The skin can be a difficult organ to manage. People of all ages and genders deal with issues like acne, stretch marks, or any number of skin disorders.
However, there are some skin problems that tend to be more common in men. Here are five of the most common skin problems that men face and how to deal with them.
Razor Burn
By far the most common skin problem for men is razor burn. Whether you like to stay clean shaven all the time or just keep certain parts shaved regularly, you’ve probably dealt with razor burn at some point in your life.
It happens when the blades of your razor drag across your skin rather than smoothly running over it to cut through the hairs.
This can cause your skin to be irritated and inflamed, so it looks red and feels itchy. Here are the best ways to prevent razor burn:
- Wash your face or take a shower first to open your pores and soften your hair.
- Use shaving cream to lubricate your skin so the razor glides over your skin smoothly.
- Apply aftershave to clean and soothe the skin afterward.
- Clean or replace the blades in your razor so it doesn’t pull at or infect your skin.
If you still wind up with razor burn, even to a small extent, you can treat it by getting a good moisturizing lotion with ingredients like aloe vera. It helps clean your skin of any bacteria, soothe the redness and itchiness, and re-hydrate the skin.
Athlete’s Foot
Any man who is very active to the point that they sweat a lot, and/or a man who walks barefoot in public showers, locker rooms, or gyms, is more likely to be prone to athlete’s foot.
It happens when a fungus grows between your toes and it can spread over your toes and the sides of your feet.
The same fungus is also what causes jock itch, the rash that occurs around your groin area, which is also more common in men that exercise and sweat a lot.
The solution for both athlete’s foot and jock itch is to make sure you wash your feet and groin with soap every time following your activity, whatever it is.
If you shower in a public shower, make sure you wear sandals, and wash your shower and bathtub frequently. Change your socks and your underwear every day, and wear socks and underwear that can breathe while you exercise.
If you still wind up with the infection, you can get an anti-fungal cream at a pharmacy over the counter. Use it twice a day on the affected area and keep using it until all of the symptoms are completely clear for a few days.
Raccoon Eyes
When the skin under or around your eyes starts to look hollow, puffy, and darkened, that is known as ‘raccoon eyes’.
There are a number of reasons or potential causes for it, such as genetics, stress, lack of sleep, aging, dehydration, or too much exposure to the sun. There are a few ways you can treat these dark circles around your eyes:
- Make sure you get enough sleep every night.
- Start eating more fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and other nutrients.
- Drink more water to stay hydrated.
- Use sunscreen around your eyes whenever you go outside in the sun.
- Apply medical grade skin products that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
These treatments can be done mostly through a lifestyle change to combat the more common environmental causes of raccoon eyes. However, if the cause is more genetic, you can seek out treatments at a skincare specialist clinic.
One of the treatments are fillers, which use a gel-like substance made from naturally occurring acids that are injected under your skin to restore skin volume and health. Another is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy, or PRP for short — it takes your own plasma and injects it into your skin to rejuvenate your skin by forcing it to create new and healthy skin cells.
Beard Dandruff
For any man who has a beard, you might have dealt with the skin under your facial hair being dry, itchy or flaking — that’s right, you can get beard dandruff. While the causes for beard dandruff are generally the same as regular dandruff, there is a slight difference between what the skin and hair is like on your head and on your face.
- Use a facial scrub on the beard area to remove dead skin and flakes.
- Keep the skin hydrated by washing your face regularly.
- Use a special beard conditioner when you wash and massage it into the skin.
- Use a beard oil that helps keep the skin under your facial hair moisturized.
When you shop for products that can help with beard dandruff, make sure you take a look at the ingredients and pick ones that are known to help soothe and hydrate dry skin.
You can use them temporarily as any dandruff appears until the problem goes away, but you can also make it a regular routine to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Psoriasis
If you frequently have patches of dry, itchy skin that also has small bumps over the area to create a scaly look, there’s a chance you have psoriasis.
It is an autoimmune disorder that affects the skin, and is one of the more common skin disorders in men. There is no known cure for psoriasis, and it is a chronic condition that can flare up now and then.
There are common triggers for flare-ups, including stress, alcohol, smoking, infections, weather conditions, food allergies, viruses and reactions to medication.
If you have a flare-up, you can use topical treatments, light therapy, or prescription drugs. It’s worth having a consultation with a dermatologist about what treatments or prescriptions can best help you depending on the severity of the flare up
About the Author:
Dr. Christopher Pavlou is medical doctor and board certified in aesthetic medicine. He is the owner and founder of Skin Technique, a medical aesthetic clinic in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
He has brought his philosophy of Honour Your Beauty to Skin Technique by offering a variety of specialized services including dermal fillers, anti wrinkle treatments, lasers and coolsculpting.
When he isn’t performing naturally rejuvenating treatments and procedures, he loves to share his expertise and knowledge on aesthetic artistry with others who are looking to educate themselves in the evolving field of aesthetic medicine.
Ken Weiss is a health blogger who is passionate about natural and holistic cures for men’s health issues. He is the founder of menshealthcures.com
