The Modern Man: Age Management Treatments & Techniques to Know

Aging is a blessing. With age comes wisdom, experience, and oftentimes, stories of those youthful days that are told to whoever is willing to listen. Unfortunately, with this also comes physical aging. For many men, looking in the mirror is confronting the physical reality of their age. As men mature, they may start to notice their face and skin showing signs of aging. Antiaging solutions are amongst the most sought-after treatments for both men and women and before knowing how to care for aging skin, one must first understand why skin ages in the first place.

WHY SKIN AGES

The two components of skin that impact aging are collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein which aids the body’s connective tissue, hair, skin, and nails. It gives skin its firmness. Elastin is what keeps the skin tight and allows it to snap back if stretched. During youth, both collagen and elastin are in abundance which is why babies can smile without a laugh line appearing.When it comes to collagen, a bonus for men is that they have a higher collagen density than women. Their skin is structurally thicker and tougher.

However, as men age, the collagen and elastin begin to break down due to numerous reasons:

• toxin and pressure
• sun damage
• free radicals
• stress

All of these are reasons why a man’s skin ages, and while none of them are entirely avoidable, men can certainly manage these causes to slow the physical aging process down. When it comes to skin’s collagen and elastin, the most common cause of breakdown is due to overexposure to the sun. Men are not to use sunscreen or reapply as often as they should. Managing the direct exposure to the sun with proper sunscreen and apparel will positively affect the health of their skin. Furthermore, the toxins and pressure that men expose themselves to in their daily lives has a strong impact on aging skin. These toxins include everything from the food they eat to the air they breathe. It is important to remember that one’s skin is merely a reflection of the health of the rest of the body. By maintaining a proper diet, exercising, sleeping well, and managing stress, men can begin proactively caring for their skin and slow the aging process. But what about managing premature aging that is already showing?

HOW TO REVERSE AGING FOR MEN

The good news is that the demand for men’s skin care services has never been higher. Men are starting to pay attention to their skins’ appearances and are looking for ways to treat the health of their skin. The best treatment for men certainly exists in the treatment room. Oftentimes, spas will have a dedicated facial treatment labeled and marketed as an antiaging facial or even more specifically as a men’s facials. These facials should be using antioxidant ingredients that work to increase circulation in the skin, even skin tone, and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. By receiving regular antiaging facial treatments, men can start to reverse those signs of aging. Strictly relying on more advanced treatments without supplemental homecare is equivalent to putting a bandage on the bigger issue. 

While professional treatments are a great way to treat men’s premature aging skin, men need to continue the work outside of the treatment room instead of relying on it. This can be done by prioritizing holistic healthcare as mentioned above, but men should also prioritize the products they are using on their skin. Proper homecare is essential for age management, and it comes down to the basic reasons why men age differently than women in the first place. Typically, men look younger from the eyes down and they have less lines. This is because when men shave daily, they are exfoliating that outer layer of dead skin cell build-up. Exfoliation is critical for age management. However, exfoliation should be gentle and never abrasive. Men are more likely to age quicker around the eyes and forehead due to sun damage, products they use, and not routinely exfoliating as they do with their razor daily. This is when one starts to see deep forehead wrinkles and lines under and around the eyes. Homecare is a great way to combat these signs of aging.

PROPER HOMECARE FOR MEN

When it comes to a skin care routine dedicated to reversing aging, the building block of that regimen starts with a proper cleanser. A water-based, pH balanced cleanser should be used daily to gently exfoliate the entirety of a man’s face. While this may seem like basic knowledge, men are still lacking education for proper skin care and it is the opportunity of the professional to guide them to best practices. Secondly, antiaging face serums and moisturizers have incredible properties, such as bakuchiol, niacin, and peptides can slow the aging process. Lastly, if a man is unlikely to get in the treatment room, at-home masks are a great introduction into a more advanced exfoliation.

While everyone looks forward to living a long life, wrinkles are not needed nor wanted to prove the attained wisdom that comes with age. This simple routine paired with a holistic healthy lifestyle is a great first step to prevent and manage aging skin.

Published on Dermascope.com