How to Treat Maskne? (Mask Acne)

To slow down the spread of COVID-19, wearing a face mask became mandatory. You need to wear it in public places like grocery stores, offices, restaurants, as a barrier against the virus that spreads through respiratory droplets.

Now when you wear masks, it is likely that you breakout and this is known as “maskne” (mask acne). It is a very common side effect of wearing face masks. They don’t only cause pimples, it may further result in other skin issues such as bumpiness, irritation, and redness. If you worry about maskne then read on, as this article will help you understand the potential causes and how you can prevent it.

Things you should know about the maskne condition.

To begin with, “maskne” is an umbrella term for several other skin conditions that can be caused due to wearing face masks. It includes:

Acne: Acne occurs when your pores get clogged with oil, dirt, and dead skin. It thereon leads to pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads.

Rosacea: If you suffer from rosacea, wearing a mask might cause flare-ups which might lead to pimples and redness.

Contact dermatitis: This is a situation where people have allergic reactions due to the sensitivity to the material of the mask. It can lead to a red rash, blisters, and irritation.

Folliculitis, also known as hair follicles: Causes bumps that look more like an acne breakout. Due to this, you might even experience itchiness or pain.

If you have any of these conditions, then you are prone to getting maskne.

Why do you get it?

As you might be aware by now, maskne involves several other skin conditions, the exact cause of the symptom may vary from person to person. Mostly, maskne is a result of clogged pores that means you already have bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells present on your skin. However, when you wear a mask, these substances get heightened and block your pores. Furthermore, a mask also traps humidity due to heavy breathing and sweating which might increase the risk of acne.

How do you treat maskne?

First and foremost, it is of paramount importance to wear your Safekind N95 face mask, even if you suffer from maskne. Keeping your mouth and nose covered is one of the best ways to protect yourself from COVID-19. There are numerous ways you can treat maskne. Let’s try to understand each step in more detail:

1) Regularly wash your face

It is vital to wash your face and follow the skincare routine that you have set for yourself. For washing your face, follow these steps

Wash it once in the morning

Once at night, before bed

After you throw out your mask

2) Toss out disposable masks after use

After you are done wearing a disposable mask, throw it away. Plus, you can carry additional face masks with you, in case you need a fresh one.

3) Don’t forget to apply moisturizer before wearing a mask

If you tend to have dry skin, a mask can cause irritation. It will be a good idea to apply non-comedogenic cream that helps hydrate your skin. A good moisturizer has the capability to act as a barrier against your skin and mask.

Conclusion

In the end, it all comes down to picking the right mask. A few things that you should keep in mind are:

Make sure your mask fits you properly but is not too tight

It has more than two layers of fabric