All humans develop some skin-related issues at some point in their lives. When it comes to developing certain skin conditions, there is no gender-specific discrimination. All of us are exposed to environmental stressors, outside elements, and thousands of omnipresent microbes that affect our skin. Therefore, the common myth “men do not need skincare” is only a timid try at supporting gender stereotypes.
When you go through ancient scriptures, you will come across different stories. There, you will come across men having high social stature and using different ingredients for skincare. With increasing gender-specific discrimination and modernization over several years, skincare somehow became synonymous with women.
However, times are changing. Nowadays, men are increasingly becoming concerned about skincare and love shopping for personal grooming and cosmetic products. According to a leading market research, it has been observed that the market of men’s grooming products is expected to witness a rise of $60 billion in the coming few years.
Role of Skincare for Men
Studies reveal that great skin has a major role to play in boosting an individual’s self-esteem, right from a young age.
Skin-related concerns or issues can lead to certain problems in life. They also adversely affect several aspects of life. It is observed that young men between the age group of 15 and 45 years are actively involved in solving skin problems while taking care of their overall hygiene and appearance.
Men are now embracing the concepts of self-care and buying quality skincare and cosmetic products for themselves.
Is Men’s Skin Different from That of Women?
Biologically, men and women are different. This rule applies to their skin as well. Their skin differs based on the pH level, sebum generation, sweat rate, and hair growth. Here are some more factors that differentiate men’s skin from women’s skin:
1. Hormones:
Men receive their masculine traits from the male hormone, testosterone. Hormones are one of the major factors that bring about a major difference in the skin texture of men and women. The high testosterone levels in men make their skin thicker. Moreover, their skin also produces more sebum. Due to testosterone, men’s skin also tends to age differently.
2. Thickness:
Men have around 20 percent thicker skin than women. Their skin also contains a higher collagen count, which makes their skin firmer and tighter. However, the collagen content in men’s skin also deteriorates at a rapid rate. On the other hand, the collagen count of women’s skin is reduced once they hit menopause.
3. Aging:
Men start showing signs of aging quite later in life than women. When it comes to aging, men are mostly affected by signs like sagging skin, dark circles, and puffy eyes.
4. Shaving:
Regular shaving also tends to impact men’s skin on a daily basis. On average, a man is known to shave his face about 16k times in his entire lifetime. This practice tends to make the skin more sensitive. Daily shaving tends to stress the skin to a greater extent.
Due to shaving, the superficial layer of the skin is removed gradually. In turn, this reveals younger and firmer skin underneath. This skin layer is more prone to environmental stressors. A majority of men suffer from shaving-related skin problems. For example, insufficient lubrication or a blunt razor during shaving can lead to cuts, razor bumps, or nicks quite easily.
5. pH Levels:
Men’s skin has a lower pH level than that of women’s skin. Therefore, the former’s skin is more prone to attracting impurities and developing acne.
6. Sebum Production:
Men possess larger skin pores with more active sebaceous glands in comparison to women. They produce almost double the amount of sebum than females. This leads to oily and shiny skin.
Should Men Use Women’s Skincare Products?
There is no proven harm in men using women’s skincare products. Still, this is not necessary. As men’s skin starts aging later than women’s skin, they might not need all those expensive anti-aging creams right from the start.
Moreover, male skin also produces more sebum. When it comes to women’s skin, it remains moisturized for a longer period of time.
Regular shaving also plays the role of an exfoliating agent. It helps get rid of dead skin cells and excessive facial hair. This limits the need for using scrubbers and peeling acids for men.
However, it is important to understand that men tend to lose collagen easily like women. This will lead to the loss of skin elasticity. Therefore, they should place their trust in cosmetic products or skincare items that promote collagen production for men.
Men are also susceptible to potential skin damage due to continuous exposure to the sun’s rays. Therefore, they should also invest in quality sunscreen with good SPF.
Difference Between Men’s & Women’s Skincare Products
Skincare products for women are more focused on imparting moisturization for a longer period. This compensates for the lower sebum production in women’s skin. At the same time, cosmetic products for women should contain calming ingredients and exfoliators to improve skin quality. As they are prone to aging early, they should also use quality anti-aging creams or lotions quite early.
Men’s skincare products should contain retinol. This ingredient helps with the production of collagen in the skin tissues. Also, it is recommended to choose fragrance-free men’s cosmetic products for the best results.
Conclusion
As far as skincare for men is concerned, men are known to keep it simple. You can follow some easy tips to maximize skincare and its results. Buy the best quality of skincare and cosmetic products from reliable providers and improve your skin quality.
The fundamental principle of healthy skin applies to everyone, irrespective of gender. Still, men can benefit from a dedicated skincare approach to lead to healthier and more resilient skin.