What is Maskne?
Having spent the last several months in lockdown we are now having to adjust to the new normal way of life which includes wearing face masks whenever we want to go to our local shop, supermarket or when using public transport.
Most of us are not accustomed to wearing face masks for prolonged periods of time and many of us are experiencing skin problems because of them. Therefore today, we look at mask acne or ‘maskne’ and its causes, as well as ways to prevent and treat it to keep you looking your best, even if it’s covered by a mask!
Maskne is the redness or break-out in spots caused by the friction and heat from the mask material rubbing against your skin. This type of acne is called ‘acne mechania’ and anyone can get it, although it is especially common amongst athletes. As well as the mask causing friction it also produces heat which in turn creates sweat that can block your pores. The mask can also trap bacteria, oil and even makeup which can all cause blemishes, spots and redness.
How to prevent Maskne?
Wash or replace your mask regularly.
If you have a reusable cloth mask it is important that you wash it after every full day of use to avoid bacteria and dirt building up on the mask as this could block your pores and cause spots and redness.
If you use disposable masks it is extremely important that you change them as often as you can to assure you don’t wear a previously worn mask again as the dirt from a previous day will still be on the inside of the mask.
- It is important that you wash your face before and after you wear the mask as the build up of dirt, oil and bacteria underneath the skin can cause breakouts, redness and irritations.
- If your skin is already irritated you should consider using a gentle Cleansing Wash such as our Hypoallergenic Gel Cleanser to avoid any further irritations caused by essential oils. Using a cleanser will remove any excess sebum that's building up in your pores.
- Avoid washing your face too much as this will dry out your skin and make it more susceptible to redness and irritation.
- Keep your skin hydrated by using a facial spray such as a toner and moisturiser to strengthen your skin's protective barrier. This will enable it to combat dirt and damage from free radicals that are building up underneath your mask.
- Adopt a minimal makeup look, or even better - apply no make up at all under your mask to avoid adding makeup to the growing list of pollutants your skin has to fight off!
and moisturiser to strengthen your skin's protective barrier. This will enable it to combat dirt and damage from free radicals that are building up underneath your mask.
