Men are often tempted to borrow their partner’s skincare products with less time and busy schedules. After all, why waste time when she is meticulously doing the research and choosing the right skincare products?
But do you know that your partner’s skin type is different from the one you are having? And this is the reason why some skincare products are gender-specific and need to be chosen accordingly.
Does gender matter in skincare?
Yes, it does.
Male and female skin differs in some aspects. Female skin is thinner and less oily than male skin. Therefore, the products designed for females may not necessarily work as effectively for male skin.
Difference between men’s and female’s skin
Here’s how the male and female skin differs:
1. Presence of oil
Male skin has a larger and more number of pores to release oil. This makes the skin more oily and susceptible to acne than female skin.
2. Thicker skin
Male skin has more collagen, making it firmer and tighter than female skin. Research has shown that male skin is 20-25 times thicker than female skin.
3. Ageing
Skin ageing is mostly related to the presence of collagen. As mentioned above, the male skin has a higher density of collagen but it keeps reducing all through their life. However, since the collagen density in the male skin is more, the signs of ageing tend to appear only very late.
Females, although have a lower collagen content, lose it mostly after menopause.
This means that the male skin shows gradual signs of ageing all through, while female skin shows signs of sagging in their late 40s.
Skincare is another important factor that contributes to ageing. It is a noted fact that men tend to be more negligent in their skincare routine as compared to females, resulting in premature ageing.
4. Facial hair
Female skin has soft hair while male skin has thicker facial hair. Additionally, shaving the facial hair adds stress on the male skin resulting in skin irritation, bumps, burns and cuts.
Why should men have different skincare products?
Still wondering if shelling out money to buy skincare products is individual to your gender? Here are some reasons why you should consider doing so.
1. pH levels are different
The outer layer of the skin has amino and lactic acids along with natural oils, which provide a protective cover to it. This gives the skin a pH level between 4 and 6. If the pH levels are high, skin tends to be dry and vice-versa.
Since women have lesser oil secretion, their skincare products have added fatty acids and ceramides. If a man uses these skincare products, it might make his skin greasy and more prone to acne.
2. Testosterone impacts
The predominant male sex hormone is testosterone. In addition to its usual function, this hormone tends to make the male skin oily.
It is, therefore, necessary that male skincare products should contain ingredients to wash out the accumulated layer of dead cells and sebum.
3. Different sensitivity areas
Unlike female skin, the male skin is constantly subjected to stress due to the daily shaving needs.
Men should, hence, look for products that could repair their skin naturally and prevent the formation of ingrown hair follicles.
4. Signs of ageing occur differently in men and women
Since male skin has a high density of collagen and they only lose it slowly over the years, their skin can tolerate higher concentrations of anti-ageing ingredients such as retinol.
Difference between male and female skincare products
In the above section, we have seen that male skin has a fundamental difference from female skin. Thus skincare products designed for men will be
- Lighter weight in texture with more traditional forms such as lotions, gels, creams, etc.
- Designed to deal with ingrown hairs, especially in the beard area.
- Should be formulated with exfoliation ingredients like Tretinoin which helps to remove dead skin cells, keep the pores clear of bacteria and boosts collagen production.
- Formulated to avoid irritation as the skin is subjected to regular shave.
- It will have a slightly more Ph as men’s skin can tolerate higher Ph levels.
Check out the anti-ageing cream and acne cream by andSons Malaysia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the male skin is entirely different from the female’s in texture and build. Thus for the best results, it is essential to make sure that you use products specifically designed for men rather than women.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice.
Book a consultation with andSons Malaysia’s medical team to learn more about skin care conditions and available treatments here.
References:
Male versus female skin: What dermatologists and cosmeticians should know, Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30175213/[Assessed on 29 March 2022]Physiology of the skin–differences between women and men, Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9034651/[Assessed on 29 March 2022]
