Men Vs Women: Skin Care Tips
We often think of our organs as inside of us, tucked safely away from harm. If you didn’t know, your skin is an organ, and it is the largest one you have. In that case, it’s pretty important and needs special care so that it can do its job well and protect all the other organs we have!
If we’re honest, most of us don’t treat our skin very well, and many of us probably can’t remember the last time we had a good loofah scrub!
Taking care of your skin can look different for everyone, and there is a significant difference between male and female skin. Here is what to know about male skin, female skin, and how it may affect your skincare routine here at RSVP Med Spa.
What Does Skin Do?
The skin has three basic roles:
- Protection: It protects the body from mechanical, physical, chemical, or microbial attack from the outside environment because of its impermeability, strength, and flexibility.
- Transmission: It transmits information between the body and the outside world through its many nerve endings which receive tactile, thermal, and pain stimuli.
- Exchanges: It is involved in complex mechanisms such as body temperature regulation (by eliminating heat and evaporating the sweat secreted by sweat glands as well as eliminating harmful substances) and synthesis of vitamin D which is essential to bone growth.
The skin is immensely important to every other function of the body. You could literally say it is the organism that holds us together.
What’s the Difference Between Male and Female Skin?
Though men and women have similar skin, some gender differences leave women at a distinct disadvantage. Perhaps in an evolutionary throwback to a time where it’s hypothesized that women nested while their hunter-gatherer men navigated the outdoors, women’s skin may be less prepared to withstand the elements, being thinner than men’s and less oily.
How does female skin differ? Since thinner, drier skin is more prone to damage from the sun or the smoke of cigarettes, women may be more likely to form wrinkles. Women also largely sweat less than men do, and are thus more likely to suffer heat stroke. Sex hormones shape skin, too. Estrogen increases collagen and skin moisture and promotes wound healing, while testosterone stimulates oil production and facial hair. When women go through menopause, the loss of sex hormones causes facial wrinkles such as crow’s feet because estrogen-deprived skin thins, loses collagen, and slows down its cell renewal.
Men’s skin, on the other hand, tends to be thicker and prone to excess oil and oily skin types. Because of their skin’s thickness, it can be difficult to adequately retain hydration with the skin barrier. Because men have a lower collagen content, skin aging may cause more sagging and creasing. Finally, men deal with unique skin conditions that come with shaving such as razor burn, ingrown hairs, and razor bumps.
Do Men and Women Need Different Skincare Products?
We’ve all see needlessly gendered products, but skincare products may be one area where sex matters. For example, men’s skin products often target specific skin concerns such as post-shave irritation and larger pores. They may also focus on reducing higher sebum production and oilier skin, aiming to reduce acne and lock in long-lasting moisture that withstands higher skin thickness. On the other hand, woman’s skin products may be more preventive, incorporating retinol and active ingredients to combat hormonal acne. Women may also have more sensitive skin, meaning they need gentler products without fragrance or additives.
Male and Female Skin Care Products in Overland Park, KS
So now that you know there are reasons for our struggle with this all important organ, you see why it’s important to take care of it now, whether you are younger, middle age, or in your older years. At RSVP Med Spa, we offer many different physician-grade skincare products for men’s skin, women’s skin, and everything in between. To meet with our skincare experts, contact our office today and schedule a consultation.