When men are alone, they close the door of the bathroom, open the cupboard, and out comes...the moisturizer.
When it comes to skin care, the gender lines are blurring. What's male? What's female? What is clear is that today's man wants healthy, beautiful skin--even if he's a little embarrassed by all the products he must use. Although he's willing to slather on the moisturizer and roam the skin care aisles of the local pharmacy, he doesn't want to spend a lot of time doing either.
That's the word from dermatologist Christopher B. Harmon, M.D. at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, who told a meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology there is a definite shift occurring with more men than ever opting to care for their skin.
Knowing that men don't want to spend a lot of time doing this, Harmon offers three basic skin care steps that most men can easily follow. These are not complicated or time-consuming routines. "The key to skin care for men is to create a simple, daily program that is high on results and low on maintenance," Harmon explained in a news release.
Step 1: Select an Appropriate Cleanser Wash your skin once a day with a cleanser designed for your specific skin type. If you have sensitive skin: Use a mild, hypoallergenic cleanser that is fragrance-free. If you have oily skin: Use plain soap and water. If you have dry skin: Avoid astringents and products that contain alcohol.
Step 2: Moisturize Once your skin is clean, you need to hydrate it with a moisturizer. Since this helps maintain the balance between oiliness and dryness, it's vital for keeping skin healthy. Choose a moisturizer that also offers sun protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays, as well as antioxidants to guard against free radicals in the environment that can age the skin. An all-in-one product simplifies this step for men. Be sure to choose a moisturizer designed for your skin type.
Step 3: Apply a Topical Retinoid A topical retinoid should be applied at bedtime to decrease acne and oiliness, reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, and help prevent the signs of aging. The daily use of a topical retinoid has another advantage: It may protect against future skin cancers by promoting cell turnover and eliminating pre-cancerous, sun-damaged cells, says Harmon. Topical retinoids can be purchased over the counter or by prescription.
