Preventing Skin Problems from Constant Mask Wearing
In the wake of Covid-19, mask-wearing is mandatory to protect yourself and the people around you. But you're not far away from having serious skin problems due to constant mask-wearing. It was referred in a story of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that over one-third of health care workers dealt with unfavorable skin reactions by wearing N95 masks regularly for some months.
Wearing an N95 mask constantly is more adverse to the skin than any other because it fits tight around the nose and behind the ears. Dermatologists recommend wearing these masks only for a short duration as it irritates the skin and damages it. The most probable skin problems that address people due to regular mask-wearing are:
Anna Chien, a dermatologist of the Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology, elucidates that you can take care of these facial problems while wearing a mask.
What must you do before wearing a mask?
There are some care tips that you can consider before wearing a mask to prevent skin reactions.
Skin irritation:
Use a lotion or hydrating moisturizer on the area where the mask touches your face. If wearing an N95 mask, you should apply some soothing powder around the nose to lessen the irritation. Use a thicker emollient like Aquaphor to augment skin wall function and give lubrication between the skin and the mask.
Red rash:
All the mask reactions to the face are irritation caused by friction. Wash your mask regularly and apply a relaxing cleanser to deal with a red rash or sores to relax the skin. Remember, use an alcohol-free cleanser that must not cause further pain. Cleanse the face, especially the pores, to chuck out all the sweat and the grime.
Rosacea:
Rosacea becomes worse when the heat under your mask dilates skin capillaries. Rosacea is a condition that comes and goes, according to Dr. Idriss. Use a cooler-feeling mask if possible and gently wash your face with cold water after taking off a mask. Switch towards a cotton-face mask to cool down the skin. Make sure to clean your mask with fragrance-free detergent.
Maskne:
Do you know regular mask-wearing can give you a trigger for acne? Masks cause acne that leads to "maskne," a condition formed by the heat, occlusion and friction imposed on the skin. But you can soothe it by using vitamin C serum on the affected area. Remember to use vitamin c serum after taking off your mask and do not wear it for 2-3 hours. Vitamin c serum relaxes your acne while giving it a hydration effect to lessen pain and irritation caused by maskne due to mask-wearing.
We are all in the middle of the pandemic and wearing a mask is a must, but you have to look out for the things to tailor skincare routine just to fit new skin concerns. Wash your mask and face regularly. Treat your face with vitamin C serum to get rid of acne and maskne. Protect yourself and the world around you!
