lystn

Starting with a little pop quiz today. 3 questions. Let’s see how many you get right..Question 1 : Who ages slower – men or women? Answer: MEN!Question 2: Who has thicker skin – men or women? Answer: MEN!Question 3: Who has more collagen – men or women? Answer: MEN!I was thinking how the skin on my cheeks and my jawline is so much smoother than the rest of my face. I almost never have any problems in those areas. And I’m pretty sure it has to do with shaving. Guys get this super exfoliation when they shave. It’s almost like getting dermaplaning every day. All this made me think how is the skin different between women and men. Let’s go ahead and find outThere are some big differences between male and female skin. The main difference is hormones...men have more testosterone hormone in their bodies which makes their skin thicker and oilier than a woman’s skin. Women have more of the estrogen hormone, which helps maintain collagen, skin thickness, and elasticity. There are other factors like hair growth, sweat rate, and pH levels that make men and women’s skin different. Skin thicknessA man’s skin is 25% thicker than a woman's skin. So when they say guys have thicker skin… it’s actually physically true.But a man’s skin will get thinner as well they get older. Even though women have thinner skin than men, women actually keep the same skin thickness until they are in their 40’s. But after menopause, a woman’s skin will start to get thin at a very fast pace. So genetics favor a little bit more men when it comes to skin thicknessOil productionA man’s skin produces, some estimate, as much as 4 times more oil than a woman’s skin. Men have larger pores. Because of that men may also experience more blackheads, clogged pores, and breakouts. Oil production in men’s skin does not slow down as they get older either...so problems with breakouts can last longer and be a life-long struggle. Is that good or bad? it’s good in that skin oil is a natural moisturizer… but too much can potentially lead to acne and blackheads.  ShavingOn average, men who shave subject their skin to 16,000 shaves in a lifetime.On one hand, men benefit from the super exfoliation. On the other hand, with shaving, their skin becomes more sensitive. So for some, daily shaving can can cause irritation because it eliminates the top layer of skin cells, exposing younger skin. According to some estimates, up to 40% of men have shaving-related skin problems. I’m blessed that way… no razor bumps, just a super good exfoliationHow about pHIf you’re not familiar, pH measures the level of acid. The pH level of the skin is more on the acidic side for both men and women. The pH value in men is below 5, the pH in women is generally higher than 5. Because… check this out… Men have more Lactic Acid in their sweatCollagenStudies show that both women and men lose about 1% of collagen every year after they turn 30. Men naturally have a higher amount of collagen in their skin because of testosterone. So men do not “visibly age” as quickly. Testosterone makes men’s skin thicker and bouncier. For women on the other hand, the amount of collagen in the skin drops drastically after menopause, especially in the first 5 years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, women lose about 30% of remaining collagen in their skin in the first five years after menopause. I don’t mean to sound all doom and gloom... There are a number of good skincare ingredients that support collagen… but that’s a topic for another discussionSkin HydrationMen lucked out on this one too. Until a man reaches age 50, they don’t lose as much water in the skin like women do. Studies have shown that guys have a stronger skin barrier which means their skin does not get as dry as a women’s skin. Remember men also produce more oil which acts as a natural moisturizer. On the other hand, as a woman’s skin ages, the oil production slows down making dry skin a bigger issue. Nothing to worry about… women just need more moisturizer than men.