Skin Care for Men: Tips & Routine

It’s no secret that skin care for men tend to shy away from skincare simply to not appear high maintenance or to protect their masculinity. But you don’t need to get a facial or place cucumber slices over your eyes in order to keep your skin clear and looking its best.

Experts like Howard Sobel and Karen H. Kim agree that men simply need to follow these basic tips in order to improve their complexion and fight off blemishes and wrinkles.

Cleanse and exfoliate

Washing your face in the morning is a simple way to wake yourself up. However, it is also necessary in order to remove the dead skin cells that accumulate overnight.

Make sure to opt for a cleanser with glycolic acid. This component has been shown to stimulate collagen production (1), which keeps the skin looking thicker and younger.

Glycolic acid has also been shown to regulate the skin’s pH levels (2). This is crucial since maintaining the skin at the appropriate level of acidity ensure its functions as a barrier between the outside world and the body.

One study even showed that the topical application of a gel containing glycolic acid reduced the appearance of acne lesions over time (3).

Moisturize daily

Keeping your skin hydrated is a crucial step to keeping it healthy and glowing. Some people tend to skip this step because they believe that it leads to oily skin. Actually, moisturizing aids in the prevention of hyperpigmentation, which can result from skin irritation and inflammation (4).

Also, your moisturizer can kill two birds with one stone if you use one that has retinol. Retinol is a type of vitamin A which plays a crucial role in epidermal turnover (5). This means that it regulates how fast and efficiently new skin cells develop.

Unfortunately, the levels of vitamin A in our skin gradually lower due to nutritional deficiency, exposure to sunlight, oxidative stress, or chronological ageing (5).

Using a moisturizer with retinol is a smart move because studies have shown its topical application has significant anti-aging effects (6).

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Watch what you drink

It’s common knowledge that drinking plenty of water is an excellent way of keeping your body healthy and your skin hydrated. A high daily intake of water has been shown to reduce clinical signs of dryness and roughness (7). However, few people keep in mind that other beverages can also help your skin.

Coffee, for example, is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. In one Japanese study, these antioxidants were linked to a decrease in the hyperpigmentation of pigmented spots (8).

Another study showed that the intake of coffee polyphenols improved the skin’s permeability barrier function and hydration (9). Shockingly, coffee was even shown to have a protective effect against cancer development (10).

On the other hand, alcohol is a beverage men should stay away from. Studies have shown that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for sunburn, psoriasis, melanoma, and non-melanoma skin cancer (11, 12).

Protect your skin from the sun

This one goes without saying: the sun is your skin’s biggest and most lethal enemy. The sun emits UV radiation. UV-A plays a major role in the deterioration of dermal structure, which leads to photoaging. While UV-B is mainly responsible for skin cancers (13).

Men are particularly at risk because, on average, they spend more time outside than women. The oxidative stress caused by UV radiation leads to the breakdown of collagen (14). In turn, this produces wrinkles and fine lines.

The daily use of sunblock is your safest bet to keeping your skin healthy. In order to avoid an extra step in your skincare routine, use a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher.

This is especially crucial for men since they are 1.5 times more likely than women to develop melanoma skin cancer , the deadliest kind of skin cancer (15).

Skin Care for Men - Get a good night’s sleep

Getting at least 8 hours of good quality sleep is important and beneficial for your body as a whole. Muscles rest, the brain stores the memories of the day, and hormones are regulated.

The same goes for your skin. One study indicates that chronic poor sleep quality is linked to an increase in signs of ageing, a reduction in skin barrier function, and lower satisfaction with one’s own appearance (16).

Another study even showed that sleep deprivation plays an important role in the exacerbation of psoriasis (17).

In other words, cleanse your face every day, apply moisturizer with retinol and SPF, stay hydrated, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and get enough sleep in order to avoid certain skin conditions and protect your skin’s wellbeing!

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