Myths about skin care and the difference between men and women

Every start of a new year, unsurprisingly, many of us set new goals for ourselves in the area of maintaining health, skin care and quality of life. Towards the beginning of the new civil year, here are some of the most common myths about skin care – which should and better be debunked.

Myth – blackheads are just dirt trapped in the pores. Not true. Stimulation of sebaceous glands causes changes such as clogging of pores and increased production of fatty acids that encourage the development of inflammation. All of these eventually cause blackheads and pimples. One of the main causes of blackheads and acne is an increase in the insulin level. When the level of sugar and insulin in our blood increases, whether due to poor nutrition or due to stress, this causes a significant increase in the level of substances that encourage the development of inflammation in our body, at the cellular level, and dramatically increase the development of inflammatory phenomena, such as blackheads and acne.

Myth – men tend to develop acne more than women. Not true. More and more women are reporting the development of pimples in their post-puberty years. Among the causes of acne are cortisol and other steroids produced by the kidney. These can act as androgens and irritate the sebaceous (fat) glands in the skin, causing acne to appear. The difference between men and women is that high levels of androgens do not affect men in the same way they effect women. While stress and a tendency to inflammation under the influence of cortisol can affect men, women also suffer from the connection between high levels of cortisol, sugar and insulin and a tendency to inflammation as well as from the influence of male hormones. Women are more sensitive to the effects of adrenal hormones, because most of the androgens found in the female body are produced by the adrenal glands.

Myth – all sunscreens work in the same way, wrong. There are two main types of sunscreens: Chemical and physical (also known as “natural” sunscreens). In general, chemical sunscreens are less recommended, as they may cause allergic reactions and/or skin irritation. Also, chemical sunscreens may begin to break down in the presence of UV radiation, which will impair their effectiveness – therefore, they must continue to be applied regularly. It is recommended to look for protective preparations based on physical radiation filters, in combination with chemical filters.

Myth – a skin peeling treatment should be done 2-3 times a week. It is not recommended to scrub the skin with a scrub more than once a week. There is no ban against using enzymatic peeling 2-3 times a week, or according to the beautician’s recommendation. It is recommended to conduct a thorough cleansing that removes the accumulated dirt on the surface of the skin, dead skin cells and makeup residues, and reveals skin that feels younger and looks more radiant. It is recommended to spread the cleaning product directly on a small natural sponge. This way a lot of foam is created, and the cleaning does not harm the skin. The foam should be massaged on the damp skin in gentle circular movements, rinse well and dry the face with light pats. Chemical peeling preparations, such as soaps with glycolic acid or salicylic acid, exfoliate the skin gently without causing it any damage, and can be used on a daily basis.

Myth – My skin is dry because I haven’t been drinking. In fact, dry skin is a sign of chronic subclinical (invisible) inflammation. The optimal solution is an anti-inflammatory tri-stage program: Anti-inflammatory nutrition, anti-inflammatory food supplements with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory external preparations with antioxidants. It is also important to make sure to eat enough healthy fats, such as fish oil, virgin olive oil or unsaturated vegetable oils. While external preparations can work miracles, it is extremely important to remember the nutritional component that can on the one hand create the problem, while on the other hand contributes almost immediately to its solution.

Tips for preventing dry skin

• Take a shower with warm, not hot water and don’t spend too much time in the shower or bath
• Avoid drinking coffee, because of its diuretic effect that contributes to increased fluid loss from the body.
• Avoid alcohol, which increases the dehydration process
• Avoid foods high in sugar and starch that can cause an inflammatory reaction in the body and worsen many skin problems, starting from wrinkles and dry skin and down to acne, eczema, and rosacea.
• Avoid aggressive cleaning and peeling products. Use a gentle cleanser based on antioxidants. Apply it gently with a sponge and wash it off the skin with warm water.
• Avoid smoking – about 80 carcinogens are released and act on the skin every time you light a cigarette .

Tips for treating dry skin

• After a shower, when the skin is still soft, apply a moisturizer rich in antioxidants.
• Make sure to drink enough.
• Increase your intake of healthy fats containing omega 3. These are found, inter alia, in salmon, sardines, or anchovies. For flexible and soft skin in all its layers, it is recommended to consume capsules with fish oil.
• Use external antioxidants to treat inflammation, the real cause of dry skin.
• Follow an anti-inflammatory diet based on high-quality proteins, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats.

The genetic differences between men and women should also be regarded with respect to skin care:

Here are some tips and explanations on the fine line between men and women in maintaining a youthful appearance.

