A skin care guide for men

Skin care treatments for men have become an increasingly common topic of conversation in my dermatology clinic. Until recently, most men’s skin care routines were focused on the basics — keeping skin clean.

But now more and more men want younger, healthier looking skin. They’re also willing to spend a little more time and money to achieve it. To help men get started with an easy skin care routine that helps reach their goals, I suggest the following.

Three-step skin care routine

1. Cleanse

A cleanser doesn’t have to be hard on the skin to work. I tell my patients to stay away from overly drying alcohol-based or acid products. Cleansers I love include the two listed below. They make your skin clean and fresh without being irritating or too drying:

1. Neutrogena’s Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
   
2. Elta MD’s Foaming Facial Cleanser

2. Moisturize and protect

While this is second on the list, it’s actually the most important. Nothing offers more bang for the buck than a good moisturizer with sunscreen used daily. Ultraviolet (UV) rays cause photoaging and sun damage, putting you at risk for wrinkles and sun spots.

Moisturizer doesn’t have to be greasy or difficult to apply. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen that will protect you from UVA and UVB rays. Suggested brands include:

• Elta MD’s UV Daily is a great sunscreen with an SPF of 40.
  
• Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Sunscreen with an SPF of 20 is another personal favorite.
  
• Anthelios Sport by La Roche-Posay is ideal for long days in the sun. It's liquid, nongreasy and has an SPF of 60.

3. Consider a retinol

These creams contain vitamin A and are highly effective at reversing the signs of aging. Use them at night after cleansing and before moisturizing. No other product has been so extensively tested and proven to provide results.

A personal favorite is Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair. If you have dry skin, use it every other night at the start. Build up to nightly use as tolerated.

Procedures

In addition to starting a simple skin care routine, you may want to add a procedure or two to help jump start results. Below are a few of the most popular procedures for men.

Correct dark spots

Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses wavelengths of light to improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin and freckles. It can also reduce the redness caused by broken blood vessels and rosacea. IPL needs no downtime and can help rejuvenate the skin on many areas of the body.

Relax that frown

If you want to reduce the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet or forehead lines, Botox might be for you. It relaxes facial muscles and keeps them from wrinkling. The result is a refreshed, relaxed look with little downtime and discomfort.

Botox is one of the fastest-growing skin procedures for men. It’s also one of the fastest ways to treat the appearance of unwanted fine lines.

Remove a double chin

Today you don’t need surgery to remove an extra chin or two. Kybella is made of deoxycholic acid, a natural product of the body that breaks down fat. When injected into the chin, it melts away fat cells permanently. It’s also FDA-approved.

Our dermatology department offers a wide range of products and procedures to reduce the signs of aging and improve the skin’s look and feel. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-206-860-4691. We look forward to helping you.

By Sarah Sung, MD

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.