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.

Keywords:
Biophysical measuring methods, Skin physiology, Male skin, Skin aging, Skin barrier function
1.
US Food and Drug Administration. Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?). Available from: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm074201.htm (accessed October 14, 2012).
2.
Most SP, Alsarraf R, Larrabee WF Jr: Outcomes of facial cosmetic procedures. Facial Plast Surg 2002;18:119-124.
3.
Elsner P: Overview and trends in male grooming. Br J Dermatol 2012;166(suppl):12-15.
4.
Schlessinger J: Skin care for men and its marketing. Dermatol Ther 2007;20:452-456.
5.
Man MQ, Xin SJ, Song SP, Cho SY, Zhang XJ, Tu CX, Feingold KR, Elias PM: Variation of skin surface pH, sebum content and stratum corneum hydration with age and gender in a large Chinese population. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2009;22:190-199.
6.
Kim M-K, Patel RA, Shinn AH, Choi S-Y, Byun H-J, Huh C-H, Park K-C, Youn S-W: Evaluation of gender difference in skin type and pH. J Dermatol Sci 2006;41:153-156.
7.
Draelos Z: Male skin and ingredients relevant to male skin care. Br J Dermatol 2012;166(suppl 1):13-16.
8.
Dao H Jr, Kazin RA: Gender differences in skin: a review of the literature. Gend Med 2007;4:308-328.
9.
Wa CV, Maibach HI: Mapping the human face: biophysical properties. Skin Res Technol 2010;16:38-54.
10.
Fitzpatrick TB: The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Arch Dermatol 1988;124:869-871.
11.
Luebberding S, Krueger N, Kerscher M: Age-related changes in skin barrier function - quantitative evaluation of 150 female subjects. Int J Cosmet Sci 2013;35:183-190.
12.
Rogiers V: EEMCO guidance for the assessment of transepidermal water loss in cosmetic sciences. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2001;14:117-128.
13.
Barel A, Clarys P: Measurement of epidermal capacitance; in Serup J, Jemec G, Grove G (eds): Non-Invasive Methods and Skin. Boca Raton, CRC Press, 2006, vol 2, pp 337-344.
14.
Heinrich U, Koop U, Leneveu-Duchemin M-C, Osterrieder K, Bielfeldt S, Chkarnat C, Degwert J, Häntschel D, Jaspers S, Nissen H-P, Rohr M, Schneider G, Tronnier H: Multicentre comparison of skin hydration in terms of physical, physiological and product-dependent parameters by the capacitive method (Corneometer CM 825). Int J Cosmet Sci 2003;25:45-53.
15.
O'goshi K: Optical measurement of sebum excretion using opalescent film imprint. The sebumeter; in Serup J, Jemec GE, Grove GL (eds): Handbook of Non-Invasive Methods and the Skin. Boca Raton, CRC Press, 2006, vol 2, pp 841-846.
16.
Piérard GE, Piérard-Franchimont C, Marks R, Paye M, Rogiers V: EEMCO guidance for the in vivo assessment of skin greasiness. The EEMCO Group. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2000;13:372-389.
17.
Parra JL, Paye M: EEMCO guidance for the in vivo assessment of skin surface pH. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2003;16:188-202.
18.
Pinnagoda J, Tupker RA, Agner T, Serup J: Guidelines for transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement. A report from the Standardization Group of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1990;22:164-178.
19.
Roskos KV, Guy RH: Assessment of skin barrier function using transepidermal water loss: effect of age. Pharm Res 1989;6:949-953.
20.
Wilhelm KP, Cua AB, Maibach HI: Skin aging. Effect on transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, skin surface pH, and casual sebum content. Arch Dermatol 1991;127:1806-1809.
21.
Cua AB, Wilhelm KP, Maibach HI: Frictional properties of human skin: relation to age, sex and anatomical region, stratum corneum hydration and transepidermal water loss. Br J Dermatol 1990;123:473-479.
22.
Spetz A-CE, Fredriksson MG, Hammar ML: Hot flushes in a male population aged 55, 65, and 75 years, living in the community of Linköping, Sweden. Menopause 2003;10:81-87.
23.
Spetz A-CE, Palmefors L, Skobe RSP, Strömstedt MT, Fredriksson MG, Theodorsson E, Hammar ML: Testosterone correlated to symptoms of partial androgen deficiency in aging men (PADAM) in an elderly Swedish population. Menopause 2007;14:999-1005.
24.
