It’s the battle of the sexes! Since the beginning of the time, we’ve been cross comparing the physical and psychological differences between men and women, but have you ever wondered what our differences in skin are?
Is there a different way that men should take care of their skin as opposed to how women should? We did some digging and found some surprising differences about not only the visible differences between the two, but in skin care tips as well.
We found that men may not have it as easy as we thought, as they have just as many skin issues as women do, and often more.
What are the Differences?
This may come as a surprise, but men’s and women’s skin have a lot of key differences both visible and invisible. The male dominant hormone testosterone, determines the masculine characteristics of male skin, giving it a different structure to female skin.
With that being said, every men’s skin is different, but overall it is thicker, oilier, and tends to age differently than women’s skin.
1. Irritation from Shaving
This may seem like an obvious one, but shaving can cause a great deal of irritation for men’s skin. The act of shaving puts added friction and stress on the skin, while also getting rid of the top layer of skin cells.
A little exfoliation is great, but because it does expose the more sensitive layer of the skin that’s prone to irritation, it’s not great for your everyday routine. Make sure to change your razors frequently, as your skin suffers when your razor is dull. Keeping your razor clean is also equally as important, as bacteria will begin to grow on it which can lead to a potential troublesome infection when exposed to the more sensitive skin.
To help avoid razor burns and bumps, shave in the direction that the hair grows as this will also help to eliminate the potential of ingrown hairs.
2. Thickness
Dermatologists have found that men’s skin is literally thicker than women’s. The deeper layer of your skin called the dermis, is typically 20% thicker in men compared to a women’s.
This percentage varies from person to person as everyone’s skin is unique but the general percentage tends to stay consistent. This is why men and women get wrinkles in different ways, which is why men typically have fewer superficial fine lines than women. However, this obviously doesn’t mean that men don’t get wrinkles.
Men are actually more prone to the deep wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions (peep Gordon Ramsey) which are typically the lines between your brows and smile lines around your mouth.
3. Aging
Signs of aging tend to appear later in male skin, but changes do occur more quickly once they start opposed to women’s skin which is more gradual. Once a man starts to get wrinkles they are fully grooved, so it can be hard to take preventive steps if you don’t catch it early enough.
Men tend to be most affected by sagging skin combined with puffy eyes and dark circles that make them look tired. Women do experience these signs of aging as well, but not usually to the intensity that men do.
4. Oiliness
Believe it or not, adult men are less prone to dry skin than adult women. Men have more active sebaceous glands than women, which also makes them have more pores.
A man’s sebum production is almost double that of a woman, making their skin oilier and shinier. As a result, its pH is lower than female skin, and is more prone to impurities and acne.
Our Guide to Skincare for Men
Previously, we’ve talked a lot about skin care tips for women but now it’s the men’s turn! It’s just as important for men to have a good and consistent skin care routine as it is for women, if not more so.
Here are a few tips and tricks for men to consider to step up their skin care routine:
- Get in the habit of Cleansing: Cleansing is a highly slept on technique for men and is just as essential as it is for women. Using a good gentle facial cleanser should be worked into every men’s daily routine and should be used twice a day. It will help to minimize your larger pore and clean out any excess sebum and debris trapped in your clogged pores leaving your skin less prone to acne. A good cleaner to try is the Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle Cleanser, which will help soothe and refine the skin without any excess irritation.
- Be Proactive: Start incorporating anti-aging products into your skin care routine. You may consider preventative Botox injections, but even a little moisturizer and a regular face mask will go a long way. A good anti-aging product to try is the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter. This product works to slow the effects of glycation in the natural aging process while also dually working to restore and retain moisturize.
- Shave With Caution: We aren’t saying you can’t shave as often, but if you do prefer a clean-shaven face, there are some precautions that you should keep in mind. Make sure to use plenty of shaving cream on your face, as this will limit the friction of the razor on your skin and help prevent further irritation. Also, make sure to replace your razor often as we have learned that a dull and unclean razor can cause major infections. Storing your razor in a dry place can help keep your razor cleaner and potentially last longer.
