Okay, brothers, it’s time to stop sucking your teeth when your woman compliments Morris Chestnut on his smooth skin. I’m here today to get you right for life. You’ll walk away with some new praise reports and some healthy strategies to take care of your skin. I know going to the dermatologist isn’t exactly on every man’s to-do list, but I’ve come to ring the alarm.
READ: 5 Tips To Care For Black Skin With Acne
Traditionally, men aren't taught how to take care of their skin in the proper way. Some men think it's “feminine” or unbecoming of a man to put so much emphasis on skincare.
Dr. Jennell Nelson, who sees patients in her Virginia office and all over the state through the teledermatology platform DermatologistOnCall, says that, “there are many misconceptions about dermatologists being for women’s issues, which is most certainly not the case. A dermatologist can treat over 3,000 skin, hair and nail conditions on both men and women.”
The skin represents the largest organ in the body. Yes, I did say the largest organ in the body. Men suffer from a variety of skin issues that need immediate and daily attention.
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BlackDoctor.org talked to other leading dermatologists about what Black men can do to improve the quality of their skin.
Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield's work in the field of dermatology has earned him high prestige in the field of physicians. Black Enterprise Magazine named him one of “America’s 10 Leading Dermatologists.” He says despite the current gap between men and women attending the dermatologist, more men in the last 10 years have been seeking medical attention.
Dr. Crutchfield offers men three steps to improve skin quality.
“The three most important things to improve skin quality is to cleanse, moisturize and protect," according to Dr. Crutchfield.
- Gently cleanse using a non-detergent cleanser like Vanicream Cleansing Bar or unscented Dove. Cleansing should be done with a gentle cotton washcloth.
- To maintain hydration in the skin, it’s important to use a moisturizing lotion at least twice a day, but especially after taking a bath or shower. "I recommend a Cerave Cream or lotion."
- Lastly, protect the skin from the damaging rays of the sun and environmental pollutants like tobacco smoke. "I recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher with UVA protection in addition to minimizing exposure to tobacco smoke.”
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How to avoid razor bumps
Now that we’ve gotten the morning skin care regimen down and you're ready to show the world your new face, let's take a look at how we can fix those skin issues that we see at our local barbershop.
For men suffering from razor bumps, also known as Pseudofolliculitis barbae, Dr. Dina Strachan says to not cut it too short.
I know we like to wear bald fades, but it might be agitating the issue to another level according to the skin care expert. The New York dermatologist recommends that men seek early treatment to avoid acne keloidalis nuchae, another form of razor bumps.
Dr. Nelson adds that men should avoid using a razor to shave. Electric clippers are best for grooming the beard and mustache regions.
And brothers, if your boss is giving you trouble about having a beard at work, you can hit him with the shaving profile letter that you can get from your dermatologist.
As we get older we need to become more conscious of the changes in the complexion and tone of our skin.
Dark complexion skincare expert Dr. Nelson encourages older men to seek out a dermatologist for an age-spot evaluation. This test detects viral lesions that may cause malignant skin changes in all races. Age spots are the result of hyperpigmentation on parts of the skin that have become darker due to sunlight.
She urges younger adolescent men to get evaluated for acne treatment to avoid permanent scarring in the future. Young men, it’s nothing worse than being reminded of an old scar when you’re grown.
All in all, skin care is possible and necessary for us as men. It can be quick, easy, and ultimately beneficial for our health and handsome aspirations. Go see your doctor, keep a regimen and keep it healthy.
