These are strange times that we live in. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our regular daily life has been completely uprooted to say the least. Wearing masks when we go out is now the new normal. According to the World Health Organization, “masks are a key measure to suppress transmission and save lives. Masks reduce potential exposure risk from an infected person whether they have symptoms or not.” Until things get better, this is indeed the new normal.
What is Maskne (Mask Acne)?
The medical term for “maskne” is acne mechanica, a type of acne that occurs due to friction and pressure on the skin. This is common after prolonged use personal protective equipment (PPE). “Masks impose heat, friction and occlusion on the skin and when combined with a moist environment from breathing, talking or sweating, this is a recipe for breakouts,” says Dr Harry Dao, a dermatologist at the Loma Linda University Health Medical Group, based in California. “Pores get clogged and can become pimples or acne cysts. On top of that, the prolonged occlusion, heat and sweat can cause the skin to become dry, itchy and raw.”
This is nothing new to some people, such as athletes who wear protective gear such as helmets, or medical staff workers who wear surgical masks. For most people, this is a rather new inconvenience. Due to the fact that we will have to wear masks for quite some time, there are things we can do to minimize the amount of mascne we get if we pay close attention to the actual mask we wear.
If you’re using a disposable surgical mask and notice maskcne forming, it could be that your skin is having a reaction to the material found in this type of mask.
There are a few things that you can do to help with this.
- The easiest thing to do in this situation is to just switch up your mask to a cloth or cotton mask.
One thing to keep in mind: the standard single use surgical masks are actually made of plastic! Most single-use mask are made of polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester. This means that these masks are actually harmful to the environment! Polypropylene, the main ingredient of single use plastics, is an oil derived plastic that takes hundreds of years to break down. If you’ve paid any attention to the plastic polluting our oceans, you’d know that polypropylene shed tiny harmful microplastic particles which is then consumed by fish and other aquatic animals. Then, in turn, when we eat seafood, we are also eating those particles. Yuck!
According to the UN, “75% of the used masks, as well as other pandemic related waste, will end up in landfills or floating in the seas.” Please avoid using these masks as much as possible. Do your part and help shape a greener world by preventing waste.
- Wash your face before and after using your mask.
When you put on a mask when your face is oily or dirty, you increase the chances of maskne. Over prolonged use, your mask may trap moisture and heat and create a breeding environment for bacteria. So it’s best to wash your face beforehand and then after you finish wearing a mask. Follow up with proper moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying out and becoming irritated.
- If you currently have acne and don’t want to make it worse when you wear a mask, put a CTRL-Z sticker on it!
Our biggest fear is making a pimple even worse. Especially when wearing a mask, when that constant friction will only irritate the pimple. One thing that will help is creating a barrier between the mask and your skin, which will prevent the friction or irritation of the skin and acne. The easiest way is to just apply a CTRL Z sticker and off you go! Not only is a barrier of protection created between your mask and your pimple, you can go about your day without worrying. It’s a load off your mind. Carry on with your day!
No matter what mask you choose to wear, keep in mind that washing before and after wearing a mask can help with reducing mask related acne. Hopefully this helps you get on with your day and battle mask acne!
