The skin, like the liver, kidneys, heart and brain, is a primary organ of the body, and is the largest organ which serves many important functions. The skin acts as a barrier between the outside and the inside of the body, absorbing harmful radiation and preventing life-threatening microorganisms and chemicals from entering the body. Added to these critical functions of the skin is that it regulates body temperature and is home to the all-important sense of touch. However, men’s skin performs these processes in a way that is not the same as females. These and other properties make up the difference between men and women’s skin.
It is clear to the naked eye that men appear physically different than women. Below the neck, men’s shoulders are wider than women’s, and moving down we see that men have an overall V-shape, becoming narrower as we go down, while women’s hips are often the widest part of the body. “Sexual dimorphism” is the term used to describe the difference in the appearance, and size between the sexes, as well as the differences in the sexual organs in each sex.
If we move from the macro level (what we can visibly see) to the micro level (what can be seen under a microscope) it is clear that there are major differences in the skin of men and women. For example, any quick search online will tell you that men’s skin is 25% thicker than a woman’s. On the microscopic level, differences abound.
The skin of a male is generally oilier than a female’s skin. Men have tiny, microscopic sebaceous glands that are attached to hair follicles just beneath the skin’s surface. The glands secrete oils that coat and protect the male skin. This is related to the androgen hormone, which itself releases testosterone in the body.
One fascinating difference between men’s and women’s skin has to do with fat. Women have a layer of fat beneath the skin much thicker than a man’s. Women’s skin also constricts blood vessels near the skin surface more than a man’s skin. The extra fat layer and vasoconstriction together helps women stay warmer in cold weather than men.
Overall, women’s survival rate in extreme cold weather is much higher than a man’s. If you are out with your female partner and it gets cold, she will sense the cold faster than a man would and react to it almost right away by saying she feels cold. This is a common complaint and the fact is that the surface layer of a woman’s skin is thinner than a man’s, but underneath that layer is the extra layer of fat that will keep them warmer for a longer period of time than a man.
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Why Is Men’s Skin Different Than Women’s?
Men’s skin is definitely thicker than women’s skin. This has to do again with androgen, the sex hormone that releases testosterone. The more androgens are released in the body, the thicker a man’s skin is, by about 25%.
Progesterone, testosterone and estrogen are the three principal hormones that have to do with why a man’s skin feels compared to a woman’s. All three of these are found in both sexes, but the amount of each hormone is different.
Men produce more testosterone, while women produce more estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen in a female results in making her skin feel softer, especially the breasts, where heavy fat deposits are found.
In a male, testosterone aids in the production of bone and muscle mass, and these differences make a man’s body feel less soft compared to females. If there is an abnormal imbalance of hormone secretion in either sex, it can result in greater muscle mass in a female, and less in a male. It will also give him softer skin.
We spoke earlier of the fact that men secrete more oils onto the skin than women. Men have more skin pores than women, because men have more sebaceous glands. In fact, the oils secreted onto the skin (referred to as “sebum”), are twice as much as the amount of sebum a woman produces.
Men’s Skin And Acne Development
Sebaceous glands secrete oils, or sebum, through hair follicles and pores of the skin. These glands secrete so much more sebum than women’s skin that men are much more likely to develop serious acne issues than women. Blackheads and whiteheads are on one end of the acne spectrum, and scarring, cystic acne is at the other end. Men are more prone to scarring acne than women.
Men with particularly oily skin can develop cystic acne. Cysts develop under the skin surface because of excess oil secretion through the pores. When the pores are blocked, cysts form.
Blackheads form when the pore opens onto the surface of the skin, then dries, turning black.
This leaves a man’s face oilier and shinier. Men are less prone to dry skin than women.
Tetracycline medicine can help prevent the formation of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. More severe acne (redness, large pimples) is treated by minocycline drugs. Those with scarring acne once took a prescription drug canned Accutane.
Accutane cleared up cystic acne in an astounding 90% of those who took the drug. Accutane worked by limiting sebum and oil production on the skin, and the results are amazing to see.
