At a recent dinner, a friend’s husband expressed to me how much he loves aliangé skincare but felt self-conscious embracing a skincare routine as a male on a camping trip with the boys. This opened my eyes to perceptions men might have and why they don’t look after their skin, hence the inspiration for this newsletter, so read on ladies and GENTS!
The skin is the largest multifunctional organ in the body and is important for the perception of health, beauty and attractiveness. It functions as a protective physical barrier by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and preventing microorganism invasion and chemical penetration. The skin also controls the passage of water and electrolytes and has a major role in the thermoregulation of the body, in addition to its immunological, sensory, and autonomic function.
The physical signs of aging in adults, such as wrinkles and laxity to the tissue, are closely related to the collagen content of the skin. Regardless of age, men have a higher collagen density than women; this is the ratio of collagen to the thickness of the skin. Researchers believe that the higher collagen density accounts for why women appear to age faster than men of the same age. Both men and women lose about one percent of their collagen per year after their 30th birthday. For women, however, this escalates significantly in the first five years after menopause then slows down to a loss of two percent per year. When considering intrinsic (genetically-programmed) aging of the skin, it has been said that women are about 15 years older than men of the same age.
However, the role of daylight exposure in skin aging, combined with the fact that men do not use sunscreen as often as women, may account for why we do not readily notice. Extrinsic aging from UV radiation can add years to a man’s skin and negate the benefit of slower intrinsic aging. Thus, facial wrinkles are deeper in men and facial sagging is more prominent in their lower eyelids.
From a superficial perspective, the texture of a male skin is very different than a female, the texture is rougher and the Stratum Corneum is thicker.
There is also a difference in the composition of sebum and its production. The cells in a man’s sebaceous glands have more positive receptors for androgens, which explains why they produce more sebum. After puberty, sebum production is greater in males than in females, which is attributed to androgen secretions and accounts for why men have longer lasting acne.
Skincare routines are as important for men and women - cleansing morning and night, exfoliation, antioxidant protection and daily SPF application and nightly actives using keratolytics and retinols will ensure men and women have the best skincare routine possible.
Knowledge of the physiological, chemical, and biophysical differences between the skin of male and female patients helps dermatologists develop a proper approach not only for the management of skin diseases but also to properly take care of cosmetic issues.
In 2020, there is no judgement for men taking care of their appearance and putting in the care women do. It’s the time for open-mindedness and self-care in all realms, because taking care of yourself on the outside translates to caring for yourself on the inside and leading a happy and healthy life. So, embrace pampering and just like your exercise regime, get your skin on the gain-train or ask your partner or friend to give you the gift of beautiful skin this Christmas!
