Skin has no gender:facial treatments by skin type, not by gender
- Differences between male and female skin are real, but they are averages. One person's skin can be very far from the average for their gender.
- Hormones shape skin more than gender: testosterone raises oil and acne, oestrogen lowers oil and dries the skin.
- A good facial starts with a skin assessment: skin type, what bothers you, medication and hormones. Only then do we pick a device.
- At Taletsky everyone is treated one to one, by the name and pronouns they choose.
What really differs in male and female skin
A 2018 dermatology review collected the known differences. On average, male skin is thicker, produces more sebum (natural oil), holds more moisture and has more pigment. Female skin is slightly less acidic.
The same review stresses that these parameters change with age, environment and lifestyle. A man with dry, sensitive skin or a woman with oily skin and large pores is not unusual. So at the clinic we never start with "man or woman". We start with what this skin needs.
Taletsky Method: a personal protocol for your skin →How hormones change your skin
Hormones are why your skin at 17 is different from your skin at 50. They are also why skin changes during gender-affirming hormone therapy. The figures below come from studies, not from a personal forecast.
Testosterone. In a Dutch study from 2000, skin became oilier within the first four months of testosterone and most participants developed facial acne. A large 2026 study of thousands of trans men found that acne risk peaks in the first year. Within five years 15.8% developed acne, compared with 3.8% of cisgender men.
Oestrogen and anti-androgens. In trans women the opposite happens: oil production falls and acne usually calms down. In the Dutch study, every participant who had acne at the start no longer had it after four months. Skin may become drier and more sensitive. Beard hair gets sparser and finer but does not disappear: on average 32 hairs per cm² on the cheeks at the start and 18 after one year.
Hormones and the Ruby laser work together. Hormone therapy works from the inside: facial hair grows more slowly and gets finer. The Ruby laser works on the hair itself: it weakens the dark hairs that remain and reduces growth even further. Together they get you to a smooth face faster, with less shaving.
Ruby laser facial hair removal →Treatment by skin type
Instead of asking "man or woman", the assessment looks at what is actually going on in the skin:
Then we match the device and the settings. Oily skin with large pores suits a carbon peel. Acne scars and uneven texture suit the Erbium laser. Sun spots suit the Ruby laser. Dark facial hair suits Ruby laser hair removal. And tired skin that needs several things at once gets the Taletsky Method, a personal protocol that combines several devices.
Carbon peel for pores and oily skin →Erbium laser skin renewal →Our technology: Quanta System devices →Facial treatments for men
Men usually come with oily skin on the forehead, nose and chin, large pores, shaving irritation, acne scars from their teens and sun spots from the beach or outdoor work. The skin is thicker, so settings sometimes differ, but the principle is the same: we treat the problem, not the gender.
Facial treatments for men at our Tel Aviv clinic: carbon peel for pores and oil, Erbium for acne scars and skin renewal, Ruby for sun spots and for facial hair removal on the cheeks and beard line.
Facial treatments for men in Tel Aviv →Acne scars: what actually helps →Facial treatments for women
Women usually come with sun spots, uneven texture, fine lines and acne scars. For a quick glow before an event there is the Erbium GlowPeel or a carbon peel. For deeper renewal there is fractional Erbium resurfacing.
Dark patches that appear in pregnancy or with the pill may be melasma. We do not treat melasma with lasers, because aggressive laser work can make it worse. At the assessment we tell sun spots and melasma apart.
Facial treatments for women in Tel Aviv →Sun spots on the face: how to remove them →Trans and non-binary clients
Trans and non-binary clients get the same professional treatment with a personal approach: we use the name and pronouns you choose, treatment is one to one in a private room and we only ask what matters for the treatment.
- Trans men: in the first year of testosterone the skin is oily and prone to acne. A carbon peel helps with oil and pores. Once acne calms down, Erbium treats the scars.
- Trans women: skin gets drier and more delicate while beard hair stays. The Ruby laser weakens dark hair. Gentle treatments keep the skin calm.
- Non-binary clients: we build the treatment around your goal, with no assumptions about how you "should" look.
Want to remove an old tattoo or permanent makeup? Laser House TLV, our tattoo and permanent makeup removal clinic, works at the same address.
Tattoo removal at Laser House TLV →Permanent makeup removal at Laser House TLV →
What suits me
| What bothers you | What suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Oily skin, large pores | Carbon peel | Fine during testosterone too |
| Acne scars | Erbium laser | After active acne has calmed |
| Sun spots | Ruby laser | Not for melasma |
| Texture and fine lines | Erbium skin renewal | Any age, any gender |
| Dark facial hair | Ruby laser hair removal | Dark hair only |
| Several issues at once | Taletsky Method | Personal protocol |
Not sure what suits you? That is exactly what the assessment is for. We look at your skin, listen to what bothers you and say honestly what will help and what will not.
Prices* →Before and after →FAQ
Is there a difference between facials for men and facials for women?
The devices are the same. What changes is the match to the skin: thick, oily skin gets different settings from thin, dry skin, regardless of gender.
I am on hormone therapy. Can I have facials and laser treatments?
In most cases, yes. Tell us about your hormone therapy and any other medication at the assessment and we will adapt the plan. Decisions about the hormones themselves are made only with your doctor.
I have had acne since starting testosterone. What can I do?
Active acne, and especially severe acne, is treated first by a dermatologist. At the clinic a carbon peel helps with oil and pores. Once the skin calms down, Erbium treats the scars.
Do I need to tell you about my gender identity?
No. We only ask what matters for the treatment: skin, medication and allergies. If you like, you can message us in advance with the name and pronouns to use.
Do you treat melasma?
Not with lasers. Melasma is a skin condition that needs a different approach, because aggressive laser work can make it worse. At the assessment we check whether it is melasma or sun spots.
How much does a facial treatment cost?
It depends on the treatment and the area. All prices are on the price list and the final price is set after the assessment.
More tips and real results on our Instagram: @taletsky_roomtlv
Your skin, your treatment
A personal assessment: we look at your skin, hear what bothers you and build a plan that fits only you.*
Book a consultation on WhatsAppPrices* The final price is set after a personal skin assessment by a specialist at the clinic.
Sources
- Rahrovan S, Fanian F, Mehryan P, Humbert P, Firooz A. Male versus female skin: What dermatologists and cosmeticians should know. Int J Womens Dermatol, 2018
- Giltay EJ, Gooren LJ. Effects of sex steroid deprivation/administration on hair growth and skin sebum production in transsexual males and females. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2000
- Smith CA et al. Acne incidence and severity in transgender individuals. JAMA Dermatology, 2026
- Yanes DA, Smith P, Avram MM. A review of best practices for gender-affirming laser hair removal. Dermatol Surg, 2024
