Do Men Really Need Their Own Skin Care Products?

Skin care isn't just for women - skin care for men is just as important. As a result, more and more companies are making products especially designed for men. You'll find hair products for men, such as shampoo and gel, skin products like face washes and lotions, even anti aging skin care products especially for men. But, are all these really necessary? Is a man's skin so different that he needs special products just for him?  Surprisingly, the answer is YES!

The testosterone in a man's system causes his skin to be 25% thicker than a woman skin. Besides being thicker, a man's skin also tends to be tougher. The production of sebum (oil) is higher in men. The results are that men are more apt to have problems with acne later in life than most women do. Collagen production in men is higher than it is in women. Since the production of collagen is directly related to aging, a man's skin is said to be 15 years younger than a woman's skin of the same age.  Unfortunately for men, they have a tendency to be less sun savvy than women are. In other words, they don't use sunscreen. UV damages the skin and often the 15-year difference is unnoticeable.     

Since men usually don't care about their hands, arms, or legs being soft, a man's moisturizer is most commonly targeted to their facial needs. The difference between a man's skin and a woman's skin puts different demands on a moisturizer. For instance, a man's moisturizer may contain ingredients or fragrances that would would irritate a woman's more sensitive skin but has little affect on a man's tougher, thicker skin. On the other hand, a man's face may be more sensitive due to frequent shaving. Often, a man's moisturizer will contain an ingredient to help combat razor burn. As mentioned before, men are less likely to use sunscreen, yet they are more likely to spend their day outside than women are. Therefore, a man's moisturizer usually contains sunblock to help prevent damage from the sun.  

How about special hair products for men? Generally speaking, men's shampoo and women's shampoo contain basically the same ingredients. One difference is the scent. A woman's shampoo may smell a bit too flowery or feminine for a man. Some gels or styling products may be more useful for the type of hair styles men commonly wear, and hairsprays may have a different fragrance and holding power.

Hair may be hair, but skin is not skin. A man's skin has more oil yet is tougher and thicker than a woman's skin. It usually is more damaged by the sun.  Because of these differences, a man's skin needs to be treated differently than a woman's skin. Skin care products for men may seem to be a hype, but in reality, they are necessary.