By now, there’s no doubt that the beauty and aesthetics market is making strides with male consumers. You may have seen an increasing interest at your own practice or noticed the more androgynous/male-centric skincare lines at your local department stores.
Tapping into this growing demographic is a sure-fire way to increase your patient pool. Knowing the key differences in the skin structure and aging patterns between the sexes will give you more confidence to promote your treatments and practice. Knowing the differences between hair growth patterns will help you create more effective hair removal treatment plans. So here we go!
- Collagen: Collagen fibers in the skin are a key component of taut and youthful looking skin. Studies find that males have 20% more collagen fibers in their skin than females, leading to thicker and firmer skin with less fine lines and wrinkles.
The rate of collagen production also slows more consistently and gradually for men, starting around the age of 20. Women, however, see a stark difference right after menopause. Sex hormones play a key role in the structure and appearance of the skin.
Females see a drastic decrease in estrogen and other key sex hormones with the onset of menopause. This leads to decreased and slower collagen production, reduced water retention and other key changes associated with aging skin. Males, however, experience a rapid onset of deep wrinkles and sagging skin in their much later years.
- Oiliness and pH Levels: Due to the higher rates of testosterone in males, their skin is generally oilier than that of females. The increased sebum production also comes with a greater number of pores, larger in size. As such, you may see a great interest in your acne treatments from male clients.
Did you know? The rate of sebum production is twice higher in males than females. This results in oilier skin with lower pH levels.
The lower pH levels in male skin also make them more prone to impurities and acne. An optimal pH level in the skin supports a major function of keeping environmental impurities from crossing the skin’s barrier. It becomes key to emphasize the need for greater hygiene practices, especially when dealing with acne.
- Hair Density and Growth Patterns: This is perhaps the most obvious difference. Due to greater testosterone levels, males have more tough terminal hair type than women. Terminal hair refers to the darker and coarser hair. These hair strands are also more difficult to shave, causing up to 40% of men to experience side-effects on the skin from shaving.
Males are also more likely to get infectious skin diseases. Imagine– males can have up to 25,000 visible beard hairs alone. Shaving makes the skin more prone to cuts, folliculitis, and other types of irritation. All these factors require a nuanced approach to consultation and treatment.
Understand the diverse needs of your patient base to design top solutions for them! You can find more information in your LaserSmart Manual.