Skin care products are often geared toward either men or women. Do the sexes have different skin features, or is it a marketing ploy? In fact, there are some significant contrasts in skin structure, and those can help determine the most effective treatment plan.
Skin Thickness
This factor is informed by a person’s environment, age, and also sex. In terms of gender, testosterone is primarily responsible for making a man’s skin 25 percent thicker than the average woman’s skin. However, a man’s skin will thin with age, while a woman’s will generally stay the same thickness until menopause. Therefore, older men and women should use gentle, organic products that nourish instead of strip away.
Collagen Density
Similar to skin thickness, men have a higher collagen density than their female counterparts, which can partly explain why women appear to age faster than their male peers. Other environmental factors, such as sunscreen and lotion use, may reduce the skin aging process. As our bodies age, collagen is lost, forming wrinkles. This accelerates for women for the five years after menopause, which makes it a crucial time for skin care and self-care.
Texture
Men produce more hair, which results in coarser textures and larger pores. Men’s bodies also pump out more sebum, which is partially to blame for stubborn acne. This can also result in swelling, redness, and inflamed pimple scars. Those are all good reasons to not pick at problematic skin, and men should combat their issues, both in their teen years and later, with appropriate products.
Hydration
For men, puberty causes oil and hair to run rampant, resulting in acne and other skin issues. Males also have lactic acid in their sweat, which may require a deep-scrub cleanser. However, the sweat also reflects the higher level of hydration in the male skin, meaning that they have less need for a hydrating moisturizer.
While skin care products have traditionally been associated with women, it’s important for everyone to take care of their skin. Understanding the causes of different skin issues is a great starting point for finding the right treatment.
