Some men are blessed with perfectly flawless skin.  The rest of us will have to deal with our share of moles, warts, scars, and other blemishes.

If you have large scars that trouble you, I would suggest that you consult your physician or dermatologist.  Small scars can be covered up with specialty scar creams (try saying that three times real fast) that will soften and hide the scar making

it less noticeable.   More drastic measures can include conventional or laser surgery.

Moles:  I'm not talking about those little trouble makers that are, at this very moment, tunneling through my front yard.  AAAGH…I hate those little buggers…but that's another subject.  I'm talking about those brown or black spots that show up more frequently as you get older.

Moles are caused by skin cells growing in clumps rather than spread out as they should.  They can be hereditary, develop over time, or you can even be born with them. 

Do not attempt to remove any moles on your own.  I say again…Do not attempt to remove any moles on your own.

Take your moles seriously! Some can be cancerous.  If you notice changes in a mole's color, height, size or shape, you should have a dermatologist evaluate it. You also should have moles checked if they bleed, ooze, itch, appear scaly, or become tender or painful. 

Freckles:  Most common in our fairer skinned male brethren, freckles are typically caused by skin exposure to sun light and appear mostly on the arms and face.  Men who have freckles will notice they tend to become more prominent when spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun.  Freckles are often hereditary.  So, blame the sun and your Dad.

The best way for men to reduce the prominence of freckles is to avoid skin exposure to sunlight or by using a good sunscreen.  Use at least SPF 15 or higher.

Freckles are rarely a health concern and they don't detract much from your male handsome factor….so there is no need for their removal.  But if you insist, your options are pretty much limited to makeup or more drastic measures such as chemical or laser treatment.  Again…consult your dermatologist.

Warts:  Now here is a skin condition that will lower your score all day long.  Your sweetheart is not going to want to hold your hand if all she is going to get is a handful of ugly, bumpy, (dare I say) hairy warts.  Warts are commonly caused by a virus and are readily treatable by over the counter methods available at your local drugstore or supermarket.  Most typical are products that use a mild acid solution (like good old Compound W) or a freezing agent applied directly on the wart.

Unlike moles, warts are safe to treat at home by yourself (learn about the risks associated with at home wart removal).  However, I would suggest you have your dermatologist treat your warts if they are unusually large, widespread, or near your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Oh yes…one more thing.  Warts which are located on or near your genitals are a cause for concern as they could be symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease.  Definitely see your doctor right away if you have warts "down there."

Go to the next page to learn more about what men can do to promote healthy skin.