lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows begin to fade, and the effect may last from 3 to 6 months. An ever-increasing number of men decide to undergo the botox injection procedure because of its high safety profile and also because of the lack of a recovery period thereafter.
Laser hair removal for men
Another aesthetic procedure that is extremely popular among men is the treatment of unwanted body hair via laser hair removal. The most desired areas for hair removal by men are the beard line and the underarms due to problems such as redness, irritation, and pimples after shaving, increased sweating, as well as ingrown hairs. In such cases, laser hair removal becomes not only an aesthetic but also a therapeutic method for solving such problems. It is important to be aware that the effectiveness of laser hair removal depends both on the individual condition of the hairs, the existing comorbidities you may have, as well as the required number of procedures for the achievement of complete hair removal.
PRP for hair loss
PRP for hair loss is yet another aesthetic procedure that is becoming increasingly popular among men. The plasmotherapy is applied to stimulate hair growth. In this procedure, platelet-rich plasma from the patient’s own blood is injected into the patient’s scalp. The growth factors contained in the platelets restore the damaged follicles and stimulate the growth of new hairs.
Chemical peelings
The list of aesthetic procedures gaining popularity among men goes on further to include the various types of chemical peelings. Their purpose is to remove the topmost layer of dead cells from the epidermis to stimulate the renewal and regeneration of the skin. They are successfully applied for both aesthetic and a therapeutic purpose to treat a variety of dermatological problems such as acne, scars, wrinkles, dehydration, uneven skin complexion, pigmentation spots, enlarged pores, and many more.
What do the leading dermatology experts recommend?
The leading dermatologists believe that the use of appropriate cosmetics in combination with the performance of adequately selected injection, apparatus and laser procedures is of key importance for the maintenance of a perfect appearance. In addition, the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the limitation of harmful habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption or smoking, is certainly a further positive step in the care for men’s overall well-being.