New study has revealed the extent to which particular groups are risking their health during hot and dry weather.
Young men are putting themselves at the greatest risk of skin damage in the sun by failing to wear sun protection, according to a new study from skincare specialists Clarins.
The study, commissioned by Clarins to understand how men care for their skin, shows that just 20% of men apply sun protection creams to their skin on a daily basis, with a shocking 80% failing to meet that minimum requirement.
NHS guidelines say that sunscreen should be applied every 2 hours to achieve full protection. As the UK heatwave continues, Clarins is urging men, and women, to take better care of their skin and use a sun protection product every day.
Men in the 18-24 age group are at greatest risk, with 39% admitting to never protecting their skin from sun damage. 45-54 year old men had the best record in sun protection with 85% applying sun creams at least once a week – though this is still far short of the daily recommendation.
According to the NHS, most people do not apply enough sunscreen. Their guidelines explain that adults should apply:
- 2 teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re just covering your head, arms and neck
- 2 tablespoons if you’re covering your entire body while wearing a swimming costume
The NHS also says that if you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, sunscreen needs to be applied twice:
- 30 minutes before going out
- Just before going out
Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, including the face, neck and ears, and head if you have thinning or no hair, but a wide-brimmed hat is better.
The same study showed that a whopping 91% of males have at least one skincare bugbear. In a survey of 1,000 UK men aged 18+, only 9% reported that they don’t have any skincare concerns at all.
Here are the top skincare concerns in terms of the percentage of men who suffer with them:
- Dry skin – 41%
- Dark circles under eyes – 35%
- Acne/acne scars – 27%
- Ageing/fine lines – 26%
- Blackheads/enlarged pores – 26%
- Oily skin – 25%
- Uneven skin tone/redness – 16%
- Pigmentation/dark spots – 16%
- Razor bumps – 14%
- Environmental pollution – 9%
- UV damage – 9%
- Dull skin – 7%
- Blue light (emitted by screens i.e. laptops, phones) – 6%
Skin health isn’t just a cosmetic concern, either. According to the Clarins survey, more than half of UK men say their self-confidence would be knocked if they woke up to a ‘bad skin day’.
On the flip side, when asked about the impact of a ‘good skin day’ – whatever that meant to them – 53% said they’d feel even more confident and happy. For 29% of men, clear skin would also improve their confidence at work.
In a bid to banish ‘bad skin’, more than half also admitted to secretly using their partner’s skincare products, with one in ten (14%) helping themselves on a daily basis!
For those that have a skincare routine and buy their own products, almost 50% said that the amount of time and money they spend on their skincare has increased over the past five years. Four in five men (82%) say they spend up to £50 a month on ‘lotions and potions’ to target their problem areas.
Psychotherapist Sarah Lee believes we will pay even more attention to our skincare concerns as we return to ‘normal’ and begin meeting up with more people face-to-face: “Skin concerns can have a massive impact on self-esteem, affecting dating, working (especially when using Zoom) and meeting up in daylight. Given the prevalent use of filters on social media, airbrushing in the media, cosmetic procedures and the ability to touch up your appearance on Zoom, it can be hard for people to turn up as themselves in real life fearing judgement from others, embarrassment and accusations of ‘catfishing’.”
As the heatwave continues across the UK, I hope this story is useful to you. You can find the full study here: https://www.clarins.co.uk/beauty-articles/biggest-mens-skincare-concerns.html.
