The differences between male & female skin

Men and women have similarities in their skin, but there are also many differences. But it is still necessary to know your skin type and treat it accordingly.

The male skin can be up to 25% thicker than that of the female skin. This is greatly influenced by hormones.

Men generally have a larger pore size which leads to an oilier skin type.

Acne is more common for a man due to excess sebum production and the cells in a man’s sebaceous gland have more androgen receptors. This is why adult acne can be quite common after the teen phase. A man will tend to have more sebaceous glands than a woman would, this is why the breakouts could be all over the face, unlike a woman who will maybe experience breakouts over the chin, jawline and cheeks.

But remember, not all sebum production is bad, it helps to keep the skin naturally hydrated and moisture levels up which helps keep a healthy skin barrier. So please do not use products that totally strip it away. Try and avoid ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate. These are known irritants in skincare and can be very moisture stripping. The sebaceous glands excrete oil to lubricate and maintain the health of the skin. If you strip it away, it’s just going to produce more so treat it with kindness.

Hydration

A man’s skin is usually much more hydrated than a woman’s skin. Men have higher amounts of lactic acid in their sweat than women do. Lactic acid is a natural humectant for the skin, which is known for it’s ability to retain moisture.

If you are feeling that your skin is a little dehydrated, look for ingredients in your skin care such a hyaluronic acid, glycerine and sorbitol. These are all humectants and they will help attract moisture to your skin.

Does a man’s skin age any differently to that of a woman’s?

Yes.

Men have a naturally higher collagen density than that of the female skin. It is said that a woman’s skin can be up to about 15 years older than a man’s of the same age.

Even though a man does have a thicker skin and a higher collagen density, it can also contribute to the development of deeper set wrinkles rather than the finer lines. This can be helped by introducing a serum with anti-oxidants and such. Another key product here would be an SPF (sun protection factor) which will help protect the skin and underlying cells from UV damage all year round. A broard spectrum SPF is always the best to use, protecting the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Because a man’s skin is thicker and tends to be less sensitive, they are able to use higher concentrations of active ingredients than a female would without irritation.

Irritation

The main cause of irritation to a male skin is often caused by shaving. With the difference in hormones, the hair on the face is thicker and can therefore cause ingrowing hairs and folliculitis. Razor rash is another common skin problem, where the repeated action of daily shaving causes the skin to become sensitised. Make sure that the skin and hair is prepped well before any shaving goes ahead and the razor blade is never blunt. Follow up with a face balm that is going to soothe and protect.