The Difference in Men and Women’s Skin
Peachy was developed after I had spent years trying to find a suitable skincare routine for my sensitive skin. writes Sinead of Peachy Natural Skincare.
Hormonal factors come into play when considering the difference between men's and women’s skin.
The skin is the largest multifunctional organ in the body. It functions as a protective physical barrier by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and preventing microorganism invasion and chemical penetration.
The skin also controls the passage of water and electrolytes and has a major role in the thermoregulation of the body, in addition to its immunological, sensory, and autonomic function.
Hormonal factors come into play when considering the difference between men's and women’s skin. As men tend to have higher levels of testosterone, this can provide a different structure to the skin in comparison to female skin.
In general, men’s skin can be considered thicker, oilier & can age differently to women’s skin
After puberty, sebum production is greater in males than females, which is attributed to androgen secretions, which accounts for why men have longer-lasting acne. Though men have smaller oil-secreting sebaceous glands, they generally have oilier skin.
Skin thickness
Male skin is, on average, approximately 20% thicker than female skin. It contains more collagen and has a tighter, firmer appearance. The collagen content of male skin reduces at a constant rate. Female skin is affected later in life, especially after menopause. Female skin then thins more dramatically. and the effects are more pronounced than in male skin.
Men lose collagen at a constant rate throughout their adult lives. Women lose less collagen when they are young but when they hit menopause, they start losing collagen at a faster rate.
In other words, men age more at a younger rate than women. Men have higher amounts of lactic acid in their sweat than women. Lactic acid is a natural humectant for the skin, known for its ability to retain moisture.
Thus, male skin often appears to be more hydrated than female skin. Surprisingly, men have a lower pH level than women, and they sweat twice as much.
Pores
Pores are essential because they let your body release sweat, oil, and other essentials onto your skin's surface. men have more pores than women. Our pores also tend to be larger and more prominent than women's pores, which is not a good look.
Men have more active sebaceous glands, and therefore more pores, than women. Both their sebaceous glands and their pores are larger than those of women. produce about twice as much sebum than women overall.
Sebum production is double that of women, so male skin is oilier and shinier than female skin. As a result, its pH is lower than that of female skin and is prone to impurities and acne. Adult males are less prone to dry skin than adult females. Signs of aging appear later in male skin, but changes occur more quickly once they start.
Men are most affected by sagging skin combined with puffy eyes and dark circles that make them look tired. Male wrinkles occur later than female wrinkles but, when they do appear, they are fully grooved. On average, men who shave subject their skin to 16,000 shaves in a lifetime.
The act of shaving puts added friction and stress on the skin. Skin becomes more sensitive and reacts faster. Shaving on a daily basis stresses the skin and can cause irritation. It removes the uppermost layer of skin cells, exposing immature skin that is particularly sensitive to external influences.
How to care for men’s skin
Male skin benefits from a dedicated approach to skincare and from products that respect its unique biological attributes. Following a careful technique when shaving is extremely important.
Moisturisers and anti-aging products for men should be light in texture. Rich and greasy products may not be well tolerated by skin sensitised by shaving.
Cleansing is a vital but underused technique for men. Men should use a facial cleanser to cleanse the skin twice per day. This gets rid of unnecessary sebum and debris to keep acne risk to a minimum. Clogged pores also look like larger pores, so this is a great way to make pores less prominent too.
The Difference in the skin of babies, children, and adults
The skin is the first line of defense for babies. It acts as a barrier against attacks from outside pathogens, irritants and allergens, and environmental attacks, thereby protecting the body against infection and diseases. For babies that are still developing their immune systems, a healthy skin barrier serves a vital purpose in preserving their wellbeing.
The skin of infants is physiologically different from that of older children and adults in terms of structure, composition, and function. At birth, baby skin undergoes a dramatic transition from an aqueous to a dry terrestrial environment. After birth and over time, neonatal skin continues to develop.
Baby skin is structurally different to adult skin; the cells are smaller and the collagen fibers are thinner." According to recent clinical findings, infant SC is 30%, and infant epidermis 20% thinner than in adults.12 Consequently, baby skin is more permeable and more prone to dryness than adult skin.
The composition of baby skin is also different from that of adult skin, containing less natural moisturising factors (NMFs), fewer lipids, and less melanin. The lower amounts of NMFs in baby skin could contribute to its faster rate of water desorption.
Baby skin also has a higher pH than adult skin, another indication that the baby skin barrier is less mature than that of adult skin. In a clinical study involving a large number of newborns, the skin was found to have an average pH of 6.34 immediately after birth. Within four days, the pH decreased to a mean of 4.95, and between 7 and 30 days, it further decreased to 4.7.15 The acid nature of skin is important because it has antimicrobial properties that make the skin resist colonisation by harmful bacteria; it also buffers the activity of proteases, those enzymes that break-down the corneodesmosomes (holders of the skin cells). Therefore, higher pH contributes to the weakening of the skin barrier.
These differences in structure and composition lead to differences in the function of the skin as a barrier. One of the main measurements of the skin barrier is the rate of trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Baby skin has a higher rate of TEWL than adult skin.
although infant skin is able to absorb more water than adult skin, it loses water at a faster rate.14 We hypothesize that these differences leave baby skin more prone to dryness, and as a baby's immune system is developing, there is a greater chance of developing irritations and infections.
For these reasons, baby skin is more vulnerable to the environment than adult skin, and if not properly cared for, the skin becomes susceptible to dryness, conditions such as atopic dermatitis, nappy dermatitis, or even infections.
About Peachy Natural Skincare
Peachy Skincare products have the potential to be absorbed into our bodies & this can in turn, in some cases, lead to issues further down the line systemically. Sinead is a medical scientist, Ph.D. also a busy mum of 3, and founder and creator of the handmade, natural skincare range Peachy. I feel it is so important to be aware of what we place on their skin too.
Explore our Expertise here
