Différences entre la peau de femme et celle d'un homme.

Female skin, male skin: what are the differences?

There are obvious differences between men and women, whether it's on a genetic, hormonal, or anatomical level. A less striking distinction pertains to the skin. Indeed, whether it's the face or the body, a female epidermis does not have the same characteristics as a male epidermis. Here are some differences between women's and men's skin.

Summary
Published March 2, 2023, updated on June 20, 2024, by Pauline, Head of Scientific Communication — 5 min read

What are the differences between female and male skin?

Under the influence of steroid hormones , such as theestrogenand progesterone, hormones typically associated with females, and testosterone, a hormone typically associated with males, the structure of men's and women's skin differentiates during puberty. The following distinctions can be made.

The thickness of the skin.

The thickness of the epidermis is the first difference between male and female skin. For men, it tends to exceed 60 μm, while it rarely reaches 50 μm in women. Thus, a man's skin is approximately 20% thicker than that of a woman. This is largely due to the fact that the male dermis contains more collagen than the female dermis. This molecule of the extracellular matrix contributes to the mechanical properties of the skin, particularly its firmness.

As we age, collagen synthesis decreases, leading to skin thinning. In men, skin thickness decreases throughout life, by about 9% every 20 years. This process is initially slower in women, with a thinning rate of 3% every 20 years. However, after menopause, collagen loss accelerates and a decrease in skin density is observed at a rate of 20% every 20 years. Ultimately, men's skin is and remains thicker.

The typology of the skin.

Men's skin tends to be oilier than women's. Testosterone, which is 6 to 7 times more prevalent in men, targets receptors in the sebaceous glands. The activation of these receptors triggers a signaling pathway involved in the production of sebum. Therefore, sebum secretion is hormone-dependent. Under the effect of a high amount of sebum, the pores dilate. The skin then appears oilier and is more prone to imperfections and colonization by certain microorganisms. The areas of the face most affected by this phenomenon are the forehead, nose, and chin, or the T-zone, where the most sebaceous glands are found. Thus, it is observed that men produce twice as much sebum as women.

How do these differences impact the skin?

Men's skin is generally less soft and smooth than that of women. The hormonal overproduction of testosterone (hyperandrogenism) in men during puberty results in excessive sebum production, promoting bacterial colonization. Cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium notably involved in the development of acne, primarily feeds on the triglycerides present in sebum. By digesting them, it produces free fatty acids that heighten theinflammation of the sebaceous glands. Moreover, a significant production of sebum can cause the obstruction of skin pores and interfere with its natural desquamation. All these phenomena are conducive to the appearance ofimperfections such as blackheads or red pimples.

However, with age, this tendency for overproduction of sebum proves to be an advantage. Indeed, in adulthood, men suffer less from skin dryness than women. The sebum produced helps nourish the hydrolipidic film on the surface of the epidermis. This protective veil prevents skin dryness and acts as a shield against all external aggressions it may undergo: significant temperature variations, pollution, light rays, wind...

The characteristics of male skin present another advantage: the signs of skin aging tend to appear later in men. Indeed, while the amount of estrogen decreases over time in both men and women, a significant drop in their production is observed at the time of menopause. However, estrogens are capable of stimulating fibroblasts, cells in the dermis that participate in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. Found in the extracellular matrix, all three contribute to skin health. Hyaluronic acid is a macromolecule that works by retaining water in the skin, while collagen and elastin provide tone and flexibility to the skin.

Sources

  • MCVITIE E. & al. The impact of age and gender on skin thickness, skin collagen, and density. The British Journal of Dermatology (1975).

  • WONG J. & al. The dynamic anatomy and patterning of skin. Experimental Dermatology (2016).

  • CHEN W. & et al. Sex Hormones and Acne. Clinics in Dermatology (2017).

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