Men Skincare: Fundamental Guides

If you are the man that serious about skincare, then you are not alone. It wasn't so long ago that it was absurd to think of men focusing any attention at all on their skin care. Of course, they made sure to keep their faces washed and once in a while they would shave without complaining, but it was unusual to find a man who was worried about aging and wrinkles. Recently, though, more and more men are starting to admit that they too care about what their skin looks like. In fact, they care about it just as much as women do. They just don't seem to have as many products to choose from.

One of the major reasons that men are starting to take better care of their skin is that men are becoming more worried about their health. Healthier skin usually leads to a healthier lifestyle. Men and Women alike want to live longer and lead healthier lives. Having healthy skin is the first step in this direction.

Recent studies have shown that a man's skin is typically more sensitive than a woman's skin. This is not so surprising considering what women will put their skin through to keep it looking good. Women also lack that "protective" layer of facial hair, so their skin has to be a little bit tougher to stand up to environmental elements. Men's facial hair protects them from sun and can help keep the skin from drying out.

One of the reasons that a man's skin is typically more sensitive than a woman's skin is that, stereotypically speaking, they tend to spend more time outdoors. They also shave their faces. Shaving can cause the facial skin to become irritated, and if you read the ingredients on men's shave gel you will see that it contains moisturizers that have been added specifically to help ease the skin irritation that comes with shaving. This is also why razors now have four and five blades. The more blades a razor has, the easier it is on the skin.

Some think that this heightened sensitivity of men's skin is what causes them to have more wrinkles and to show the signs of aging sooner than women do. One has to wonder how long it will be before there are men's lines of anti-aging wrinkle creams on the market.

Tags: Men skincare, Skin care tips, Men Fashion

Acne and you!

Acne can be a painful and embarrassing condition for a person to be afflicted with. Often, a person who has acne cannot control its occurrence. But, by following a few acne skin care practices, acne can be controlled and even gotten rid of.

Acne is an inflammatory skin disease that affects millions of individuals. The most universal type of acne is known as “common acne”. Acne is caused when too many oils are secreted from the glands and those oils mix with dead skin cells, blocking the hair follicles. More oil secretions increase underneath the already blocked follicles (or pores), and skin bacteria begin to grow rapidly. This leads to red and irritated skin that most often appears as bumps on the skin’s surface. Any skin surface of the body is susceptible to acne, but it most commonly (and heavily) appears on the face, chest, back, and upper arm region.

Acne commonly begins to occur during puberty due to an irregular response by the body to regular levels of testosterone, a male hormone. Often, acne begins to subside or disappear altogether by the mid 20’s. However, some individuals do suffer with it throughout adulthood. And some adults do not even see the onset of acne until well into the adult years. This is known as adult onset acne.

Acne can leave scarring on the skin, as well as have a scarring effect on a person’s self-esteem, and even lead to depression. Because society can be so unforgiving about appearances, there are various medically prescribed treatments available, as well as acne skin care regimens that can be utilized in order to minimize the symptoms of acne.

Different things cause acne for different sufferers. A few of the recognized causes of acne include heredity, hormonal activity (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy), stress, certain medications, and skin irritation. All of these things have the potential to cause acne, as well as exacerbate it. There are a few myths regarding acne. For instance we’ve all heard of a mom telling her child not to eat too many greasy foods like French fries, or eat too many sweets, because it will give him or her pimples. That is simply an old wives’ tale. Diet does not cause acne, and does not affect it. Also, poor hygiene has no bearing on the occurrence of acne. Acne is not caused by dirt, and having poor hygiene habits will not aggravate the condition.

There are many treatments for acne available, both through prescription, and over the counter. There are antibiotics in the form of pills, as well as topical creams that are designed to treat the condition. Exfoliation can be used as a treatment to remove and prevent the build up of dead skin cells. And light therapy is being used more and more to treat acne. It is important to consult a dermatologist in order to determine the best course of treatment and learn the best regimen of acne skin care to carry out.

Dealing with the occurrence of acne requires knowing how to properly care for the skin. Acne skin care can help keep the problem from getting worse, and even alleviate it. It is important to gently wash the skin at least twice a day with a gentle skin cleanser. Do not scrub with a rough pad or use a rough soap. This will make the acne problem worse. And always completely rinse the skin after cleansing.

As part of an acne skin care routine, it is important to remember not to touch the afflicted skin areas. Do not try to squeeze acne. An infection could occur, compounding the problem, and scarring could result. Also, avoid the sun when possible. Wear protective clothing to avoid tanning or burning. The skin will age faster, and any fading effect of the acne is temporary and will become visible again when the burn or tan fades.