Healthy skin is important not only for women, but for men as well. While the J-Beauty principles of self-care and taking care of our skin’s health from the inside out remain the same for men, men do have special considerations to take into account when deciding which J-Beauty products to buy to achieve optimal skin.
There are structural differences between men and women’s skin that affect its appearance and texture, as well as hormonal differences that can cause changes to the skin. Our J-Beauty experts will help you understand the subtle differences between men and women’s skin, and help you decide what are the best Japanese skincare options for the men on the market today.
Testosterone and Skin
One of the biggest differences between men and women’s skin is that men typically have higher testosterone levels than women. Testosterone is a hormone responsible for numerous functions in the body, and also causes thicker, tougher skin.
In fact, the skin on a man's body is typically up to 20% thicker than that of a woman’s. This thickness is a result of excess collagen in male skin, which can give it a tighter, firmer appearance. This collagen will reduce at a constant rate over a man’s lifespan, while women tend to notice a dramatic drop in collagen production after menopause.
Oily Skin and Men
Men typically have oilier skin than women. This is because men produce, on average, four times as much sebum as women do. Sebum production in men is fueled by a powerful hormone called DHT (Dihydrotesttosterone), which is through a conversion of testosterone.
Excess sebum can cause longer lasting acne in men, and it’s easy to see why. Around 10% of the testosterone in a man's body is converted to DHT every day, and men on average have about 20% more testosterone than women do. The excess sebum created by all that DHT produces oil which then mixes with dead skin cells and plugs up follicles and pores, leading to breakouts.
Shaving and Skincare For Men
One of the biggest differences between men and women’s skin is the fact that men have facial hair. While some men may choose to grow a beard, a vast majority of men will have to incorporate shaving into their grooming habits, even if just to keep their beard neat. Unfortunately, shaving can cause skin irritation or inflammation as the razor scrapes at the skin and aggravates it.
When aftershave is used, it can also lead to redness, dryness, and even hypersensitivity for some skin types. Shaving removes the upper skin barrier, which leaves skin vulnerable to environmental toxins, and also disrupts sebum production. This can lead to even higher levels of sebum production and more breakouts, as well as redness and irritation on the skin.
Best Japanese Skincare Options for Men
The J-Beauty approach is to soothe skin from the inside out, rather than just treating the noticeable effects of your skin's health. Many men suffer from breakouts or irritated skin due to the simple fact that their body produces more testosterone than women, and that combined with shaving and irritating the upper skin barrier, leaves them vulnerable to dry, irritated skin. While a J-Beauty treatment won’t negate your need to trim your facial hair, it can help prevent and repair the damage caused by shaving, and combat the excess sebum production that causes acne.
