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Not all skin is alike! Just like most things with men and women, there are some major differences between men and women’s skin and those things definitely affect the way each sex tackles skincare. The hormone testosterone determines the masculine characteristics of male skin and gives it a different structure to female skin. While every man’s skin is unique, in general, male skin – on both the face and the body – is thicker, oilier and ages differently.
- 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 the menopause. Female skin then thins more dramatically and the effects are more pronounced than in male skin.
Sebum (oil) production in men is double that of women, and they have more and larger pores. This means that not only is male skin oilier and shinier than female skin, but that they are also more prone to acne and less prone to dry skin.
The higher collagen density in male skin means that it ages slower than females. In fact, a woman’s skin is about 15 years older than a man’s of the same age (how unfair!). However, since men can be less sun savvy than women and are less likely to use sunscreen, the “15 year” skin age difference is not readily noticed. UV damage from the sun can add years to a man’s skin and negate the benefit of slowed intrinsic aging.
It’s important to remember that there are also similarities between men’s and women’s skin. For example, men want healthy looking skin just as much as women do. And just like women, they deal with issues such as skin sensitivity, acne, and aging. They may not be as regimented as women in taking care of their skin, but they do care.
Our Medical Aesthetician is well versed in men’s and women’s skin, and is ready to book a facial with you to get you started on your skincare journey.
Hormonal Acne
by Sierra Rebchook, PA-C
I am a woman. I am strong, smart and bold, nothing can stop me…wait, what is that? A pimple? Noooooo! As someone who has delt with pesky acne since the age of 12, I know just how frustrating, painful and unattractive acne can be. Like everything in life, acne itself is multifactorial. This means that there are lots of different factors that play into the development of pimples. Bacteria, issues with skin exfoliation, and even hormones can lead to the formation of acne. As this month is all about women, I’m going to focus on the hormonal aspect of acne- what it is and what treatments are available in preventing it from totally taking over our lives!
Hormonal acne: what is it?
Hormonal acne is caused by androgen excess in the skin. Androgens, also known as sex hormones (like testosterone) are vital for healthy human development. While androgens do many wonderful things for the human body, they also do some not so cool things. One role that androgens play in the body is the enlargement of sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands produce sebum (aka oil). Oil production in our skin is vital for helping keep the skin moisturized, young healthy and glowing. Unfortunately, excess sebum can mix with bacteria that live on our skin to cause follicular plugging (plugging of the hair follicle). This in turn does not allow dead skin cells to exfoliate off, ultimately leading to blackhead and pimple formation.
Because androgen release is part of what stimulates the sheading of the uterine lining (aka your period), it is common to have more breakouts during “that time of the month”. Isn’t it great being a girl?
How do I treat hormonal acne?
- Birth control- birth control pills with low androgenicity can help improve acne in many patients. Examples of birth control brands FDA approved for acne include Yaz, Ortho Tri-Cycles and Estrostep
- Antiandrogens- Spironolactone (a potassium sparing diuretic originally used to treat high blood pressure) is an oral medication used off-label in many women (myself included!) to help with hormonal acne. Topically, a new medication called Winlevi can also be used as an antiandrogen for acne.
Fun fact: Spironolactone is a fan favorite because it can help limit hormonal acne, while increasing hair growth, making it a great treatment option in younger women with acne and androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss)!
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