With all the attention to women’s skin health, it’s easy to forget that men’s skin benefits from the same care and wrinkle prevention. Guys that take care of their skin and actively work on wrinkle reduction, look younger, have increased confidence, self- esteem, and are happier in general. In spite of this evidence most men short change them-selves when it comes to their skin. Research shows that 80% of men just use soap and water as their skin hygiene, and only a small percentage uses UV blocking sun screens.
At OWM Buffalo Spa Downtown, we look at wrinkles as tell-tell signs of aging and manifestation of stress and take into account the entire well-being of the client when we recommend treatment.
Here are some of our recommendations:
The basics:
At its most basic, skin care for guys and ladies is based on the same principles: exfoliation, UV light exposure protection and moisturizing. Guy’s skin is tougher so the scrubs for exfoliation can be a bit more abrasive.
A good moisturizing cream for face and eyes used on daily basis is essential for healthy skin.
Wrinkle reduction and prevention:
Topical products:
With rapid advancements in the science of skin care, there are now many high quality topical skin applications that are effective in maintaining more youthful skin.
High grade medical skin creams with retinol and peptide-based skin creams have been shown to be effective in both wrinkle reduction and prevention. The caveat here is that they need to be applied daily.
Injectables:
Botox injections are an effective way to temporarily eliminate wrinkles. Contrary to a common belief, Botox is definitely not just for women. As the matter of fact, with thicker and denser facial muscles, guys develop deeper wrinkles and benefit from Botox that effectively relaxes these muscles for a 4 to 6-month period, even more than women. Continuous use can prevent formation of deep wrinkles and has even been shown to elevate mood.
Regenerative medical procedures are gaining popularity quickly due to fact that they are derived from the person’s blood and constitute one of the most natural and powerful antiaging treatments available today. These include PRP (platelet rich plasma) and Stem Cell injections. Both can be applied topically with a micro needling tool or through a subdermal injection. These techniques are very effective in restoring youthful skin appearance, reducing wrinkles and stimulating skin collagen formation.
Hormones:
Increased level of testosterone in males is responsible for thicker skin with more collagen and typically more resilience. A reduction in testosterone levels can then lead to thinning and wrinkling of the skin, giving it a more aged, weathered appearance.
Exercise and proper nutrition play a key role in maintenance of normal testosterone levels. In some cases, testosterone needs to be supplemented. This is best done through a bioidentical hormone replacement by a skilled anti-aging specialist.
Stress reduction and sleep hygiene:
Stress activates multiple chemical reactions in our bodies known collectively as a stress response. This response is meant to be activated for short periods of time in order to quickly get us out of trouble. The stress of a modern lifestyle and poor sleeping habits keep this stress response running constantly. This essentially burns out our stress response systems located in the brain, testes and adrenal glands. The burn out ages the skin, reducing thickness and increasing wrinkles. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation, resonant breathing, yoga, and getting at least seven hours of sleep can help turn off the stress response, preventing it’s harmful effects on our skin.
