People always wonder why men’s skin can be “low maintenance” yet look so good.
Is there really a difference between the male skin and the female skin?
Short answer, Yes. Long answer, Yes, again.
These dissimilarity in skin of men and women also leads to slight differences in the maintenance/care required for each gender.
Here are some of the differences;
Collagen and thickness
This is probably the most significant difference. The male skin is about 20-25% thicker than the female skin, because of the hormone testosterone. But it thins out gradually as they age while women’s skin thickness remains the same till late 40s-50s when menopause strikes and the female skin begins to thin out significantly.
Also, men have higher collagen density in their skin than women, that is, the ratio of collagen to thickness of the skin, no matter the age. This is why intrinsically, women tend to age faster than men of the same age because collagen gives the skin the strength and elasticity – which accounts for firmness and in turn, youthfulness.
Add that to the fact that collagen is majorly responsible for wrinkles & laxity of the skin, both men and women lose 1% of collagen every year during their 3rd decade(30s), but men have more collagen so the loss isn’t as significant compared to women. Furthermore, women lose even more collagen after menopause.
Pores, sebum and hormones
Men have larger pores and produce more sebum. Skin prone to problems like breakouts, clogged pores, blackheads, etc, can be more exacerbated and last longer in male skin. This is due to higher sebum levels. Unlike women, for male skin the sebum production remains the same throughout their life. While it mostly fluctuates and decreases with decline in hormones for women.
Even though women are more susceptible to these skin problems due to frequent hormonal changes, it’s easier to correct & doesn’t last for long when compared to their male counterparts. This is because of smaller pores and less sebum which also decreases with age, unlike male production of sebum which is constant.
Depth and subcutaneous fat
Superficially, male skin is tougher and rougher because of a thicker stratum corneum. This is also the reason for the difference in facial wrinkling that develops over the years, where men are prone to developing deeper facial wrinkles, also associated with subcutaneous fat loss. Women might have more fine lines and wrinkles that develop earlier on, but not with much depth as compared to the wrinkles in men.
Sweat production and lactic acid
Males have more Lactic Acid in their sweat, compared to female sweat. Men also sweat more than twice as much as women and are more prone to sweating, which is because of an increase in body temperature. But male skin appears to be better hydrated than women’s, why?? It’s because of the excess sweating and production of Lactic Acid, which is a known natural humectant for the skin(attracts water/moisture), therefore keeping the skin hydrated. So, male skin has more intrinsic hydration. But, topical moisturizers are still needed. Men, please moisturize.
Muscles
Men obviously have the tendency to develop more muscles than women and this can affect cellulite formation, which is seen more in women than in men.
Finally,
For bearded men, regular shaving stresses male facial skin. Daily shaving can lead to more sensitive, easily irritated skin. Shaving can lead to cuts, razor burns (folliculitis), ingrown hairs (pseudofolliculitis barbae) and also over-exposes the skin to external influences and environmental factors (like photo-damage, dryness, etc). Given that shaving clears off the microscopic pieces of dead skin and also because of a weakened skin barrier function from the exertion.
So, if you shave frequently, you need to take extra care of the skin in those area. This also applies to shaving the private parts, and other parts of the body, so, implies to both men and women.
While treatment for a man sometimes differs from a woman, THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARE for the skin must be taken regardless of the gender.
More collagen or not, intrinsic hydration or not.
Wash/Cleanse, Exfoliate, Treat, Moisturize/hydrate, use sunscreen!
