Bridging the Gap: Why Men Take Less Care of Their Skin and How to Change That
Dr. Marc-André Doré
Dr. Marc-André Doré
If you are like most guys, skincare might not be at the top of your mind in your 20s. At this stage of your life, signs of aging such as wrinkles and sunspots are unlikely to make an appearance. However, that doesn't mean you should let your skin just take care of itself. The key to maintaining a youthful appearance over the years is to start a quality skincare routine as early as possible. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Sunscreen isn't just for preventing nasty sunburns at the beach. The sun's ultraviolet rays are extremely strong. If you aren't protected from UV rays with sunscreen, your skin will inevitably suffer damage, eventually causing wrinkles, sun spots, and other signs of aging. But the effects of sun damage are even more serious than that. Failing to protect yourself from the sun massively increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 whenever you are out in direct sunlight for a significant period.
The excessive oil production that causes teenagers so many problems with acne doesn't just stop when you turn 20. You are likely to still have issues with oily skin, especially in your early 20s. Using a quality facial cleanser containing salicylic acid and natural ingredients is the secret to keeping your skin clean and acne-free. A good facial cleanser will fight the bacteria that cause acne and minimize the amount of oil on your face, helping your pores to not get clogged.
While oily skin remains a problem for many men in their 20s, that doesn't mean a good moisturizer isn't still needed. In fact, if your skin becomes dry because it isn't treated with moisturizer, it may overcompensate by producing even more oil. Having dry, dull skin looks bad and can feel unpleasant. A moisturizer counteracts this problem and slows skin aging.
An exfoliant is used to remove the layer of dead skin cells from your face. While exfoliants are much more important as you get older, they are still of value in your 20s. Skin cell turnover will start to slow even by your mid-20s. By getting rid of dead skin cells, exfoliants encourage the skin to produce new skin cells. In your 20s, stick with a gentle exfoliant since skin cell turnover is still relatively high.
Eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise is something you should be doing anyway. However, if you need one more reason, following a healthy lifestyle will benefit your skin enormously as well. Like the rest of your body, your skin requires a nutritious diet to be at its best. Foods rich in antioxidants are particularly beneficial, while sugar and processed foods contribute to skin aging. As for exercise, it increases blood flow to the skin, relieves stress (which can contribute to skin problems), and slows aging in general.
You can't stay young forever. While your skin might look fine with little effort on your part right now, that won't always be true. If you want to look attractive and youthful as you get older, starting to take care of your skin now is crucial. Your future self will be glad if you do. Besides, good skincare isn't just about your appearance. Your skin is actually the largest organ in your body. Healthy skin is key to your overall health and wellbeing -- just another reason to start caring for your skin while you are still in your 20s.
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Dr. Marc-André Doré
Dr. Marc-André Doré
Dr Marc-André Doré