In this issue, we'll discuss skin for men and women.
When you start taking care of your skin, a lot of thoughts can lead you astray on the path to beautiful skin.Nowadays, both men and women are taking care of their skin, so what is required is knowledge about men and women's skin.
As a person with skin problems, I have found some interesting research on the subject, and I will introduce it to you as I study it.
Overview
The skin is the largest multifunctional organ in the body.
It functions as a physical protective barrier by absorbing ultraviolet rays and preventing microorganisms and chemical substances from entering the body.
The skin also controls the passage of water and electrolytes and plays a major role in the regulation of body temperature, in addition to immunological, sensory, and autonomic functions.
Understanding the physiological, chemical, and biophysical properties of the skin can help in making appropriate approaches for the management of skin diseases.
However, it is also important to consider the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the skin.In the study presented, skin parameters of different parts of the body of males and females were assessed separately.
This is because knowledge of gender-related skin differences may help in the development of more appropriate dermatological treatments, cosmetic interventions, and products.
Stratum corneum water content
Hydration of the stratum corneum (SC) plays an important role in skin function, including regulation of epidermal growth, differentiation, and inflammation.
The results of a study comparing skin hydration between male and female skin can be summarized as follows
The results of the study comparing skin hydration between men and women were as follows: ・Natural mineral water supplementation was most likely to improve skin dryness hydration.
The forehead and back of the hands of both men and women were more likely to become dry due to sunlight.
This was more pronounced in older women.
The moisture retention rate of the stratum corneum is higher in young men, but it starts to decrease over time from the age of 40.
In women, it is maintained throughout life.
There are some results such as forehead tends to be dry, but there is no significant difference when comparing forearm and forehead.
A dermatologist measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, sebum secretion, fine lines/roughness, melanin/redness, temperature, color, and clinically graded participants' skin and found that female participants retained significantly more water. They found that female participants retained significantly more water.
Transepidermal water loss
Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is used to assess the moisture barrier function of the skin.
In the study, TEWL was reported to be equal for men and women.
The study reported that TEWL was equal for men and women, except for participants under 50 years of age, where it was significantly lower for men, regardless of their location on the body surface.
Evaporation measurements showed that all areas of the body, except the forearms, decreased with age in both men and women.
However, for participants aged 50-60, the TEWL of the forehead, cheeks, and neck of men was higher than that of women of the same age.
Sebum
Results of a study comparing sebum in male and female skin reported that sebum production was equal in male and female skin.
However, they found higher sebum levels in male subjects on different parts of the face, except for the forehead, which had higher sebum levels in female subjects.
In terms of sebum content, men were found to be relatively stable except for the forehead, which increased with age; in comparison, women were found to have a gradual decrease with age throughout.
Men also report higher sebum production and larger pore size.
According to the study, simple instrumental measurements showed that men's skin had two characteristics.
These are reduced barrier function and lack of proper skin care regimen due to stickiness.A comparison of sebum production by gender showed that the female participants' skin had less oil on the face and collar.
Skin Thickness
Studies have concluded that skin collagen decreases with age and is less in female subjects of all ages.
The study showed that the decrease in skin thickness in men begins at age 20, but in women it remains constant until about age 50, at which point skin thickness begins to decrease.
As a factor, it was concluded that the thinning of the skin with aging is due to the loss of collagen.It has been suggested that the decrease in skin thickness and the loss of hydroxyl proline is a result of hormonal imbalances associated with menopause.
A study of 83 subjects, using in vivo optical coherence tomography imaging and performing daytime and diurnal reproducibility measurements, showed that epidermal thickness did not differ significantly between men and women, with the exception of forehead skin, which was significantly thinner in older women than in men.
Differences in pH
One study reported lower pH in men's skin, while another study showed no gender difference.
In partial differences, pH was highest on the cheeks of both sexes, and lowest on the forehead of women and hands of men.
With respect to age, an increasing trend in pH values was seen only in males.
Thus, it can be accepted that sex hormones have no effect on the pH of the skin surface, but a single study reported that slight sex differences in pH occur due to various cosmetic practices.In women, a sharp drop in pH was observed in the first week after birth, and a gradual drop was measured in the next three weeks.
Elasticity
The elasticity of the skin was reported to be higher in females than in males.
However, the difference is not statistically significant.
Another study reported that elastic deformation was higher in female subjects, but only in the skin of the abdomen.
Skin stiffness was also higher in female participants, but the difference was only significant in the abdominal skin, they said.
Wrinkles
A study of 173 people reported that men showed an increase in forehead wrinkles compared to women.
There were no gender differences in wrinkles on the upper eyelids, and in other areas, wrinkles were greater in women than in men.
A study of sex-related differences in sun exposure in subjects younger than 60 years suggested that lower levels of sun exposure in women may result in fewer wrinkles.
A comparative study of fine lines by gender showed that female participants had smoother skin.
Rahrovan S, Fanian F, Mehryan P, Humbert P, Firooz A. Male versus female skin: what dermatologists and cosmeticians should know. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2018;4(3):122-130. published 2018 Jun 22. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.03.002
Conclusion
The differences between the skin of men and women are as follows
Men tend to have more sebum.
Men tend to have more sebum and thicker lower eyelids, resulting in more sagging of the face.
Men have more pigmentation and thickness in their lower eyelids, which makes their faces sag more. Other than that, the study found no significant differences.
Here, differences in daily life, culture, and diet can affect the conclusions to some extent, but since most of these studies were conducted in Asian countries, they should be useful for reference.
What we can learn from this is that men need more skin care, right? That's what I'm saying.
