HOUSTON – A local doctor is encouraging men to take steps to protect their skin now and in the future.
“It’s not something I pay a lot of attention to, but (I) shower, wash my face,” said Brandon White. “I put lotion on and sunscreen, sometimes, I probably should do it more often.”
White is a busy husband and father of three and is limited on time for skincare.
He does focus on drinking water to keep his skin hydrated.
“I think it’s almost as much or maybe even more so important to put things in your body for your skin, than put things on your skin, per se,” said White.
Dr. Fred Aguilar, a Triple-Board Certified plastic surgeon, said men should take skincare seriously, by getting to the basics.
The first step is to use a face wash.
The big mistake many men do is just use water or body wash for their face.
“By daily washings, we can achieve that and help the skin hydrate better,” said Dr. Fred Aguilar with Houston Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. “You have to reduce the bacterial count of your skin.
Aguilar said men should then use a toner.
“The toner then causes the pores and the skin to tighten and to shut down so the bacteria can’t get into the pores and it helps firm up the skin,” said Aguilar.
Next, Aguilar said men should remember to use moisturizer and sunblock, especially living in Texas.
“To put it mildly, you’re getting skin damage that’s going to cause wrinkles as you age,” said Aguilar. “Men tend to ignore sunblock because they’re not taught the importance of it at an early age.”
What about the skin of men with those trendy beards?
“Most men, cherish their beard, it’s like their prized possession,” said Carlos Carrillo at The Argyle League. “A lot of guys think that the beard oil is for the actual hair when really it’s to moisturize and condition the skin underneath the beard.”
Carrillo at The Argyle League in Montrose said the answer is to use beard oil.
“If you put the beard oil in your hand, emulsify and rub it down into the cheeks and chin area really get it down to the surface, surface of the skin. That’s really how to keep a healthy beard and condition of skin,” said Carrillo.
At the end of the day, it’s vital men take steps now.
“If you maintain your skin in a good condition, you are going to remain looking younger for a long period of time,” said Aguilar.
“I think it’s important to take the time to take care of it now so that you don’t have to pay for it later,” said White.