Anti-wrinkle creams and treatments for men
In a society where appearance plays a key role, more and more men and women are looking for solutions to reduce the signs of skin aging. While anti-wrinkle creams were once associated mainly with women, men are now just as concerned by this preoccupation.
Anti-wrinkle cream "for men" has become an essential part of daily skincare rituals. However, this is mainly due to marketing strategies. The structure of women's skin is identical to that of men's skin. Although men's skin may be on average more concentrated in sebum than women's, to fight the signs of aging, the ingredients will be the same.
A "men's" anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle cream will therefore use the same ingredients as a "women's" anti-ageing cream. At VIBRE, we create transparent skin care products for all genders.
Here we tell you how to control the signs of aging - whether you're a man or a woman.
The signs of aging, a natural process
Skin ageing is the result of numerous biological, biochemical and physical interactions which induce damage that alters skin functions.
This multifactorial physiological process affects the various layers of the skin and supporting tissues.
The epidermis is refined, cell renewal is reduced: keratinocyte proliferation is slowed down. Normally, an entire cell renewal cycle takes 28 days. But as time goes by, this process slows down, sometimes extending to more than 30 days. This stagnation leads to the accumulation of old cells, which can make skin look dull and thick.
Dermal-epidermal junctions are weakened. The dermis atrophies, with reduced cellularity, vascularization and extracellular matrix, with disorganization, fragmentation and reduction of collagen fibers. Subcutaneous adipose tissue also atrophies.
These phenomena lead to an overall thinning of the skin and a weakening of its adipo-muscular support, resulting in sagging skin.
Skin dryness is also a common concern in the aging population, due to an increase in insensible water loss.
If this dryness is left untreated, wrinkles tend to become more pronounced, especially as skin tends to become thinner with age. At the same time, changes occur in the dermis, leading to a loss of firmness and sagging of the skin. These changes are also linked to a reduction in fatty and muscular tissue, which no longer provides adequate support. As a result, the face gradually undergoes changes in volume and appearance, while wrinkles deepen.
Aging skin can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from the gradual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to pigmentation spots and loss of firmness and elasticity.
What causes aging?
Aging is associated with an alteration in cellular repair and maintenance processes. This phenomenon is influenced, on the one hand, by an internal biological clock that is specific to each individual and genetically programmed, and on the other, by the cells' ability to defend themselves against damage caused by free radicals, toxic substances.
The individual biological clock is based on chromosomes, which carry the organism's genetic material. With each cell division, these chromosomes shorten. When they reach a critical length, cells stop dividing and enter a phase of senescence. Certain external factors, such as smoking or stress, can accelerate this process by speeding up chromosome shortening.
Resistance to oxidative stress is also crucial. Mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of cells, are vulnerable to attack by free radicals. These toxic substances damage mitochondria, reducing the cell's vital energy. Mitochondrial resistance capacities are partly determined by genes, and evolve variably with age, depending on the individual.
The role of hormones
Aging is also regulated by a growth factor similar to insulin, and keratinocytes, skin cells, have specific receptors for this growth factor.
Over time, these keratinocytes, along with other skin cells such as fibroblasts, lose their ability to respond to this growth factor, leading to an alteration in the cell development process.
As a result, fibroblasts produce less and less collagen and hyaluronic acid, resulting in a loss of skin firmness. Various hormones, such as thyroid and sex hormones, also play a crucial role in epidermal growth and appearance. The decrease in hormone secretion observed over time is therefore a major factor in the skin aging process.
The role of the environment
The role of the environment in the skin aging process is as important as that of physiology. It is now well established that adverse environmental factors such as sun exposure, smoking and stress can alter the genetic capital of skin cells, compromising their ability to reproduce and making them more vulnerable.
Dehydration
Skin dehydration is a major factor in the appearance of wrinkles. Without water, the supporting tissue beneath the dermis is no longer as supple and the skin withers.
Wrinkles are often referred to as "expression lines", because the older we get, the more our muscles will shrink and need to contract more intensely to achieve the same result. In the case of facial muscles, repeated contractions several times a day will pull on the skin, forming wrinkles. And as the skin atrophies over time and its basic structure deteriorates, it marks more in areas of strong muscular expression (forehead, nasolabial folds, lips, eyes).
On the other hand, on skin surfaces not solicited by expression muscles (cheeks, décolleté...), wrinkles are mainly induced by the environment or poor positioning (sleep wrinkles).
How to combat the signs of aging?
Although it is impossible to counteract the natural process of cellular aging, it is possible to limit its visible manifestations. In general, a diet rich in antioxidants, such as fruit, vegetables and fish, combined with regular physical activity, increased sun protection, smoking cessation and adequate skin hydration, are the fundamental principles of an effective anti-aging strategy.
On the cosmetic front, certain molecules have been proven to be effective on certain signs of aging - whether in anti-aging creams for men or women.
What ingredients should you look for in your anti-aging skincare products?
For young skin, vitamin C-based creams offer protection against external aggression and limit the action of free radicals.
Fatty acids and ceramides
Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6, as well as ceramides found in oils such as argan, evening primrose or almond oil, are effective in strengthening the skin barrier.
These acids will optimize cell renewal to reduce wrinkles and minimize the appearance of pores.
Hyaluronic acid
This ingredient is a powerful moisturizer that can help smooth fine lines and wrinkles by increasing skin hydration.
Collagen
To improve the suppleness of connective tissue in the dermis, products containing pro-collagen active ingredients or matrixyl are recommended.
Retinol
Retinol and retinoid derivatives, rich in vitamin A, are effective in stimulating the fundamental substance of the dermis and epidermis. It reduces wrinkles, pigmentation spots and loss of firmness.
Optimize the action of anti-aging facial treatments
Anti-aging skin care is more than just an anti-wrinkle cream. It encompasses a whole range of products designed to care for the skin, from anti-aging serums to day and night creams and specific eye care products.
These products work in synergy to stimulate collagen production, deeply moisturize and protect the skin from external aggression, while reducing the visible signs of skin aging.
The importance of a morning and evening skincare routine
For optimum results, we recommend making anti-wrinkle skin care part of your daily routine, morning and night. Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser rich in AHA or BHA, then apply an anti-aging serum to boost the effectiveness of your cream. Then use a moisturizing and protective day cream in the morning, and a regenerating night cream in the evening. Don't forget to take special care of your eye contour area, which is particularly prone to the first signs of aging, and to apply a sun cream all over your face.
Source
Aging skin. Dermato info. French Society of Dermatology