How to deal with maskne.

Nowadays acne is a real issue for many of us. In fact, acne is not just for teenager, as some people experience it all their life. That’s because their skin is more acne-prone or for hormonal or stress-related reasons.

In addition, researches found out that wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 might have a side effect: it can cause skin irritation. We call it “maskne”.

What is maskne?

Maskne (a word which combines “mask” and “acne”) is a side effect from wearing masks for an extended period of time and it consists in redness, irritation, itching and acne.
In fact, maskne is caused by the combination of several factors. First of all, our skin barrier is irritated by rubbing from the mask. In addition, when we are breathing for a long time with our masks on, trapped breath creates humidity. The combination of these factors leads to a breeding ground for skin problems.

Maskne may happen on your jawline, cheeks and nose, which is where your mask touches your skin.

How can you prevent it?

Nowadays maskne is a real issue, but luckily you can make some easy adjustments to your skincare routine in order to avoid it.

The first advice is simply to wash your face before and after wearing a face mask.

Before putting on your face mask, it’s important to wash your face using a gentle cleanser. Then, apply a moisturizer. Also, use non-comedogenic and oil-free options, so that they won’t clog your pores.
What are the best products for an irritated skin? Look for ingredients such as vitamin E, niacinamide, ceramides, squalene and glycerin.

During the day, avoid touching your face as much as possible.
Talking about makeup, it’s better to avoid foundation.
Also, stay away from face scrubs or anything that could irritate your face even more.

As face masks are becoming a regular part of our accessories, skin problems may occur. That’s why you should take great care of your face masks.
It’s very important to apply a beauty face mask to keep your skin moisturized.

If you’re wearing a cloth mask, you should wash it daily in the washing machine, so that it’s cleaned after each use. You should have a few masks so you can easily switch them out. This is important for your health, and for your skin.

If you’re using disposable masks, use a fresh one each day.