Men's vs. Women's Skin

Hair Growth

The testosterone hormone gives rise to facial hair in men, which differs from women's. Men's facial hair is thick, dense, and coarse. Of course, women have facial hair, too, but due to the lack of testosterone, most women's facial hair is wispy, soft, and thin. Men's facial hair demands a shaving routine, which can impact the skin by causing nicks, bumps, and razor burns, no matter how infrequent the shaving routine is. The irritation caused by razors pulling against the skin is part of why men's skin tends to be rougher and more textured than women's. Women are now frequently dermaplaning, which involves using a facial razor to shave off the peach fuzz and dead skin from the outermost layer of the dermis. Though dermaplane razors are vastly distinct from men's, women may develop irritations and minor cuts on the skin, similar to men.

Skin Thickness

Men tend to have thicker skin than women. The deeper layer of the skin, called the "dermis," tends to be about 20-25% thicker in men than in women. You might be wondering what skin this deep has to do with skin that we can see. Interestingly enough, the dermis structure causes men and women to present wrinkles in distinct ways.

On average, women tend to show more superficial lines and wrinkles than men. Men, on the other hand, are more prone to the deep-set dynamic wrinkles that are caused by facial movements. Think of frown lines and laugh lines.

Pores and Oil

Men produce almost double the oil, or "sebum," more than women. This makes sense because men also have larger and more numerous pores than women, and pores are oil powerhouses. Sebum naturally hydrates the skin and acts as a barrier that blocks bad bacteria from entering through the pores. However, increased pore sizes and excessive sebum production can result in blocked pores that can make men more susceptible to acne and blemishes. On the flip side of this is the picking that too often accompanies acne breakouts and results in superficial pockmarks and acne scarring.

Collagen

Men and women naturally produce collagen, a protein that delivers firmness, bounce, and suppleness straight to the skin. Collagen is what gives your lips and skin the youthful plumpness that we often try to mimic using cosmetic treatments and skincare treatments as we age. With aging, our natural collagen levels gradually decline. Around age 20, our collagen production levels dip, which means we lose more collagen than we produce. As this collagen reserve-production ratio widens, our skin shows signs of aging, such as sagging, wrinkling, and thinning.

Men lose collagen at a consistent rate throughout their adult lives. Women lose less collagen than men throughout adulthood but lose collagen at an accelerated rate during perimenopause and menopause. Another facet to this is that collagen depletion becomes more visible with prolonged sun exposure and UV-damage. Men and women can offset some of the collagen loss by taking care of their skin and ensuring the application of an appropriate SPF.

However you identify, it's essential to take care of your skin and understand its unique needs. Here's to a healthy and refreshed skincare routine for the upcoming summer.