Nowadays men are just as worried about their looks as women and so they pay close attention to the quality of their skin. For men, oily skin-related problems predominate, combination skin being less common. This can be explained firstly by biology, but lifestyle also has a certain influence. Where do these unwanted shiny patches come from and how can they best be controlled?
Owing to the preponderance of male hormones, particularly testosterone, men's skin is thicker and firmer than women's. Structurally speaking, men have more sebaceous glands and more pores, this being to suit the rate of sebum production, which is twice as high as in women. So it's hardly surprising that they are so concerned about oily skin. What's more, the pores are generally much more visible on a man's skin, even if they are disguised by their facial hair.
The way oily skin changes with time is also different for men. For men, the fall in sebum production takes place slowly and gradually, starting at 35-40 years of age. They do not experience the sudden, drastic drop that women do when they reach the menopause.
Lifestyle has a significant impact on sebum production, which can easily begin to race and make symptoms worse.
A sugar-rich diet promotes sebum production. If men tend to suffer more from oily skin, it could also be because they take less notice of their carbohydrate consumption than women do. Dairy produce is another possible cause. The good news for cheese lovers is that it appears to be the exception to the rule and has no effect!
Heat also indirectly stimulates sebum production by increasing skin temperature, often resulting in peak sebum production levels in summer and during heatwaves. On the other hand, in winter the “dry skin” tendency takes over and the skin requires more nourishment. As soon as the skin begins to feel tight, you must respond by switching to richer products.
Exercise has a dynamic effect on exchanges occurring in the skin, thanks to sweat helping to eliminate any toxins or excess sebum. On the other hand, watch out for lactoserum-based (or milk-protein based) food supplements, as they can result in hypersebborhoea.
All too often, men suffering from oily skin treat their skin even more badly in an attempt to dry out the shiny areas no matter what. On the contrary, you have to respect oily skin and treat it gently. Daily hygiene is very important to control sebum twice a day, morning and evening.
No products that contain alcohol, not too many over-zealous face scrubs and, above all, make sure the skin is properly hydrated. Yes, oily skin needs water! Not using a moisturiser because your skin is too shiny is a mistake. Whatever product you use, make sure the formulation contains what is required to meet the skin’s needs without making the shiny skin problem worse - ideally, it should have a mattifying effect.
Last but not least, gentle exfoliation two or three times a week will lessen the risk of blemishes appearing, something that should never be neglected if you have oily skin.
