Most skin care products that you see advertised and on store shelves are marketed to and directed towards women. Despite that predominant orientation, the demand from men for skin care products has been growing steadily, especially since the 2000s. In fact, marketing experts are predicting that by 2022, men's skin care spending will top $166 billion worldwide.
Although both men and women tend to have similar concerns about their skin, the most thing to understand about male skin is that it is distinctly different from females. Environmental factors are certainly an issue, as men still dominate outdoor jobs that allow more exposure to sun, wind, and pollution.
Another important, significant, and rather obvious factor that differentiates men's skin from women's is hormonal. Testosterone is produced at much higher levels in the male body, and affects sexual development as well as skin thickness, fat & collagen distribution, and bone & muscle growth.
Specifically in the area of skin differences, male skin has a number of distinct characteristics. Male skin is about 25% thicker than female skin in all areas of the skin surface, and has more dense collagen and elastin capacity.
On the negative side, because the skin is thicker, the aging process seems to be more gradual and occurs later in life for men than for women. Also unfortunately, men tend to have larger pore sizes with more sweat and oil gland activities.
As a result, men tend to have more oily skin with more clogged pores, deeper acne breakouts, and scarring. In addition, having more and thicker facial hair can lead to problems of ingrown hair and shaving bumps.
Based on these differences, men need a different combination of skin care products than their wives, girlfriends, sisters, or mothers. From our years of experience with both men and women of all skin types, Maine Laser Skin Care recommends the following for different specific male skin problems:
- Oily Skin- It is important to cleanse excess oil without drying out the skin. Chamomile Facial Cleanser is non-irritating but effective in gently removing oil. Green Tea Antioxidant Serum can also help maintain skin hydration and keep skin moisture in balance.
- Blackheads and Acne- Because men tend to have more oil, and larger pores all over their body, neck, and trunk acne are more of a problem, Salicylic Face and Body Wash can help cleanse your pores all over and prevent breakouts.
- Clogged Pores- With larger pores, dead skin cells can build up and make the skin appear and feel rough and bumpy. Glycolic Pads can help exfoliate these dead skin cells and prevent future buildup of these cells.
- Sun Damage- With more exposure to the sun, more men than women have effects of photoaging, and also higher rates of skin cancer as a result. The #1 defense against the ultraviolet effects of the sun is a broad spectrum sunscreen. Ultra Replenishing Sunscreen SPF 40 is a great product that men can apply after shaving in order to best protect themselves from the sun.
Despite the differences in male skin, men still need and deserve skin care to improve their appearance and advance their overall health. We at Maine Laser Skin Care are seeing more and more men who seek consultation for laser and other aesthetic procedures for these very reasons.
Especially if you are male, call us to schedule and discuss your skin issues and how we can help. Our Scarborough location number is (207) 303-0125 and our Augusta number is (207) 873-2158. We hope to hear from you soon.