Skin care & sun protection for Men

22nd October 2009

60,000 men were diagnosed with melanoma in 2007.  This emphasises the need for using adequate sun protection but also highlights the huge difference between men and women's skin.
Although some of this increased damage is due to lifestyle choices and the fact that men are often less stringent when applying sunscreen, there is also an underlying difference in the skins structure which can leave men more susceptible to sun damage.

Men's skin cells tend to carry fewer anti-oxidants than women's, and these are essential in helping the skin deal with these UV rays. As their skin can't oxidise this radiation as effectively as women's, they are more prone to suffering sun damage and melanoma.

On a superficial level, testosterone means men's skin is thicker, hairier and darker than women's, and produces a lot more oil. It also has a thicker dermis, and so is more resistant to fine lines and wrinkles than women's skin.