Handsome happy young Caucasian man applying face cream after a morning shave.
Men’s space in the skincare industry is growing, and why shouldn’t it be? After all, men have skin, so skincare shouldn’t be focused on women. More men than ever are taking an interest in skincare but are not really sure what they need. Men treat their skin differently than women, and need different kinds of care to support that. Here, Arlington Dermatology offers a skincare routine for men just learning to care for their skin.
Establishing a Routine
Here’s the good news: skin care doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, as long as you’re intentional and consistent and use high quality skincare products, caring for your skin can come down to four basic steps. Once you’ve gotten into the routine of those four, you can dig deeper and add more advanced products, but for now, let’s keep it simple.
- Cleanse. As soon as you wake up in the morning, wash your face to get rid of any oil buildup and bacterial accumulation from your pillowcases. Before bed, wash away the pollutants, sweat, and general accumulation of dirt from the day. The cleanser you choose depends on your skin type, sensitivities, and propensity for acne breakouts. You can either clean your face at the sink or wash it in the shower, but if you do choose the shower, wash your face last, in case conditioner or hair product runs down onto your face during the shower.
- Moisturize. Each time you wash your face, moisturize, to trap moisture in your skin and shield it from pollutants that can age it. Consider using a morning moisturizer with SPF 30+, and at night, you should use a denser, more nourishing moisturizer with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
- Exfoliate. Twice a week, exfoliate your skin to remove any dead skin cells that have built up on the surface of your skin. While skin cells turn over every four weeks or so, they don’t always slough off of the skin, and this can form rough patches or lead to acne. Exfoliating leaves you with a radiant, more youthful complexion and can even help alleviate dark spots caused by sun damage. Exfoliation can be physical or chemical, and both are used after cleansing. Be careful not to over-exfoliate, because it can damage healthy skin cells.
- Protect. Protecting your skin from the sun can prevent damage and help keep it looking fresh and youthful. Even if your moisturizer contains sun protection, you can still use sunscreen, layering on the protection.
Skincare Extras
It’s as easy at that. Now, if you want to do more, you certainly can. There are plenty of serums and spot treatments out there that can be applied between cleansing and moisturizing. Additionally, adding a mask once a week can be a good way to give your skin a little extra attention. As a parting gift, we’d like to give you a few bonus tips for keeping your skin looking its best.
- Hydrate. Drinking plenty of water is good for your entire body, and it does wonderful things for your skin. It won’t necessarily prevent acne, but keeping your skin hydrated can prevent dehydration, reducing the risk of irritation, inflammation, and uneven skin tone. How do you know if you are drinking enough water? Choose water as your primary drink, drink it with meals, and drink it whenever you feel thirsty.
- Change your linens. As you sleep, oils, skin debris, dirt, and dust accumulate on your bed linens. As you sleep on these undesirable elements, your skin can become irritated and break out, which takes away from all the hard work you’ve put into crafting your skincare routine. The best way to avoid this is to change your pillow cases every three to four days, and wash your linens weekly.
- Check yourself. Regularly examine your skin, looking for warning signs of skin cancer like suspicious new spots or moles that itch, bleed, or change color. Annually, make an appointment to have your skin examined by a dermatologist. Be especially cautious as you get older; men over 50 are at higher risk of melanoma than the general population.
Let Arlington Dermatology Care for Your Skin
When you need expert advice and help caring for your skin and choosing skincare products, contact Arlington Dermatology. For over 40 years, our Board-Certified dermatologists have been serving patients, making the health and welfare of our patients our top priority. We offer innovative methods of treatment, using state of the art medical equipment, in our conveniently located, patient-friendly facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Schedule an appointment through our website or call 847-392-5440.