Biological factors are the ‘real culprits’ in the differences between men and women. The difference begins already in the deep layers of the skin, in the subcutaneous fat layer and the dermis. In men, the skin is thicker because of the male hormone, testosterone. In women, the thin skin also tends to be drier due to a smaller number of sebaceous glands and a higher evaporation of natural moisture through the thin skin. Unfortunately, as we age the skin differences between men and women become more noticeable. During middle age, men lose testosterone and women lose estrogen, making the skin thinner and more vulnerable in both sexes. However, in women, the decrease in hormonal activity has a greater effect on the appearance of the skin – the skin becomes thinner and more fragile, it loses its elasticity at a faster rate, age spots appear darker, and an overgrowth phenomenon begins due to the loss of female hormones. During this period, the effectiveness of the natural skin barrier against the irritation of allergens and bacteria is also impaired, which causes the phenomenon of persistent redness and discomfort in the skin. In many cases, skin inflammation (dermatitis) also develops, preventing the skin from functioning properly and accelerates the aging process. Advice for women: Nourishing the skin with moisture from a young age will prevent some of the damage caused with age. When the moisture level in the skin is normal, fewer wrinkles are formed, which with age turn into deep wrinkles. Women must also make sure to completely remove make-up materials that clog the pores of the skin and prevent effective absorption of the care products. Advice for men: Men who tend to have excessively oily skin should incorporate into their daily routine the use of care products containing alpha-hydroxy acids and salicylic acids to prevent the accumulation of fat in the pores. They too, like women and especially after shaving, need to nourish the skin with moisture regularly.

Craving for sweets – Studies show that women tend to prefer carbohydrates over proteins because of the unique nature of the chemical activity in the brain. In women, the natural levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) are lower than in men. During the menstrual period the serotonin level is even lower. When the level drops below the “comfort range” a ‘desire for sweets’ appears and leads to increased consumption of sugars and carbohydrates. A high level of sugars creates inflammatory conditions that lead to inflammatory outbreaks and even pimples. Increasing the daily consumption of grains and proteins should moderate the craving for sweets. Advice: A normal woman is recommended to consume 60-80 grams of protein per day. Men are recommended to consume 80-90 grams of protein per day.

Daily shaving – Countless praises are showered on the daily act of shaving, which performs a kind of skin exfoliation. Along with the daily removal of dead cells, the act of shaving may create additional phenomena of irritation, redness and increased dryness. Advice: Preparing the skin before shaving by using scrub soap, a sharp and clean knife, and moisturizing the skin immediately after shaving will help reduce the friction on the skin’s surface, reduce internal growth and prevent a significant part of the irritations.

Hormones and acne It has been proven that stress encourages the appearance of acne among adults. Both sexes, men and women, suffer equally from stress, but the effect on the skin is higher in women because of the combination with fluctuations in the level of hormones. When the levels of sugar and insulin in our blood rise, a significant increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory substances occurs at the cellular level. This causes a dramatic worsening of inflammatory diseases, such as acne. Cortisol and other steroids produced by the adrenal gland can act as androgens and irritate the sebaceous (fat) glands in the skin, causing acne breakouts. Although men also suffer from stress, pro-inflammatory activity and cortisol release, women suffer from both cortisol release and an imbalance in sugar and insulin levels, as well as the effect of male hormones. High levels of androgens do not affect men the same way they affect women. Women are more sensitive to the effect of adrenal hormones, because in women most androgens are synthesized in the adrenal gland. The stimulation of the sebaceous glands causes changes in the skin, such as the pore clogging and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory fatty acids. The pro-inflammatory fatty acids cause the release of chemical transmitters called cytokines, and all of this fuels the fire of inflammation. Men with higher levels of androgens do not suffer from the negative effects of androgens to the same extent as women.

Tips for preventing hormonal acne breakouts

• Make sure you get enough sleep
• Try to reduce the stress in your life
• Don’t drink coffee. Coffee contains many organic acids that affect our blood sugar and cortisol levels. The harms of coffee are not specifically related to caffeine, since if you drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee at 8 o’clock in the morning, and at 10 o’clock in the evening, you will still have a significant level of cortisol in your blood – just like after drinking a cup of regular coffee
• Make time for meditation, sports activity or a walk in nature. It has been shown that people who do this have significantly lower blood cortisol levels. Among the long-term benefits, we can mention maintaining clean skin, a healthy immune system, and preventing age-related diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease.
• Consider learning some simple yoga exercises. Drink green tea instead of coffee
• Make sure your menu contains enough essential fatty acids, as essential fatty acids may lower cortisol levels in the blood
• Use oils containing essential fatty acids, such as borage oil and evening primrose oil, which are rich in linoleic acid. In people who suffer from acne, the levels of linoleic acid in the skin Sebaceous gland are lower, as they decrease as the acne spreads.