Is your skincare routine actually hurting your skin? Dermatologist explains men's unique needs

Understanding your unique skin type is crucial, as men's skin, contrary to popular belief, can be sensitive and requires tailored care. Factors like age, lifestyle, diet and even hormonal differences influence how skin behaves. Dermatologists emphasise personalised approaches, urging individuals to scrutinise product ingredients and their percentages to effectively treat conditions without causing further damage or blemishes.

In an interview with the Times of India, Dr Soma Sarkar, MBBS, MD, Dermatology, Co-Founder and Lead Dermatologist at Skin Beyond Borders (SkinBB), shared, “Skin type is divided into multiple categories. The first type of skin is oily, followed by dry and normal and lastly, the sensitive skin type. Most people think that men have a rough skin texture, which is not true, as there are certain conditions, like atopic dermatitis, where the skin becomes sensitive and needs special care.”

Men’s skin behaves differently due to hormonal factors (like testosterone) and requires tailored skincare approaches. According to a 2006 study on Gender Differences in Skin Physiology, published in British Journal of Dermatology, “Male skin is significantly thicker, produces more sebum and differs in hydration and barrier function compared to female skin.”

Understanding men's unique skin type for tailored care

If a person has rosacea, they may suffer from broken capillaries, redness, blushing and acne eruptions, too. Dr Sarkar explained, “If they have periorbital or perioral dryness or eczema, their skin requires special care and their products will have ingredients that will cure the condition without damaging the skin. The oily skin type is very acne-prone; people with oily skin type need to target the specific problem and find a specific solution for it.”

It is very important to understand how the skin behaves or reacts based on the patient’s age group. The skin texture of a young boy will be very different from the skin texture of an elderly gentleman or a middle-aged man. Lifestyle always plays a major role as it directly or indirectly affects the skin.

A 2020 study, Diet and Dermatology: The Role of Nutrition in Skin Health, published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, revealed, “Diet, hydration, and lifestyle factors significantly influence skin condition, including acne, ageing and inflammatory disorders.” It echoes that lifestyle factors like diet, hydration and habits directly affect skin health and behaviour.

According to Dr Sarkar, lifestyle includes what kind of diet the patient is following, what physical exercise they partake in and how much water they intake daily. She revealed, “Whenever the patients visit a dermatologist for counselling or consultation, they are asked about their daily routine, their whole history of what they eat, what they apply to their skin, or what they do to their body to find the reason for the issues they are facing.”

Why men's 'rough' skin might be more sensitive than you think

It is very important to understand what skin type men have; they can’t use products that may work for other men. Different skin type requires different ingredients, formulations and requirements to suffice and treat the condition they are suffering from.

Dr Sarkar elaborated, “When talking about a specific gender product, both men and women products are distinguished by the skin thickness, quality of their skin, and, importantly, how their skin reacts to the products. For example, Both men and women suffer from oily skin; the only difference is that men's skin produces more oil compared to women’s skin, because men have higher testosterone levels, which influences the oil glands that secrete more oil.”

This is backed by a 2018 study, The Role of Personalized Skincare in Dermatology, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, where the researchers claimed that one-size-fits-all products don’t work and emphasised upon customised skincare based on skin type, lifestyle and conditions. The authors noted, “Effective skincare requires consideration of individual skin type, lifestyle and environmental exposure to avoid irritation and optimise treatment outcomes.”

It is always perceived that men’s skin is oily and it won’t change no matter what they do but that is not the case, as their skin will improve over time if they follow a proper skincare routine and diet or so the experts claim. Nevertheless, one needs to understand how their skin behaves under certain circumstances and products in case they are suffering from any skin issue.

Dr Sarkar concluded with a word of caution, “They need to clearly read the instructions of the products they are buying and need to check if they are not harming the skin in any way as it may lead their skin to blemish, will cause pigmentation and will lead to uneven skin texture. It all depends on the factor that one needs to check the active ingredients in the particular product. The percentage of the ingredient should be perfect in the product that goes well with their skin type.”

Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment and before changing your diet or supplement regimen.