Background/purpose: Modern men have changed their beauty and grooming habits, which has resulted in an increasing demand for cosmetics for men. However, very little information is available about the dermatological needs of male skin. Therefore, the aim of this present clinical study was to conduct the first systematic assessment of the skin physiology of men with special attention to lifetime changes.
Methods: A total of 150 healthy male subjects (aged 20-70 years) were selected following strict criteria, including age, sun behavior and smoking habits. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration level, sebum production and pH values were measured with worldwide-acknowledged biophysical measuring methods at the forehead, cheek, neck, volar forearm and dorsum of hand.
Results: TEWL and sebum production vary by localization, but generally not with increasing age, whereas stratum corneum (SC) hydration decreases significantly at the face and neck. The greatest decrease was assessed at the forehead. Skin surface pH significantly increases with aging in the face.
Conclusion: The present study assigns for the first time systematic reference values for standardized biophysical measuring methods and localizations reflecting the skin physiology of men in relation to age. The results show that the physiology of male skin partly changes with aging. While SC hydration and skin surface pH are affected by the subject's age, TEWL and sebum production show only minor variations.
Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.