sk:n Group Medical Director, Dr Daron Seukeran, discusses the increase in men turning to cosmetic and medical skin treatments

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For years, there has been a stigma around men seeking cosmetic treatment or even medical treatment for common skin concerns such as acne and rosacea – which affect men just as much as women. Yet, according to recent enquiry figures from the sk:n Group,  it seems men have pushed past the stigma and are starting their journey to taking better care of their skin.

The sk:n Group has received an influx of enquiries from men seeking treatments. Perhaps surprisingly, enquiries for dermatology treatments and injectables (predominantly for anti-ageing treatment) have each increased 13% year on year.

sk:n clinics Group Medical Director, Dr Daron Seukeran, discusses the increase in enquiries and treatments for men in recent years and how treatments differ between men and women. Many of the popular male treatments can be categorised into two areas: the treatment of skin conditions and cosmetic treatments for aesthetic purposes.

Medical Treatments for Men

When it comes to dermatology and the treatment of skin conditions, such as acne scarring and rosacea, we’ve always had a steady number of male clients. However, in the last five years or so, we’ve seen a significant increase in male patients seeking support as they have become increasingly aware of their appearance.

Unlike women, who have the option to conceal their skin ailments, particularly in more mild cases, with makeup, for most men, this isn’t an option. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in men turning to laser treatments to improve their complexion by reducing the visibility of scarring or redness.

Common Cosmetic Concerns

It’s not just medical conditions that men are turning to for treatment. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in men looking to cosmetic treatments, turning to anti-ageing treatments to reduce the appearance of brow and frown lines, for example. There has also been an increase in the use of fillers, to achieve a more defined and sculpted look. Overall, we’re seeing fillers being used in a very different way to the more traditional treatments for women.

Gender Differences

There are significant differences between male and female skin. Male skin tends to be much thicker, oilier and ages differently to female skin. In fact, men tend to have more active sebaceous glands and, therefore, more pores than women, which can act as culprits for skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. As a result, sk:n has seen a 10% year on year increase in dermatology bookings amongst male clients.

With milder forms of acne, women will often use make-up to camouflage their skin issues, yet men are often less comfortable in doing so. As gender stereotypes have changed, we’re finding more men turning to laser treatment for these issues.

When it comes to aesthetic skin treatments, although men are looking to create more definition, I think overall both genders are looking to reduce the impact of the ageing process by improving the loss of volume. Naturally, due to the different facial and skin structures of men and women, we’re seeing significant differences in how we administer treatments such as fillers and injectables to get the same anti-ageing effects.