Who ages faster in the battle of the sexes?
It’s an argument as old as time and Shiseido is set to take it on with some scientific evidence. According to a new study conducted by the company, men develop crow’s feet faster than women—to the tune of ten years.
Using 3D analysis, researchers found that men in their 30s to 50s form and develop a larger volume of wrinkles—specifically around the eyes—when compared to women. The analysis also showed that the wrinkles were deeper and larger.
Also a nix on the anti-aging game: Men have a higher amount of MMP, the enzyme that degrades collagen, in their dermis, the study found.
“It’s pretty simple,” says Spokane, WA dermatologist Wm. Philip Werschler, MD in regards to the results. “Men don’t use sunscreen, spend more time outdoors in many cases, have larger muscles, are less likely to wear sunglasses, don’t use eye area makeup which acts as a physical blocker to UV light and, at the end of the day, mostly don’t care about wrinkles.”
“As we all know, women and men are vastly different creatures baseline and on a biological level,” adds Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, MD. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As Dr. Honet explains, on a very fundamental and rudimentary basis, our hormones, namely estrogen and progesterone versus testosterone, are the root driving force, accounting for many of these differences. “Layered on top of these basic, biological, ethnic, and genetic factors are gender differences in lifestyle and daily living practices, which as we all know can affect aging tremendously. Women are apt to have begun skin care at a much younger age than men and will continue to maintain and seek improvement of their skin quality and skin health.”
Plus, she says, at her practice, she sees more sun damage, skin cancer and precancerous lesions among men—likely because they haven’t used makeup, moisturizers, sunscreen, or skin care on a regular basis, if at all.
“Therefore, it certainly is not surprising that men develop more rapid signs of intrinsic and extrinsic aging than women. And let’s not forget that women are more likely to seek medical and dermatological care for themselves. Men, as a rule, tend not to seek care unless they feel something is ‘wrong,’ while women seek care proactively and preventatively.”
