Wearing a mask can irritate your face and cause acne!
Wearing a mask helps keep you and others healthy when it comes to covid-19. But it can have a harmful effect on your face, leading to skin irritations or acne. In fact, breakouts caused by masks have become so prominent that the word “maskne” has even been added to the Urban Dictionary.
Virtually all skin types will see some form of irritation from wearing a face mask if they are wearing them for extended amounts of time each day. Many people will see irritation from the physical friction and/or pressure of the material on their skin, while others will see acne pop up.
Why masks cause irritation
Masks trap moisture, sweat, oil and dirt close to our skin. The resulting blemishes can include acne, small bumps, inflamed hair follicles, irritation, pressure sores, broken blood vessels, contact dermatitis and rosacea.
Habits we engage in while wearing masks can exacerbate the problem. Because the masks tend to move (there are very few custom-fitting masks on the market), we’re continually touching our faces to adjust them, leaving behind dirt or other irritants on our skin. We also move the mask around to eat or to take a sip of coffee — and any friction causes irritation.
Even the simple act of breathing is a complication. When we breathe or talk into the masks, we increase moisture, which ends up changing our skin’s natural PH. This can result in an overgrowth of bacteria, which can create acne, inflamed hair follicles and a flare-up of rosacea.
To avoid blemishes, you need to alter your skin-care routine and consider what kind of mask you are wearing.
Changing your skin-care routine
Keeping clean is the most important thing you can do to prevent breakouts.
So, before you pop that mask onto your face, wash with a gentle cleanser such as our handmade face soap which will hydrate, repair and support your skin’s barrier function. Avoid wearing makeup, which can spoil the mask and further clog your skin.