Contrary to popular belief, men's skin is more fragile than
women’s skin. Dry skin, ingrown hair and persistent redness are some of the
problems faced by men who shave. But there’s much more. Men's skin is more
sensitive to the harmful effects of the sun and is more susceptible to cancer.
Men’s and women’s skin react in specific ways to internal
aggression
We can distinguish the sex of a young person just by
observing and touching a square centimetre of skin. Men’s and women’s skin
react in specific ways to internal aggression (infections, hormonal changes)
and external agression (temperature and humidity changes, shaving, cosmetics).
The differences are in part due to steroid hormones that travel through the
blood to bind to proteins in the skin, where they act. However, we now also
know that lifestyle and approach to skin care have a bearing on the health and
appearance of our skin.
Shaving can damage the skin
Fashion and grooming require men to shave for social and
professional reasons. Or they shave because it makes them feel better. Shaving
is an aggression on the skin that is aggravated by the use of aftershave
products that contain alcohol. Frequent shaving damages the hydrolipid film of
the stratum corneum, formed by fat-secreting sebaceous glands that keep the
skin moist. Thus, neglecting the skin can have bothersome consequences such as
dryness, tightness, irritation and ingrown hairs that clog pores. Men’s skin is
also irrigated by numerous blood vessels, which, in response to changes in
temperature, may break and cause redness in the face, especially the cheeks.
The immune system of women’s skin, which protects against
invading germs, tends to “go to war” more easily than that of men. Studies
indicate that female skin, especially in older women, is nine times more likely
to develop autoimmune diseases, in which the defence system rebels against
itself because it does not recognize cells as the body’s own.
Male skin is more acidic.
Men, with their more acidic skin pH, are more likely to
suffer bacterial infections and also to develop several types of cancer,
including melanoma. The demands of some professions in which work is mostly
outdoors and a lack of protection of the skin from ultraviolet radiation are
the main causes of melanoma, diagnosed in twice as many men as women, according
to expert calculations. Women’s skin suffers more from the effects of emotional
stress, often resulting in skin disorders such as eczema or psoriasis.
Sensitivity to touch and pain
Men and women react differently to touch. Women have more
responsive tactile sensations than men. The surface of male skin is believed to
contain fewer nerve fibres than that of women. These fibers are responsible for
the sensations that arrive to the brain so that we can feel pleasure and pain
and distinguish cold from heat. Some studies indicate that women are more
sensitive to small temperature changes in the skin and feel pain more, while
men are less sensitive to touch and to anything that may cause pain in the
skin, such as extreme temperatures.
Men are generally less sensitive to touch probably because
their brain processes the stimuli coming from their skin with less finesse and
precision. Ageing also causes skin sensitivity to decrease significantly.
Is it this lesser sensitivity which makes men’s skin often
look worse than women’s skin? Indeed, it seems that men’s skin, equipped with a
less effective protective system is more exposed to external damage
by cuts and scratches; this is because the nervous system is slower and less
effective in responding to harmful and irritating stimuli that can hurt the skin.
Sample of our Men's Facials available at Serenity Day Spa 01200255
Eminence Organic Men’s Skin Facial*
Skin is infused with a cocktail of organic fruit pulp and herbs to clean hydrate and tone the skin. Addresses your skins’ needs.
*All facials and body treatments are suitable to our male clients.
60 min - €100
Hot Towel Facial
This relaxing hot towel skin treatment is customised to your skins needs and will include a combination of professional cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, massage and mask will leave your skin feeling renewed.
45 min - €65
The Groom Package
Hot Towel Facial, Back Massage, Gentleman’s Manicure and Pedicure.
2 hrs 30 min - €150
Sources: Journal of Dermatological Sciences
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