Why do women need more skincare than men?

Meanwhile, I have to use expensive cosmetics and daily skincare, but my face is still rough-looking, ridden with dark spots and pimples.

Why does women’s skin age quicker than men’s? Doctor, can you explain this and give me some guidance on how to care for my skin efficiently? (Xuan, 30, Hanoi)

Answer:

The reason for better skin in men is attributed to hormones. Men have a high amount of testosterone in their body, allowing the sebaceous gland to seal in more moisture for the skin, and men’s sebum level also doesn’t decrease like women’s.

Moreover, the amount of testosterone in men is either balanced or reduced minimally – so many men only need to carefully clean their face to maintain good, fully moisturized skin without the need for facial cream.

On the other hand, as women become older, some hormones inside the body, such as estradiol and testosterone, decrease – leading to thin and saggy skin. As such, women’s skin ages a lot quicker.

Women also tend to do light makeup, but ignore the cleansing procedure when they’re done. If makeup is not removed entirely, the pores on your skin will be clogged, leading to pimples. Many also have a habit of washing their faces with warm water, which reduces moisture, causing dry skin and skin aging.

To get healthy skin, it is essential to clean your skin, do daily skincare, and remove excess oil to avoid clogged pores. Use makeup remover and cleanse the skin with products that contain sebum-reducing substances such as salicylic acid. Avoid using makeup and products that can clog your pores, which leads to pimples.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle with physical activities, drink lots of water, sleep enough hours, avoid stress, and eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Avoid food that is rich in carbs, fat, sugar, and stimulants (such as alcohol) to reduce the risk of increasing your sebum level.

Dr. Le Minh Chau

Department of Dermatology, HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy