As the largest organ in our body, it’s important that we understand our skin and its needs. It plays a vital role in our lives both functionally and aesthetically. Functionally, it acts as a protective barrier between our insides and the outside world, shielding us from infection. Aesthetically, our skin is often the first thing people notice and is usually a decent indication of our health.
But with the countless differences between us all, understanding and looking after our own unique skin can often become quite a daunting and overwhelming task. From male to female skin, skin in different stages of the ageing process and all the various beautiful colours that skin comes in, there are hundreds of skin type combinations to understand.
We spoke to the founder of KP Aesthetics in Hale, Khatra Paterson, who stresses the importance of skin health and how, with a variety of skin types comes a variety of needs. But what are some of these key differences between certain types of skin and how does it affect us?
Male Vs Female Skin
You’d be surprised to know that there are significant structural differences between male and female skin. Firstly, male skin is about 25% thicker than female skin and has a tougher texture.
The natural oils found in our skin, sebum, is also produced more by male skin than female skin after puberty, which is why men can often suffer from longer lasting acne than women.
Plus, men typically have a higher collagen density than women. This means that a man’s skin will be slower to show signs of ageing which is usually due to a reduction of collagen in the skin. In fact, it is said that a woman’s skin is about 15 years older than a man’s of the same age.
Young Vs Mature Skin
Visually, the differences between young and mature skin can be quite obvious. Young skin is smoother with a much more plump and hydrated look whereas mature skin is wrinkled, thinner and lacks firmness.
This is because when we’re young, our skin has the ability to produce and replenish elastin and collagen effectively which are necessary for firm, youthful looking skin. As we age, our skin gradually loses the ability to produce these elements which causes our skin to age.
Lack of proper skincare can accelerate this process. Daily exposure to UV rays from the sun break down elastin and collagen in our skin quicker so wearing SPF every single day is vital to slow down the ageing process.
Using products like retinol, a vitamin A treatment, can also help slow the process of ageing by increasing the production of collagen in our skin.
Caucasian Vs Skin of Colour
What is it in our skin that produces the different shades and tones that we see? Well, everyone has cells called melanocytes which are found in the epidermis of our skin. These melanocytes are responsible for producing a pigment called melanin.
Typically, people that have a lighter skin tone will produce less melanin. The more melanin present in the skin, the more natural protection it has against the harmful effects of UV rays. This is because the melanin absorbs the UV light before it can damage the sensitive DNA of the skin cells. Despite this, however, it is still important for those with deeper skin tones to wear SPF daily as melanin doesn’t offer total protection.
There are also different types of melanin produced that affect our skin tones. Eumelanin is a black or brown pigment and is produced more in people with skin of colour. Pheomelanin is a red or yellow pigment and is produced more in people with lighter skin tones where freckling is much more likely.
Skin treatments available at KP aesthetics
With all these differences in mind, At KP Aesthetics, the first step to treating your skin concerns is a consultation. This is where we’ll analyse your skin type to assess exactly what it needs. We’ll then suggest a treatment that is perfect for you and your skin’s goals.
KP Aesthetics, 26 Park Road, Hale, WA15 9NN
