Wearing a mask is still one of the ongoing trends within the covid period. Despite its beneficial purpose of protecting us from transferring or receiving any sort of disease, it also comes with its own downside too.
What is Maskne? What caused it?
As the name implies, maskne refers to skin breakouts and acne caused by wearing a face mask for a prolonged period. Face masks trap a lot of humidity due to our breathing and sweating. Another cause is friction between the mask and the skin or the sensitivity of your skin towards the face mask’s materials or infused chemical and scent. Hence, building up a lot of oil, bacteria and dead skin cells on your skin which clog your pores forming acne.
Tips To Reduce & Improve Maskne
Reduce Make Up
Beauty products such as foundation, concealers and blush plus the added humidity from exhaling within your mask can quickly clog up your pores and promote breakouts. If you must absolutely wear makeup, choose non-comedogenic products to allow your pores to breathe freely.
Wash Your Face Regularly
Despite covid, continue practicing your regular skincare routine to keep your face fresh and clean. We would recommend washing your face at least twice a day.
- Once in the morning
- Once at night
- After sweating or wearing a face mask
Wash your face with lukewarm water to allow your pores to open up, allowing your facial cleanser to penetrate and cleanse the dirts thoroughly. Then, pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Avoid products that contain alcohol or perfume. We highly recommend using a gentle cleanser or beauty products to avoid irritation and further spread of breakout.
Wear High Quality Mask
Despite the price tag, masks should feel comfortable on your skin. High quality masks which are not pre-treated with chemicals or scented with synthetic fragrances, are made of soft natural material such as cotton, provides efficacy and durability which reduces your chances of getting breakouts.
Wash Your Fabric Mask
Double masking is being part of the norm by wearing a cloth mask over a disposable mask or vice versa. Nevertheless, it is important to never reuse fabric masks without washing them. Fabric masks should be washed after every daily use. You can keep a few additional masks at home as a spare while the others are being washed. If you have sensitive skin, use an unscented hypoallergenic laundry detergent to avoid skin irritations.
Remove Your Mask Every 4 Hours
Taking off your mask for 10 minutes every 4 hours gives your skin a break from all the trapped humidity. It allows your skin to breathe in clean fresh air which is highly beneficial. However, only remove your mask when it is safe to do so.
