Skin Care for Men

And proper skin care isn’t just about looking young; it can also prevent deadly skin cancers. More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are reported each year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Nearly 8,000 of those cases are fatal.

Fortunately, there are simple skin care options available for men that require a minimal investment of time or money. In fact, men have an edge over women in the skin care game. Still, there are a few products that can help guys’ skin look its best at any age.

If you’ve ever cursed the need to shave your face each day, consider the upside: all those hair follicles will help to keep your face wrinkle-free.  Men’s facial hair acts as sort of support structure for the face. Men also have more collagen and elastin fibres — the connective tissue that gives skin its strength and elasticity — and a tighter network of fatty tissue directly under the skin. As a result, men’s skin is on average 20% to 30% thicker than women’s skin. And thicker skin does a better job of resisting wrinkles.

Hair glands also produce oil, which means men’s faces are naturally oilier than women’s. The oil traps moisture, which keeps skin hydrated and gives it a plumper and more youthful appearance. Finally, shaving gives men an edge in skin care. Shaving is a dramatic exfoliation of outer skin layers, which leads to a more youthful skin appearance.

Still, men’s faces do age. Men are just as vulnerable to skin cancer. And more oily skin makes men more prone to skin problems such as acne and blackheads. But there are steps men can take to protect themselves.

Men want their skin care to be simple. And for men who don’t have the time or temperament for anything else, there is one piece of advice: Use sunscreen. A good skin regimen that includes a total sun protection program goes beyond maintaining a healthy, attractive appearance. It could save your life, given that 90% of all deadly skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet light from the sun.

Sunlight generates high-energy particles called free radicals that attack skin cells, Yellin says. The attack destroys collagen and damages cellular DNA, which can lead to cancer. Make sure your sunscreen provides full-spectrum protection — that is, protection from both UVA and UVB radiation. The SPF rating in sunscreen measures protection against UVB, which causes sunburn and skin cancer. (Sunscreens should have an SPF rating of at least 15 for all skin types.) But UVA radiation is more powerful. It penetrates glass and goes deeper into the skin. It also plays a part in sunburn and skin cancer as well as skin ageing. Men with lighter skin must protect their skin from the sun more aggressively than men with dark skin to avoid sun damage or skin cancer.

If you haven’t made sun protection part of your daily routine, here’s some advice from the experts on how to make it easy:

• Try a gel or a spray. Generally, many men dislike the feel of lotions or creams and prefer gels or sprays for their ease of application.
• Don’t forget your bald spot. Use a hat, or put on plenty of sunscreen.
• Cover up. Think hats, long trousers, or long-sleeved shirts. Tightly-knit fabrics afford more protection, and special sun-protective clothing is also available.
• Consider buying a “tan in a can.” Miss that bronze glow? Dermatologists calls self-tanning lotions and sprays “a safe alternative to tanning.” The active ingredient, known as DHA, produces a tan colour that does not wash off. A sunless tan doesn’t protect you from the sun, so you will still need a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15.
• Avoid tanning beds. They’re no safer than sunlight; most salons use bulbs in their tanning beds that emit a significant amount UVA and UVB radiation.

After the universal recommendation of a daily coating of sunscreen, dermatologists say your skin care regimen should depend on your individual characteristics. As you choose the products that are right for you, you may want to consider the newer male-oriented lines. The active ingredients in these products are typically the same for men as for women. But the textures are less creamy, the scents are muskier, and the packaging is more masculine.

Here’s the lowdown on a few of the most common products:

• Cleansers. Soap and water is fine for most skin types, but men with oily skin may want to consider using an astringent. Fragrance free or dye-free products are recommended for men with sensitive skin.
• Razors. The new razors with multiple blades are great for a close shave. And for many men they provide a welcome “microdermabrasion” that removes dead layers of skin. But for African-American men and other men with very curly hair, the blades are more likely to cause painful razor bumps resulting from ingrown hairs. These men may prefer a single-blade or electric razor. They may also seek out more soothing shaving creams or gels.
• Aftershave. For many men, alcohol-heavy aftershaves do little more than dry out the skin. Instead, consider an aftershave balm that includes a disinfectant and moisturiser to prevent blackheads or ingrown hair.
• Retinoids. These help unplug and prevent clogged pores. The most famous of these are vitamin-A based retinoids such as Retin A or Renova. The prescription retinoids have been proven to prevent or reverse sun-induced skin aging.
• Antioxidants. Topical vitamin C is a popular antioxidant. Make sure you get vitamin C in a topical serum rather than a cream, as only serums are absorbed into the skin, Obagi says. Other antioxidants include vitamin E and green tea extract.

Feeling overwhelmed by the variety of products on offer? Perhaps try a combination products, such as a sunscreen that includes moisturisers and antioxidants.

Need help designing the regimen that’s right for you? You may want to consult a licensed aesthetician such as our doctor at Medcare.  But stay away from the beauty counters in high street shops. Assistants at these counters have no formal training and tend to push expensive and ineffective treatments.

Medcare offers some great treatments to regenerate sun damaged skin, as well as treatments to pamper your skin and of course Botox and Fillers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Also we stock medical grade skin products including sunscreen, vitamin C serums and antioxidant products from Glo Therapeutics Skin Beauty and ZO Skin Health. These products contain quality ingredients in higher doses than any product available in the shops.