It is a common misconception that men don’t care about their skin. We do — it’s just that many of us don’t know exactly how to care for it properly. To make things worse, many men feel that they don’t have time to deal with skincare when there is so much else to worry about. After a long day of work, family time, gym, and doing the things we love to do, it is easy to leave simple skin maintenance behind.
Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to repair, restore, and renew those dry, chapped, and cracked hands, elbows, knees, and feet. With this in mind, today we will review some basic skincare tips, the differences and similarities between men and women’s skin, and how to develop a simple and easy skin regimen.
The Fundamentals of Skin Care for All
Regardless of your gender, age, activity level, or any other factors, the basics of skincare remain largely the same. Doctors recommend staying on top of your skin health in the following ways:
- Cleansing comes first: clean skin is healthy skin. Cleansing your skin once or twice daily is generally enough. Overwashing (particularly the hands) can lead to dry, damaged skin.
- Sun protection: men are huge culprits of spending time out in the sun without sufficient sunscreen or protective clothing. This can lead to skin cancer, sunburn, premature skin aging, dry skin, and more.
- Moisturize: last but not least, keeping your skin hydrated is a great way to keep skin looking and feeling its best. Dried out skin can lead to other health problems and can be downright unpleasant.
Are Men and Women’s Skin Different?
Men and women do have different skin characteristics. Yet these differences are not as many or as significant as you might think. For example, men’s skin is approximately 25% thicker than women’s. This matters for a few reasons, not the least of which is that men flat out have a lot more skin to take care of. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and that 25% increase does not even take the overall size difference between men and women into account.
Another key difference is with levels of collagen and sebum production. Collagen is a protein which provides structural support for your skin. Higher collagen levels in men can lead to fewer but more noticeable wrinkles. Men also products more sebum, your skin’s natural oil.
For practical purposes, it is also important to understand that men tend to have drier skin than women. The thicker skin can actually cause men’s skin to be more prone to outside conditions.
The Importance of Moisturization for Men’s Skin
Along these lines, why is it so important for men to stay on top of skin moisturization? We know it isn’t the most exciting concept in the world, but daily use of a powerful moisturizer is really all you need! Men’s skin tends to dry out quickly, leading to cracked and damaged skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using moisturizer directly after showering or shaving. By applying the moisturizer on slightly damp skin, some of the water will become trapped. This is known as an occlusive effect.
A common concern we hear is that men don’t want to moisturize because they don’t want to have overly soft hands or skin. Proper moisturizers will not weaken your skin. Consider a leather belt. When properly hydrated, leather belts are incredibly strong. When dried out, leather belts may crack or even break under pressure! The same concept applies to skin hydration and skin strength.
Example of a Simple Skin Care Routine for Men
So let’s put this all together to create a simple, easy, and cost effective skin care routine which can work for men of all ages and lifestyles.
- Daily cleansing: As stated earlier, the basis of any healthy skincare regimen is staying clean. Consider soaps, shampoos, and/or conditioners which are free of unnecessary synthetic chemicals.
- Shaving and grooming: proper shaving habits can actually improve your skin health. The opposite is also true, with bad shaving techniques potentially leading to razor burn, razor bumps, dry skin, and much more.
- Moisturization: using an all-in-one moisturizer after your shower and/or shave is a great way to keep skin healthy, strong, and hydrated.
That’s really all you need! Additional products like face oils or treatments for skin conditions notwithstanding, men’s skin care routines really revolve around staying clean and staying hydrated. This requires very little time, effort, and money — a concept most of us can get behind.
Everyday Relief for Dry, Cracked Skin with HEFF
HEFF is a men’s moisturizing cream developed for dry, cracked hands, elbows, and feet. We believe in providing the strongest possible product for men who work hard. Our non-greasy formula harnesses the power of essential amino acids to heal your skin without leaving any nasty residue! Purchases of HEFF support the United States military through Operation Gratitude and our ongoing military donation program.
If you are in need of some serious dry skin relief, look no further! Our products are available in major retailers across the country, online, or you can feel free to contact us directly with any additional questions.