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Other than the obvious difference in the amount of facial and body hair there are six key differences between the skin of men and women. No matter the genetic makeup, it is important to care for skin each and every day. In general, a man’s skin does show differences when compared to that of a woman.
Sebaceous Glands
The sebaceous glands, the glands that excrete oil to keep the skin moisturized, are smaller in men when compared to those of women. This is the opposite of what most people think. The absorption of active ingredients in skin care products takes place through these glands. Therefore, the concentration of active ingredients like lycopene and nonanedioc (azelaic) acid has to be high enough in order to exert its beneficial effect. The formulation of all of Lycopene Skincare’s products have taken this into account resulting in superior products that are of benefit for both men and women.
Oily Skin
Despite the fact that men have smaller oil glands it is generally recognized that men have more oily skin. This contradiction is due to the fact that men have higher levels of testosterone, the male hormone, than do women. From approximately the age thirty the testosterone levels in men gradually begins to decline, approximately 1% per year, and by the age fifty oil production in men’s skin begins to approximate the oil production that we see in women. Men typically have more lactic acid in their sweat than do women which accounts for a lower pH making men’s skin slightly more acidic when compared to women’s skin. It is possible that excessive sweating and production of lactic acid (a known natural moisturizer) is responsible for a slightly higher level of tissue hydration when compared to women.
Skin Thickness
A man’s skin is thicker that of a woman. This means that a woman’s skin is more vulnerable to the damaging effects caused by the sun’s UVA rays responsible for skin aging and damage. It should be noted, however, that prolonged exposure to the sun’s UVA rays over time can result in loss of collagen in the skin of men as well, resulting in aging and increased risk of skin cancer.
Skin Fragility
Surprisingly, the skin on a man’s face is more delicate than for a woman and here are the reasons why.
- Men historically take less care of the skin than do their female counter parts.
- Men’s skin tends to be more exposed to the damaging effects of environmental pollutants.
- Daily shaving removes the oils naturally produced by the skin resulting in loss of lubrication and protection
- Daily shaving causes both visible and invisible nicks in the skin that damages the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Skin Cancer
Men in the United States have a higher incidence of skin cancer than do women. There appears to be a direct correlation between those areas of the skin exposed to the sun and an increased incidence of melanoma on those areas of the body.
In conclusion, it is important to choose skincare products that contain active ingredients proven in controlled clinical studies on human test subjects to have a direct beneficial effect in promoting the skin’s natural ability to protect itself from the damaging effects of the sun and environmental free radicals responsible for skin aging and damage.