Men and women have biologically different skin plus typically different lifestyle habits, diet and attention to skincare, meaning that the most common skin issues for men are different than for women.
The five main biological differences between men's skin and women’s skin are;
1. Men have thicker skin than women (about 25% thicker)
2. Men produce more sebum than women making their pores appear larger and their skin oilier
3. Men have more hair in more areas of the body than women and the hair is thicker
4. Men produce more sweat than women.
5. Men’s skin is darker and less flexible than women’s in all racial groups
Due to these skin differences men are susceptible to a host of slightly different skin issues to women.
Dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh highlights the six most common and visible skin issues in men and what to do about them;
1. Flaky Scalp & Beard
Flaky scalps and beards are common in men due to men being more prone to fungal scalp infections and scalp and beard dermatitis, both of which can be triggered by excessive sweating.
However, it’s important to determine which skin condition is causing the flaking.
Fungal flaking tends to be larger, greasier flakes with a greyish tinge and no itching.
Scalp dermatitis flakes are smaller, whiter and drier and the scalp and beard will be very itchy and irritated.
For fungal scalp and beard infections, topical anti-dandruff shampoos (containing fluconazole) are the best treatment approach.
However, for scalp dermatitis and beard dermatitis, anti-dandruff shampoos will not work and may make the flaking and irritation worse.
Specific shampoos for dry scalp treatment and scalp dermatitis and beard dermatitis should be used for itchy scalps and dry scalps and beards that itch with fine white flakes.
Hydrosil Scalp Shield Shampoo and Scalp Shield Tonic are designed for use on scalps and beards prone to dermatitis and contains ingredients to reduce itching and help repair scalp and beard barrier function to prevent and reduce symptoms.
2. Razor Rash
Male hormones also contribute to hair growth on the face, therefore, men tend to shave their faces regularly. Constant shaving can lead to skin problems such as irritation and redness which can appear shorty after shaving.
It’s important to cleanse the face before shaving to remove any dirt.
Use a clean blade or razor, and change them regularly to avoid infections.
It’s best to avoid scented aftershave lotions on freshly shaved skin.
Aftershave skin balms help to guard against razor rash. Kalme Undercoat is a skin balm that contains a specific de-sensitising ingredient that instantly aides in calming and desensitising post-shave skin to help prevent razor rash and reduce sensotive skin.
3. Redness & Rosacea
From the age of 40 men’s skin becomes thinner and more sensitive. It’s also less flexible than women’s skin so can be more prone to gaping pores with age.
Persistent facial bumpiness, open pores and redness on the nose and cheek area is caused by a chronic skin condition called rosacea and men over the age of 45 are prone to male rosacea. The condition tends to worsen with time resulting in ruddier skin and visible blood vessels in the affected areas. Left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent redness, a red nose and thickened skin due to excess tissue.
The lifestyle habits of men, such as drinking too much alcohol and not wearing regular suncream can also add to the increased risk of developing rosacea.
A recent survey has found that only 18% of men use sunscreen on their face, compared to 42% of women.
Men are also less likely than women to seek early treatment or prevention of rosacea.
Wearing an SPF daily from the age of 30 onwards and using a preventive skincare regime at the very early signs of rosacea can hugely help stave off and manage the condition.
Kalme Skincare is a no-mediated skincare system designed to help manage and prevent the progression of the multiple symptoms of rosacea. It’s designed to use daily and not just when a flare up occurs and includes a daily pure zinc mineral SPF25 which is a physical block to UV rays as well as being beneficial for reducing inflammation.
4. Folliculitis
The thickness of male hair growth combined with thicker skin and frequent shaving means that men are more prone to folliculitis and ingrowth hairs, which is when the base of the hair shaft gets infected from external bacteria.
Regular exfoliation of vulnerable areas combined with the boosting of good skin bacteria are the two most effective ways to prevent folliculitis.
Clarol Silver & Birch Exfoliating Wash contains Nordic tree bark extracts that help dissolve sebum while exfoliating the surface of the skin with ground pumice stone to clean out the hair shaft and free trapped hairs.
Clarol Silver Serum is a light skin serum that can be applied after exfoliation to replenish and increase good skin bacteria while repelling bad skin bacteria to prevent infections forming.
5. Oily Skin Acne & Blackheads
Men produce more oil on their skin. Male hormones, called androgens, contribute to the increase in the size of the oil glands, leading to increased secretion of sebum and the appearance of larger pores and greasy skin, both of which lead to acne and blackheads.
The face, neck, uppers shoulders and back are the most commonly affected areas for male acne.
However, its not the actual excess sebum that causes oily skin acne and blackheads, it’s when the sebum mixes with air as it reaches the skin’ surface and oxidises combined with external bacteria which enters the pooled sebum collected in the gaping skin pore that causes blackheads and acne.
Using anti-bacterial products does the job of killing off the bacteria in the short term, but in the long terms causes the skin to product even more sebum as well as killing off all good skin bacteria which leads to redder and more sensitive skin.
Keeping the excess sebum uncontaminated as it passes out through the skin pore is a more effective way to prevent acne in greasy skin.
Clarol Sebopure is a sebum purifying skin serum that effectively ‘preserves’ the sebum in the skin pore so that it’s less prone to becoming contaminated by oxidisation and external bacteria as it reaches the skin’s surface.
6. Under-Eye Dark Circles
Due to men’s skin being in general darken than women’s in all racial groups, men are more prone to the appearance of dark circles under their eyes. Due to men’s skin being less flexible and that fact that men tend to pay less attention to skin care than women, the under-eye area can also become drier as well as discoloured.
Under eye concealers ad dark circle conealers are tpp often avoided by men as they are considered a cometic yet they are an effective treatment for discoloured underye skin and many contain ingredients to repair skin barrier function to also improve and prevent under eye dryness.
Hydrosil Dry Eye Concealer contains light reflecting particles to brighten and lighten under eye dark circles as well as a skin prebiotic to help repair skin barrier function and improve under eye dryness.
