Pro Tips on How to Treat Your Maskne
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- Maskne is the term used to describe skin irritation caused by wearing a face mask.
- Since the start of the pandemic, maskne cases have increased, causing people to wonder how to treat and prevent it.
- Ahead are the best tips to prevent maskne at home.
As we enter year three of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing has become very clear: our sense of "normalcy" has definitely shifted. While certain aspects of our lives have gone back to normal — see: some travel and being able to meet with people in person again — others have not. Particularly, the use of face masks in our everyday lives.
Aside from being essential in the reducing the spread of COVID, masks have had some other unintended perks. For example, some people realized they also helped to keep the common flu away as well. However, there have also been some adverse reactions to wearing a piece of fabric on the face for hours on end. Enter the dreaded "mask-ne."
"Many people who never thought twice about the health of their skin or never had 'problem skin' are noting increased breakouts and skin irritation with daily mask-wearing," plastic surgeon Smita R. Ramanadham, MD, FACS, previously told POPSUGAR. But what exactly is maskne? According to Healthline, "maskne" is an umbrella term for several skin conditions that can stem from wearing a face mask. These conditions can include acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, and periofacial dermatitis, amongst others. Masks can exacerbated these conditions in people who've already experience them, but they can also come about for the first time in people with otherwise "normal" skin.
Because face masks aren't going anywhere any time soon, we rounded up the best tips to treat maskne from home, ahead.
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What Is Maskne and Why Does It Happen?
Maskne occurs because wearing a mask essentially creates the perfect environment for acne flare-ups on the face. "There are three things that cause breakouts: excess skin, oil, and acne bacteria," Claire O'Bryan, ANC-P of The Skin Clique, previously told POPSUGAR. "All of these things are going to be thriving in that mask environment. The mask is blocking the pores, the heat and wet environment are where the bacteria will grow best, and constant irritation from the mask will cause more oil production."
Long story short: masks can be breeding grounds for bacteria.
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How to Prevent Maskne: Wash Your Face
One of the best tips for keeping maskne at bay is a simple one: wash your face. "Try to keep your face as clean as possible during the day," said O'Bryan. "Even though your face may not seem dirty, just having that added environment of the mask on your skin will lead to increased irritation and sebum production."
Another way to fight maskne is by looking at the types of masks you are wearing every day. Celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar previously told POPSUGAR that "people with acne-prone skin should use "ultra lightweight, soft, breathable, and sweat-absorbing masks, preferably made of natural materials such as cotton, silk, or rayon."
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How to Prevent Maskne: Wash Your Face Masks
Dr. Sandra Lee also agrees that the types of masks worn have an impact on maskne, but cautions people against using masks that may not be adequate for preventing COVID. To prevent these issues all together, she recommends "taking little breaks from your mask in the shade" as long as you are away from other people.
But if you are relegated to wearing a mask for consecutive hours, another tip that Dr. Lee previously shared was to spray your mask with salicylic acid. "If you've been sweating, spray the inside of your mask with a salicylic acid spray — we have the SLMD "Salicylic Acid Body Spray ($30) that you can leave in your car or take with you whenever you need it — and it will help clear out the debris and any gunk from inside your pores to stop breakouts from forming."
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How to Prevent Maskne: Moisturizing Your Skin
Frequent face washing can also increase skin irritation, again leading to more maskne flare-ups. So, after washing your face, always make sure to follow up with a lightweight moisturizer. "Hyaluronic-acid containing facial moisturizers can help," Dr. Harold Lancer, MD previously told POPSUGAR. "Sometimes a triple antibacterial ointment like Neosporin can be applied, when necessary, to the affected area."