Men’s Eternal Youth – On Wrinkles
Skin aging gives men an advantage over women because male skin is thicker and less prone to wrinkles. But this doesn’t mean men are immune. Men under thirty seem ageless; after thirty, subtle changes begin. Some progress slowly: skin gradually loses its resistance to external stimuli. Sweat glands shrink, sebaceous glands become less active, and overall skin loses moisture retention. Wrinkles first appear around the eyes—the thinnest skin area. Later, deeper lines emerge on forehead and cheeks.
Only a small part of wrinkle formation stems from unavoidable genetic factors. Many cases result from excessive sun exposure. Such UV damage accelerates skin aging, causing dark spots, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. I once saw a segment on TV show “Twenty/Twenty” illustrating this best: host Steve Donn compared an indigenous woman who lived outdoors all her life with a Tibetan monk who lived indoors for decades. The woman looked 92, the monk looked 64—but actually, the monk was 92, while the woman was only 64.
Dr. Roger Kliman from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine says: “It’s not just sunbathing—just walking or moving under sunlight exposes skin to UV rays.” If even walking in sunlight causes harm, can we do nothing about light? Dr. Kliman states: “Studies prove that daily use of broad-spectrum sunscreen allows already damaged skin to begin recovery. Results aren’t visible immediately, but you’ll see dark spots fading.”
He recommends using sunscreen with SPF 15 regularly. SPF 15 means the damage accumulated over 15 hours without protection occurs in just one hour.
When fishing or doing other outdoor activities requiring prolonged sun exposure, applying zinc oxide cream to nose and cheeks protects against solar damage. Besides sunlight, smoking is another major cause of skin aging. Experienced dermatologists can tell smokers from 10 yards away—smokers often have deep wrinkles around eyes and mouth, poor complexion, and pale skin. Doctors can clearly see smoking’s impact on men under thirty.
Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to skin and blocking nutrients from reaching skin cells. Additionally, tobacco depletes vitamin C in the body—vitamin C being essential for healthy skin. To maintain good skin, besides proper care, plastic surgery offers a way to repair already damaged skin. More men now opt for surgery—a last resort remedy.<Wrinkles>