However, Accutane was removed from the market about 10 years ago due to its side effects. One of them is that it can cause kidney and liver damage. This is the reason patients were required to take a blood screening every six months.
But the most severe side effect of taking Accutane was that it caused birth defects in women. It was in a high percentage of women, and this resulted in lawsuits against the manufacturer.
Men can still take the active ingredient of Accutane, Isotretinoin. Be aware that it is expensive and has serious side effects for some men.
Men can actually control acne by taking a few easy steps. Of course, in more extreme cases, it’s imperative you see a dermatologist.
At its core, acne develops after bacterial growth in the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Antimicrobials will keep the skin free of the acne causing bacteria.
Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most effective antimicrobial agents. It is usually found in creams and soaps. It works by peeling away skin so it can remove excess oils and bacteria that might be trapped underneath. As such, it is recommended in the prevention of acne flare ups and inflammatory acne. It dries the skin, so it’s great for men who have excessively oily skin.
It is a strong anti-acne medication, so it should be applied only once a day to start, then build up its usage over time.
Salicylic acid is best for blackheads, smaller pimples and whiteheads. It gently unclogs pores, thus preventing future acne flare ups from occurring.
Salicylic acid is for use on regular, commonly experienced acne. Benzoyl peroxide, on the other hand, kills bacteria with a strong drying agent, and is for the prevention of more serious inflammatory acne.
Taking Care Of Male Skin
So we know that men’s skin is different from women’s. Men’s skin is rougher, and a female’s skin is softer due to the extra layer of fat below the skin’s surface.
What should a man do to keep his skin looking healthy and youthful?
Shaving
You may not know it, but shaving is “stressful” to the skin. Men shave an average of 16,000 times in their lifetimes. Each time he shaves, the top layer of skin is removed, replaced with an immature skin, and this skin is especially sensitive to the external environment.
Almost half of all men have some skin-related problem due to shaving, especially if they shave every day. These problems impact fairer skinned men the most.
Take care of your skin better by making sure your razor blade is sharp. Dull blades cause the skin to become more sensitive and leads to cuts and nicks that will need to heal.
Use shaving products after you shave, such as after shave lotion. When applying shaving cream (hair conditioner works just as well, sometimes even better), let it sit on the face for about a minute before shaving. Doing this will raise the hairs away from the skin making them easier to cut.
Try to purchase shaving products that are marked for sensitive skin. It will work just as well but your skin will be better protected.
Skin Cleansers
The acne products mentioned above cleanse the skin wonderfully while fighting the onset of pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide come in soap form.
You can use these antimicrobial products to exfoliate the skin a few times a week. But for men who don’t have acne or cystic acne, there are many more products available.
You should be careful about your choice of skin exfoliating creams and gels. If the beads are too large, it can damage the skin if you exfoliate more than once a week.
Try to use a rice based or a talc based powder in your exfoliating product. One such product, made by Dermalogica, is gentle but effective and can be used every day after bathing.
Another ingredient to look for in exfoliating products is collagen. Collagen is the most important protein for men’s skin. Creams and serums that contain collagen should always be used when exfoliating the skin. Collagen is associated with skin structure, and cell strengthening.
Removing Dead Skin Cells
There are serums on the market that contain AHA and BHA, which stand for alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid, respectively. These acids help remove the residual dead skin cells that rapidly develop on the skin during the day.
Dead skin cells make the face tone appear dull. Products containing AHA and BHA should be applied, as a serum or a toner, before moisturizing the skin. Allow the product to soak into the skin and dissolve the dead cells.
One of the best, least expensive ways to cleanse the skin on the entire body is to exfoliate using salt twice a week. It’s an all-natural way that is as effective as microbeads or other exfoliating products.
You can add salt grains to an all-natural liquid soap and apply it all over your body with a soft sponge, I have checked out Dr. Bonner’s Liquid Soap, and it’s a wonderful, natural suspension fluid to which you would add salts you can purchase online, such as Ahava bath salts.
Run the salt and the serum over your body slowly for five minutes in the shower, The salt acts as an abrasive against your skin (skin itself is made of salt), and cleanses it.