Schreiber G, Ziemer M: The aging male - diagnosis and therapy of late-onset hypogonadism. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2008;6:273-279.
25.
Yousaf O, Stefanopoulou E, Grunfeld EA, Hunter MS: A randomised controlled trial of a cognitive behavioural intervention for men who have hot flushes following prostate cancer treatment (MANCAN): trial protocol. BMC Cancer 2012;12:230.
26.
Grunfeld EA, Halliday A, Martin P, Drudge-Coates L: Andropause syndrome in men treated for metastatic prostate cancer: a qualitative study of the impact of symptoms. Cancer Nurs 2012;35:63-69.
27.
Engelke M, Jensen JM, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S, Proksch E: Effects of xerosis and ageing on epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Br J Dermatol 1997;137:219-225.
28.
Manuskiatti W, Schwindt DA, Maibach HI: Influence of age, anatomic site and race on skin roughness and scaliness. Dermatology 1998;196:401-407.
29.
Ghadially R, Brown BE, Sequeira-Martin SM, Feingold KR, Elias PM: The aged epidermal permeability barrier. Structural, functional, and lipid biochemical abnormalities in humans and a senescent murine model. J Clin Invest 1995;95:2281-2290.
30.
Egawa M, Tagami H: Comparison of the depth profiles of water and water-binding substances in the stratum corneum determined in vivo by Raman spectroscopy between the cheek and volar forearm skin: effects of age, seasonal changes and artificial forced hydration. Br J Dermatol 2008;158:251-260.
31.
Liu Z, Song S, Luo W, Elias PM, Man M-Q: Sun-induced changes of stratum corneum hydration vary with age and gender in a normal Chinese population. Skin Res Technol 2012;18:22-28.
32.
Takagi Y, Nakagawa H, Kondo H, Takema Y, Imokawa G: Decreased levels of covalently bound ceramide are associated with ultraviolet B-induced perturbation of the skin barrier. J Invest Dermatol 2004;123:1102-1109.
33.
Mildner M, Jin J, Eckhart L, Kezic S, Gruber F, Barresi C, Stremnitzer C, Buchberger M, Mlitz V, Ballaun C, Sterniczky B, Födinger D, Tschachler E: Knockdown of filaggrin impairs diffusion barrier function and increases UV sensitivity in a human skin model. J Invest Dermatol 2010;130:2286-2294.
34.
Meguro S, Arai Y, Masukawa K, Uie K, Tokimitsu I: Stratum corneum lipid abnormalities in UVB-irradiated skin. Photochem Photobiol 1999;69:317-321.
35.
Jiang Q, Cao C, Lu S, Kivlin R, Wallin B, Chu W, Bi Z, Wang X, Wan Y: MEK/ERK pathway mediates UVB-induced AQP1 downregulation and water permeability impairment in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Int J Mol Med 2009;23:771-777.
36.
Choi E-H, Man M-Q, Xu P, Xin S, Liu Z, Crumrine DA, Jiang YJ, Fluhr JW, Feingold KR, Elias PM, Mauro TM: Stratum corneum acidification is impaired in moderately aged human and murine skin. J Invest Dermatol 2007;127:2847-2856.
37.
Behne MJ, Meyer JW, Hanson KM, Barry NP, Murata S, Crumrine D, Clegg RW, Gratton E, Holleran WM, Elias PM, Mauro TM: NHE1 regulates the stratum corneum permeability barrier homeostasis. Microenvironment acidification assessed with fluorescence lifetime imaging. J Biol Chem 2002;277:47399-47406.
38.
Giltay EJ, Gooren LJ: Effects of sex steroid deprivation/administration on hair growth and skin sebum production in transsexual males and females. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000;85:2913-2921.
39.
Stewart ME, Downing DT, Cook JS, Hansen JR, Strauss JS: Sebaceous gland activity and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in boys and girls. Arch Dermatol 1992;128:1345-1348.
40.
Zouboulis CC, Chen W-C, Thornton MJ, Qin K, Rosenfield R: Sexual hormones in human skin. Horm Metab Res 2007;39:85-95.
41.
Zouboulis CC: Intrinsische Hautalterung. Hautarzt 2003;54:825-832.
42.
Jacobsen E, Billings JK, Frantz RA, Kinney CK, Stewart ME, Downing DT: Age-related changes in sebaceous wax ester secretion rates in men and women. J Invest Dermatol 1985;85:483-485.
© 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
2013
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.