A growing number of men – around 10.8M globally – are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Globally, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 69% of all suicides. Movember – Our Cause & What We Stand For

In 2003, two Australian friends—Travis Garone and Luke Slattery—launched a mustache challenge that morphed into a global movement to focus attention on men’s health. Borrowing a playful reference to mustaches—or “mos” in Aussie slang—they called their challenge “Movember” and brought together 30 “Mo Bros” to “change the face of men’s health.” Because, on average, men die nearly five years earlier than women. They’re also less likely to visit a doctor regularly, or to seek help for emotional struggles.

Today the “MoBro” (and MoSister) headcount is up to six million, raising funds and awareness of three issues that impact men’s health disproportionately: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and depression/suicide.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men over 45. More than 1.4 million men are diagnosed annually with the disease, which is treatable—indeed, curable—if treated early.

Testicular cancer, although relatively rare overall, is the most common type of cancer to affect young men (anyone with testicles between the ages of 15 and 49). It is also one of the most curable forms of cancer.

Depression/suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States—and 80% of U.S. suicides are males. These tragedies, too, can be prevented and treated if caught in time.

As a physician and lifelong advocate for “Inclusive Health,” I see Movember as more than a campaign—it’s an opportunity for all of us to pause and reflect on what it really means to be well.

Health is more than skin deep

When I started my dermatology practice decades ago, I quickly learned that the skin is not just a surface; it’s a window to wellness. It reflects what’s happening inside the body and mind. Stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and emotional isolation all leave visible marks. In men, these signs often go unnoticed—or unspoken—because so many men were taught to “tough it out” rather than reach out.

Movember gives men permission to talk about things we often have kept silent: the anxiety we carry, the health checks we avoid, the vulnerability we hide behind a brave face. Movember aims to remind us that self-care is not vanity—it’s sanity.

Here are five things the Movember Institute of Men’s Health recommends:

1. Stay connected. Spend time with people who make you feel good.
2. Talk more. And listen more, too. You don’t have to be an expert to be a good sounding board for a friend.
3. Know the numbers. In particular, your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) score.
4. Know your nuts. So that you literally have a feel for what’s normal for your testicles.
5. Move more. Get off your butt. Ideally, do something you enjoy. Bonus points for doing it with a friend. Because exercise supports brain health, circulation, and stress reduction.

I agree with all of these recommendations. I would simply add that men’s health—indeed, anyone’s health—isn’t just about avoiding disease; it’s about creating habits that sustain energy, vitality, and joy.

Science now confirms that emotional well-being is inseparable from physical health. Chronic stress, loneliness, and negative self-talk can all manifest in the body, whether through inflammation, fatigue, or skin concerns. Learning to manage stress through mindfulness, gratitude, and meaningful connection can transform not just how you look—but how you live.

Here are a few simple yet powerful ways to take better care of your health—no matter what your gender:

• Eat nutrient-rich foods. Whole foods fuel your cells.
• Hydrate. Water is essential for cellular repair and operation, as well as emotional balance.
• Schedule regular checkups. Preventive care saves lives.
• Manage your stress. This requires doing what nurtures and replenishes you. Self-care isn’t indulgent; it’s essential.

Let’s redefine strength

The traditional concept of masculinity often centers on endurance and stoicism. But real strength lies in self-awareness and the courage to ask for help. Taking care of your body, mind, and spirit is not weakness, it’s wisdom.

This Movember, I encourage men everywhere to prioritize their health in all its dimensions. Make the appointment you’ve been putting off. Talk to someone if you’re struggling. Go for a run, eat an apple, change that negative self-talk.

Because caring for yourself isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s an act of intelligence. Your health is your greatest investment, and it’s never too late to start nurturing it—from the inside out.

That’s #ModernWellness!

“Make your health and wellness a priority.”

This month’s featured Insight is appropriate to our Movember theme. It reflects my observation, as a physician and friend, that many people minimize their own health and wellness out of a mistaken notion that other demands and priorities are more important. Whether those demands come from work or family, the effect is the same: their own health suffers.

This approach is short-sighted, even by altruistic standards. If it’s true that other people or projects are relying on you, that’s all the more reason to take care of yourself: other people and programs are relying on you!

Of course, there are times when life gets away from us and we miss lunch, or a day at the gym, or our annual physical. But if the day turns into a week, or the annual exam gets rescheduled more than once, your priorities might need a tune-up.

The same attention is appropriate regarding our mental health. If you continuously struggle with anxiety or depression, please don’t struggle alone. Reach out to family and friends; talk to a pastor or rabbi, a counselor, or your physician. Help is also available from self-help books (bibliotherapy) and even AI. But having a community of support, even if it’s informal, is best. So reach out. Let others help you. It will make you both feel good.

Because just as you must put on your own oxygen mask before helping others, you must make your own health and wellness a priority to be good to anyone else over time.

And besides, you’re worth it!