58% Of Men Are Ignoring This Essential Daily Habit And Experts Say They Could Face Consequences As They Age

“Men are generally low-maintenance when it comes to skin care regimens,” said Dr. Purvisha Patel, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon. “Culturally, they may have been told that skin care and beauty is something girls do to be attractive; however, this is changing.”

In a recent YouGov poll, only around 40% of American men said they have a consistent skin care routine, and 58% of men said they rarely or never use moisturizer — but a number of them were concerned about dry skin and wrinkles.

Those findings aren’t surprising to Dr. Aubrey Chad Hartmann, a dermatologist for U.S. Dermatology Partners in Cedar Park, Texas. “Most men do not moisturize adequately,” he told HuffPost.

But doing so is crucial, especially as you age, he said. If you’re a man who typically doesn’t moisturize, read on to see why doctors believe you should change that.

Men usually aren’t accustomed to applying products to their skin, Hartmann said. They also may not like the heavy or sticky feeling that some products can have.

Though women tend to develop a multistep skin care routine starting at a young age and discuss skin care with their mothers or friends, Hartmann said it’s traditionally been rare for men or boys to have these conversations.

Another issue is that many people don’t associate wrinkles with dryness or the need to moisturize, said Dr. Kenneth Mark, a cosmetic dermatologist. These days, he said treating wrinkles is more commonly linked to dermal fillers or Botox.

The skin is your body’s largest organ, and it acts as a barrier. When it’s healthy, the skin prevents bacteria, allergens, irritants and other environmental elements from entering the body, and it keeps water and moisture inside, Hartmann said. 

“You can think of the skin as a brick wall,” he explained. “The cells are the bricks, and the mortar is made up of different substances the body produces to fill the gaps and maintain the barrier.”

People with dry skin may lack some of these compounds, Hartmann said, which can give your skin a dry, rough, wrinkly appearance that might be itchy, irritated, inflamed and more prone to injury.

“Using a moisturizer can help by acting as a temporary barrier and allowing the skin to repair itself,” he explained.

In the YouGov poll, 35% of men said they were concerned about dry skin, while 18% said they were concerned about wrinkles and 19% about sun damage.

Moisturizing is crucial as you age, Mark said, since your skin naturally loses moisture and collagen, which might increase redness, fine lines, wrinkles and dryness. But these are all things that skin hydration can improve. 

Choosing the most effective moisturizer often depends on your skin type. The AAD outlines these categories:

Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use

Normal skin is clear and not sensitive

Dry skin is flaky, itchy or rough

Oily skin is shiny and greasy

Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others

Once you know your skin type, look for moisturizers labeled “for dry skin” or “for oily skin.”

You should also look for products labeled “noncomedogenic,” meaning they are formulated to not clog pores or cause acne. Moisturizers containing antioxidants, like vitamins C and E or niacinamides, can minimize sun damage and inflammation, improve discoloration and lighten dark spots, Hartmann said. 

Along with antioxidants, he suggested choosing products with ingredients that preserve and restore moisture, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, ceramides or coconut oil.

You should apply moisturizer to your face and body daily, while also using sunscreen on exposed areas, Hartmann said. The best time to moisturize is right after showering, cleansing your face or shaving, when your skin is damp. This helps trap water in the skin.

However, you may not need to moisturize your entire body every day, especially if you have oily skin, Hartmann said. For instance, your skin might need less moisture in the summer, but it may need more in winter when the air tends to be drier.

“I normally advise my patients with seasonal dry skin to use a daily moisturizer when they are using the heater in their homes,” Hartmann said.

If you’re not regularly moisturizing your skin, get into the habit of doing so, Patel emphasized. This can help prevent dry skin, irritation and breakouts, while minimizing signs of aging.