Why Men Tend to AVOID Using Sunscreen

Skin cancer can affect people of all genders, races and ages but data has shown that men may be more at risk due to a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices. Whilst many women using daily skincare and makeup have SPF built-in to these products, the same cannot be said about the average male skincare routine, with a third of men surveyed by tiege.com admitting that 40% have never tried skincare products designed for men.

Aside from skincare, and looking towards sunscreen: in the US, statistics showed that nearly 39% of men rarely or never use sunscreen compared to 28% of women. According to another survey: only 18% of men use sunscreen on their face or other exposed skin when outdoors, in the sun and only 14% use sunscreen on both their face and body.

WHY Is This?

Whilst some men may think that they do not need sunscreen and that their skin is not as ‘sensitive’ as women’s skin, with one survey finding nearly two-thirds of men believing that women’s skin is more sensitive to UV rays. However, the reality is in fact the opposite, with men’s skin being more likely to be damaged by UV rays due to the genetic makeup of their skin.

Men do indeed have ‘thicker skin’, however there is less fat beneath, with more collagen and elastin. These differences result in men’s skin being more likely to be damaged by the sun’s UV rays with research showing that men’s skin reacted more intensely to UV rays than women’s.

As well as this, the areas of the body most common melanoma sites also differ between men and women, with men being affected on the head, neck and abdomen and women being affected on the arms and legs.