Apart from a slight blemish on his right cheek, Mr Abdul Samad has almost flawless skin.

The music conductor has been getting fortnightly facials for the last five years on top of maintaining a good skin care ritual at home. He uses a cleanser, toner and sunblock daily.

Mr Samad, 40, has never had any major skin problems apart from the occasional breakout and blackheads, yet he still forks out $150 for each facial treatment.

'It's just to ensure that my skin remains in this condition,' he said.

Dr Eileen Tan, a dermatologist at Eileen Tan Skin, Laser and Hair Transplant Clinic, agreed that even men like Mr Samad, with good skin conditions, should be concerned with its care.

Men - who tend to have oilier skin than women - are more prone to acne and tinea versicolor, a superficial fungal infection. Their skin is oilier because they have more active sebaceous glands.

The oil produced by the glands is released through the pores of the skin. Men have naturally bigger pores and when dirt and oil are trapped in them, blackheads and whiteheads form.

An increasing number of men have turned to facial treatments as part of their beauty ritual.

Last year, Mask, a skin care centre that offers facial treatments for both men and women, saw a 15 per cent increase in its male customers.

'Men these days are more affluent, more influenced by the media and realise that their skin is also an important part of their body. Facials are no longer seen as not macho,' said Mr Chris Chua, the founder of beauty salon, Face of Man. Started in 1992, Face of Man was then the only place that provided facials for men.

Dr Tan said that facials provide a thorough cleansing of the face, so she does not stop her patients from going for them, provided the beautician practises good hygiene standards.

However, if a person has problem skin such as acne, he will need more than a facial treatment and should see a doctor, she added.

Chemical peeling is one such treatment for acne provided by dermatologists.

It removes the superficial layer of the skin and, in the process, black and white heads of pimples are removed.

Meanwhile, men are paying more attention to anti-ageing products even though they generally age more gradually than women.

Global data group Euromonitor International's 2008 report on male grooming products showed that anti-ageing products were the fastest growing segment with a 67 per cent growth from 2002 to 2007.

Dr Cheong Wai Kwong, a dermatologist at Specialist Skin Clinic, said a man's skin is thicker than a woman's. Therefore, it contains more collagen, a protein which helps hold skin together.

Dr Tan, agreeing, said: 'A man's skin is about 30 per cent thicker and contains more collagen and elastin, hence he develops less fine lines and wrinkles.'

Even as more men's skin care products go on sale, Dr Tan said men need not limit themselves to products for their gender.

'You should choose a product dependent on your type of skin rather than your gender,' she said.

However, Dr Tan felt that a bar of soap is not an option for skin care. 'Soap removes the natural oils and changes the natural PH level of our skin,' she said.

Dr Cheong said that bars of soap which fall under the category of synthetic detergent bars like Cetaphil gentle cleansing bar, can be used on the face.

If you have no idea which products you need, Dr Tan recommended sticking with the basics. 'A basic skin care regimen consists of a cleanser, skin toner, oil-free sunblock and moisturiser,' she said.

staceyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.