Why don't men wrinkle?

[dolphin_gal]

A g/f and I were talking one day trying to figure out why men, on average, don't wrinkle or develope fine lines nearly as quickly as women. We particularly noted this in smokers of both sexes ... men did not develope those little lines around the lips. I first thought that it could be because they shave and that by shaving it was a form of daily exfoliation. Hey, it was a theory - lol. And then I read recently where men's skin naturally has a lower pH.

Yes, she and I are both smokers - and working on correcting that problem together for support. In that light, neither of us are makeup users. The amount of foundation and powders we've used on our faces in our lifetime (I'm 59, she's 54) probably doesn't equal two jars, although we both will use mascara and eyeliner on a date and sometimes eye shadow, but that's all. So we dismissed the (over)use of cosmetics as a reason.

So, why don't men wrinkle or develope fine lines so quickly?

Kathy

 

[Nicolet]

Kathy, I don't have an answer to your question. Though I'm curious, too. But, your comment about shaving struck me as funny because I recently asked my Grandfather (who is 100 years old), why he he doesn't have many wrinkles, and he replied, "Because I take my razor and massage my face every day with it." Well, maybe there's some truth to that! Check out his picture....

By the way, my grandfather still smokes and drinks. The last picture is with my mother and I. My mom is 71 years old, and she also has pretty good skin. So, I assume a lot of it is genetic. Hope I've inherited those genes.

 

[cottoncandy]

nicole, those are such lovely pictures of your grandfather. especially the second one! its amazing and moving that he is alive to see his great garnd children (im assuming). :clap

 

[dolphin_gal]

lolol .... maybe we all should start shaving? Nicole, your grandfather looks GREAT! Yes, genetics does play a part for sure, but I'm talking more about the average of the masses.

 

[cottoncandy]

it must have something to do with the hormones, testosterone and ostrogen, since thats the main difference between men and women.. maybe ostrogen causes us to age faster or changes certain qualities in the skin that makes it more prone to wrinkles or something.

 

[dixiewolf]

Nicole, your grandfather is so adorable! I have noticed that guys I date (the oldest is 34, my bf now) the ones that have wrinkles are out in the sun a lot. One of my exes, I actually thought he really aged in the 2 years we dated, his face was wrinkled, but he drank like a fish and played on 5 softball teams so he was outside all the time, we broke up before he was 30. Guys dont wear sunscreen as much as we do, I wear sunscreen, and it is in my foundation, but I am not in the sun. My bf has wrinkles, he walks sometimes 10 miles a day in the heat, but he doesnt smoke or drink. I just barely have fine lines at 28, no one can tell but me.

 

[cardboardboxed]

Wow he really isn't wrinkly at all for being 100!

Men do wrinkle, but they tend to wrinkle later in life than women, but when they do it tends to be faster and deeper than women wrinkles..

 

[peekaboo]

Def has to be something with hormones and shaving perhaps. Women tend to be worriers it seems-maybe that has something to do with it as well.

 

[Nicolet]

Hey, thanks everyone for the kind words regarding my grandfather!

And, yes, I agree hormones may play a big role...women are put through the mill! And, Kim's comment about how we look at men differently (in this society) rings true for me, as well. Look at Hollywood, Sean Connery, Clint Eastwood, etc. I can't think of any others at the moment, but, these men are considered "sexy" and handsome (which I think they are), but I truly believe that if a female movie star had a receding hairline, and deep wrinkles she probably would not be getting leading roles or much work.

So, maybe men do wrinkle as much as we do, but society is more forgiving when it comes to men's appearances?

 

[Nicolet]

Here's some pics.....

 

[jen19]

first of all, you are right about shaving being a form of exfoliation. That is one of the reasons why mens faces may sometimes stay smooth longer. Second, I don't know what men you are comparing, but the ones I know of age just as much as we do- they have somewhat thicker, courser skin (maybe because of testosterone) so maybe it takes a wee bit longer.... but they wrinkle. I know men ten years younger than me who have very deep crows feet, especially if they work outdoors or spend alot of time outdoors. and the only man I know of who wears sunscreen on a regular basis is gay. Sun exposure and heredity, possibly diet to a certain extent, can wreak havoc on both the skin and good looks, and so can drug or alcohol use. I have seen some fast, fast aging on people who use alot of drugs or drink heavily. Movie stars don't count because they- men and women- have the money to take much better care of themselves with skin care, dermatologists, plastic surgeons etc etc.

 

[ymnznygirl]

Men wrinkle just as fast as women do; the only difference is that wrinkles don't affect a men's appearance quite as negatively as it does to women. Women look best with smooth skin, while wrinkles (I believe) actually make men look somewhat better! My husband just turned 30, and is a smoker... when looking at his old pictures with smooth skin, I can't help thinking how much better he looks now!

 

[NYAngel98]

Heck, they don't get PMS, don't have to give birth, & don't get wrinkles... hey - what else is new!! lol /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> My great grandfather lived to be 102 & he really wasn't that wrinkled either... go figure! Hopefully I got those genes! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[ILoveLola]

Heres a theory, lol. Maybe we get wrinkles due to the fact that we worry too much about getting wrinkles. LOL. Now thats something to think about. (not too much though, you'll get wrinkles) LOL. :sdrop:

If you think about it, its kinda really true. Women worry ALOT more than men do. We worry about everything. Women tend to worry about everything. Stress and make mountains out of mole hills unecesarily. Were not as chilled, relaxed and bwahhh as men are. lol. Theyre less stressed and less worried about things. They dont care about much. They dont worry about much, therefore they have less wrinkles. lol. Also, they dont have periods, babies and hormonal imbalances and what not. So.... :sdrop:

Just chill ladies, chill....... ahhhhhhh............:heart:

 

[jen19]

men do so have hormonal imbalances - they just don't have the physical proof of their cycles like we do. I read once that men go thru major hormonal shifts every 6 weeks or so, they just don't know it and the symptoms are hard to pin down - like they may feel an overwhelming impulse to play football or go to a strip club. ( a more overwhelming impulse than usual, I mean )

 

[XOffendr]

Weird, I never thought of this before, but now that ya'll mention it, my father is in his 60's, has been smoking since he was in his teens, and he's aged so well, in fact, he's able to date a thirty year old woman, atm! He has no lines around his mouth! And, I should add, he's been an avid golfer for as long as I can remember, so he certainly spends plenty of time in the sun. I don't think he's bothered with sunscreen a day in his life.

On that note, I'm totally befuddled.