Dry, itchy skin: Nobody wants it. But will lathering up with moisturizer strike a blow to your masculinity? The very question seems a bit out of touch with the current reality. Men's care products have boomed in the past decade as they've become more culturally accepted (although during the recession, sales have tailed off a bit), proving that you don't have to sacrifice your manliness to protect your skin [source: Tschorn]. These days, while men are almost as committed to appearances as their female counterparts, most men still don't want to slather their skin with something that smells like roses. What exactly is "moisturizer"? The name implies something that adds wetness to the skin, but the role of moisturizer is actually to retain moisture. That's why moisturizers contain humectants -- or substances that help to retain moisture -- and occlusives, which help to keep water from evaporating from the skin.
Men should maintain a moisturizing regimen for the same reasons that women do. Skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it's the first line of defense people have against disease and infection. Therefore, keeping your skin healthy is important not only to your personal comfort, but also to your health. Using skin moisturizer not only helps treat dry skin, but it can also offer protection if you have sensitive skin [source: Mayo Clinic]. Although everyone's skin is different, the daily routine of showering and scrubbing your body with soap can remove layers of dry, dead skin -- which is good -- but it can also strip your skin of protective oils [source: Ortiz]. In the winter, or in very arid climates, it can be even worse. To replenish these natural oils, and to protect your skin from potential damage and discomfort, most experts suggest using a combination of hand creams, balms and moisturizing sunscreens to preserve and protect your skin.
Benefits of Maintaining a Moisturizing Regimen
Take a scan through the long aisle of skin-care products in the grocery store, and you'll find various creams, lotions and potions that promise to make you look younger, healthier and wrinkle-free. Many of these claims are of course made by ad agencies, but it isn't all a gimmick. Moisturizers are proven to help treat dry, damaged skin and improve skin texture. Maintaining a good moisturizing regimen will make you more comfortable, and it will also make you look better because, let's face it, nobody looks their best with skin that is dry and flaky. It's good to maintain a healthy skepticism of products that promise to transform your skin and your looks, though. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies moisturizer as a cosmetic, which gives manufacturers more leniency in hyping their products and ensuring that they actually live up to marketing claims [source: Mayo Clinic].
The top reason that people adopt a moisturizing regimen is to help restore moisture to dry skin. While some people naturally have dry skin, for most, it's brought on by showering too much, using the wrong type of soap, or from living in an especially dry climate. People with oily skin use moisturizer, too, although for different reasons. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with oily skin are more likely to suffer from acne, and as a result they often use soaps and other products that strip oils out of skin, leaving it very dry. Even people with normal skin can use moisturizer regularly to maintain balance in their skin [source: Mayo Clinic]. And if you have combination skin, you might have a dry, tight forehead for instance, even if your skin is overall normal or oily. Another reason to use moisturizer is that it can be good for your health. The most serious skin-related health problem that people face today is skin cancer; although moisturizer won't prevent the disease, it can help treat sun damage. Also, there are several different types of moisturizers that contain sunscreen -- an easy way to kill two birds with one stone [source: Ortiz].
Should Men Use Different Moisturizer than Women?
Why should men purchase their own moisturizer when they can just swipe some from their wives or girlfriends? They shouldn't, necessarily. In many cases, men's and women's moisturizers are the same products, repackaged. But men's bodies -- including the skin -- are much different than women's, and a lotion that works for your wife or girlfriend might not be the best fit for you. Also, many women's lotions contain fragrances that smell, well, ladylike. If someone says you have thick skin, they're probably referring to your ability to accept criticism and not take things too personally. But physiologically, men actually have thicker skin than women. In early 2011, Beverly Hills dermatologist Harold Lancer told the Washington Post, "Usually male skin has a thicker epidermis and a thicker dermis." (The epidermis is the outer layer and the dermis is the inner layer of the skin. [source: Tschorn].
On average, men's skin is about 20 to 30 percent thicker than women's, but that isn't the only way that men's skin is different. It also contains more collagen and elastin, which gives the skin more elasticity and helps hold it tighter. In addition, hormones like testosterone affect the skin. Men are also much hairier than women (especially on their faces), and hair glands produce oil, which affects skin composition [source: WebMD]. Because men have thicker skin and bigger, oil-producing pores, their skin requires moisturizer that is formulated specifically for them. (And no, it isn't just the fragrance and the color of the bottle that is different.) In most cases, moisturizers for men have higher concentrations of active ingredients. Education is another difference between men and women when it comes to skin care. Although it has become more accepted in recent years, many men are still less likely to devote much time or energy into skin care treatment. Read on to learn about specific moisturizing regimens for men.
Examples of Men's Moisturizing Regimens
If you want to keep your skin moist, you'll have to create a regimen and stick to it. And while some men might cringe at the sound of "moisturizing regimen," it's really not as bad as it sounds -- and it can be as easy or demanding as you choose. For a cheap, effective moisturizer, many men simply use petroleum jelly or Vaseline for Men Extra Strength Body & Face Lotion, which is a very effective way to keep your lips and body from getting too dry. That's not exactly a regimen, but it is a good starting point [source: Esquire]. Any good moisturizing regimen should begin in the shower. To keep your skin from drying out too much, experts recommend taking short, warm (not hot) showers. While you're in there, make sure to exfoliate the skin, which means sloughing off the outermost layer of dead skin cells and opening up the pores. Proper exfoliation can help revitalize your skin, and if you wash with soap without exfoliating, the soap won't be able to reach the dirt and oil clogging your pores.
Next, you'll want to wash with moisturizing soap. When drying off, it's better to air dry or pat yourself dry with a soft towel than to rub yourself dry. After washing, but before you're completely dry, you'll want to repair damaged skin, restore oils that were lost in the shower and preserve moisture in your skin. For that, you'll need to find the type of moisturizer or cream that's right for you -- applying lotions and heavier creams to trap the moisture in before it has a chance to escape [source: Ortiz].
Article by HowStuffWorks