WebMD health-e head2toe: skin care today

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Men's Grooming: Skin Care for Your Body

What to buy for healthy skin.

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By Peter Jaret
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Face it: you don’t feel comfortable with the term “beauty products.” It conjures up that dreadful walk with your wife or girlfriend as she leads you through the smelly perfume section of your local mall. But there’s nothing to dread. Here are some pointers about deodorants and skin products that’ll help you look and feel your best. Once you know what to look for, you’ll be in and out of the mall in no time.

Bar Soap vs. Liquid Cleansers for Men

Many men prefer bars of soap to liquid cleansers. And for most men, bars are fine. But if you have very dry skin, try a cleanser. "What matters to most men is what soap looks and smells like. They usually don’t want a pink and flowery smelling body cleanser,” says Dee Anna Glaser, MD, professor of dermatology at Saint Louis University. “But frankly, just about every product out there works equally well for skin.”

If you insist on bar soap, look for moisturizing soaps with emollients such as glycerin, and oils such as vitamin E oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil.

Moisturizers for Men

Most men don’t bother to use a body moisturizer. That’s OK if your skin is naturally oily. But if tends to be dry, a moisturizer can help. The quickest solution is to use a moisturizing shower bar or cleanser. Another option: shower lotions and emollients that you put on in the shower and then rinse off. If that doesn’t keep your skin moist enough, apply a moisturizer after showering.

Focus on the areas where skin typically dries out: the elbows, knees, shoulders, and lower legs.

“Moisturizing your legs is particularly important and something many men don’t think about. Chronic dry skin, or xerosis, of the legs can exacerbate eczema and cause skin to turn a brownish, woody color as you get older,” says San Francisco-based dermatologist Vic A. Narurkar, MD, a past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

Many moisturizers trumpet the anti-aging properties of the antioxidants. But there’s little scientific evidence that they protect the skin from oxidative damage when applied topically and at levels contained in these products. Some botanical ingredients, however, may have healing properties. Aloe, for instance, long used in moisturizers, has been shown to speed skin healing.

If you have trouble with acne, look for a liquid cleanser and a moisturizer that contain glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or benzyl peroxide. These active ingredients remove dead skin and clean out pores, preventing acne.

Sunscreen Protection for Men

The sun’s UVA rays not only cause skin cancer, they also cause age spots and wrinkles as you get older. If you spend time out in the sun, protect your skin.