The salt draws out toxins from under your skin, helps eliminate elbows that are “crinkly.” Salt exfoliating improves circulation and brings the pH level in the skin back to normal.
Is Healthy Looking Skin On A Man More Attractive To Women?
In a recent study, women were questioned and shown pictures of the faces of different men. The result was surprising. It turned out that the majority of women found men with healthy looking skin more attractive than a face with masculine features with average looking skin.
Traditionally, women have preferred men who had overly masculine features like a long, lower face with a pronounced jawline, as well as prominent cheekbones and heavier eyebrows.
However, it turned out that a “golden skin tone” in males was found to be more relevant to attractiveness than masculine facial features.
Eating, well, especially fruits and vegetables, adds a golden pigment to the skin and signals health and vitality to women.
The Right Diet For Healthier Looking Skin
Recent research shows that diet plays a very important role in men’s skin appearance, too. You may invest a lot of money in skin care products, but this must be linked to a good diet and foods that help heal the skin.
Food high in antioxidants helps repair damaged skin cells, an activity that occurs on the face night and day, every day. Antioxidants protect the cells and prevent them from breaking off from the cell structure array.
The right foods can ward off wrinkling and slow down the skin’s aging process, and help men maintain a ruddy complexion.
Foods with a high water content
Food rich in water is better to eat than drinking large amounts of water, which goes right through the body. But foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, carrots and eggplant, let the water remain in your body much longer. This is called “hydration”, and this process is critical for the cellular health of the skin and feeds the body high amounts of antioxidants.
Foods High in Omega-3
Seafood like salmon, tuna, walnuts and olive oil are high in omega 3 and can reduce the incidence of acne on the skin and prevent inflammation. The fatty substance in the omega-3 also helps to build and strengthen cell membranes, for healthier skin.
Foods with Collagen
Collagen is a protein in the body and is essential for skin structure. As we grow older, we naturally lose collagen, and this affects everything from bones to skin tone. Faces become ashen as we age because our body produces less collagen.
When we lose collagen, we see wrinkles begin to pop up, and s lot of people go the Botox route, periodically injecting their skin with Botox to keep it firm and youthful looking.
There are foods that naturally boost collagen and help prevent the onset of wrinkles, if you seek a more natural; appearance than Botox injections.
Eggs, seeds and beans (legumes) all have a high non-meat protein content. You can actually improve your appearance by eating a bag of sunflower seeds or having three eggs with light wheat toast. These foods boost protein levels in the body while releasing skin-healing amino acids, which in turn, release collagen.
Foods high in Vitamin A
Accutane, the notorious drug and formerly prescribed to treat and cure acne, was loaded with Vitamin A, the key ingredient. Foods high in vitamin A assist and help remove dead skin cells. It also helps remove bacteria in the sebaceous glands, and this will help the skin remain smooth and healthier looking.
Any food that is orange or yellow in color, like carrots, oranges, bananas and eggs are loaded with beta carotene, an agent that helps prevent acne and which promotes smooth skin.
Green leafy vegetables have a high beta carotene content. Look for spinach, broccoli and all leafy vegetables.
The food with the highest vitamin A content is beef liver. A lot of people don’t not enjoy eating liver, so they substitute cod liver oil tablets.
Sweet potato and carrots contain an abundance of vitamin A, along with black eyed peas and sweet red pepper.
Vitamins essential for healthy skin
Vitamin C is water soluble, so you can take as much as you want every day. This vitamin is found in most citrus fruits like orange and mangos. Bell peppers have a lot of vitamin C, as well as strawberries and red lettuce.
Vitamin E is fat soluble, and it is stored in the body’s oils. This vitamin helps fight free radicals (like antioxidants do) and taking the right amount of vitamin E can give you healthy looking skin. Vitamin E is found in seeds, buts, vegetable oils and in most fruits and vegetables.
Men’s skin has different requirements than women’s skin does, and today we have all we need to look healthier, and younger, and actually be healthier because we take care of our skin.