Our skin loves to breathe. It suffocates under many layers of makeup, wrapped in a wool scarf during the cold winter or under a protective mask…. The latter has recently accompanied us almost 24 hours a day. Because of this, our skin cries out for help. Pores become clogged and the skin is contaminated (especially if we wear the same mask for a long time). This is how pandemic acne is created.  

Contrary to appearances, this is a problem affecting even people who have not previously had skin problems. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat it.

 

Where does it come from?

The term “maskne” was coined from a combination of the English words mask i acne meaning “mask” and “acne.” It is nothing more than acne resulting from wearing a mask. Maskne appears on the chin, cheeks, above the lips and on the jawline. It manifests itself with inflammation and pimples, and sometimes redness and dryness of the skin. This troublesome effect of wearing the mask regularly has been written about in, among other publications, the New York Times As early as June 2020. At that time, the Yale dermatology professor, Dr. Mona Gohara noted that this is a problem for many of her patients.

 

mask vs. skin

Today, maskne already affects most women. It is now the most common type of mechanical acne. It is caused by friction (rubbing of the mask against the face), heat (especially with masks made of artificial materials), moisture (evaporation from the mouth) and poor air access. This is a dream environment for bacteria and microorganisms, resulting in further inflammatory changes and pimples. The skin is then defenseless against microorganisms that penetrate it. In turn, the lack of air causes the skin’s pores to become clogged. The result is blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and the more serious cystic acne. Often, before one lesion is cured, another appears. Discoloration remains, and sometimes scarring as well.

First and foremost, prevention

What can be done to minimize to zero the unpleasant effects of wearing a mask ? Here are some practical tips:

1 Choose masks made of natural material. From fashionable ones with funny slogans and made of artificial material, better would be those made of natural fabric. They let a lot more air through, so the skin under such masks breathes more freely. This does not mean at all that it will be less protected from viruses.

2. change masks after each use. The maximum length of wearing them is a few hours. Take them off carefully by the elastics or strings so as not to transfer microorganisms on the fingers, and preferably wash them immediately or throw them in the trash. In turn, while wearing them, we must avoid touching the face because this causes pathogens to spread over their uncovered area as well.

3 Let’s cleanse our face well. During the pandemic, it’s a goodidea to do this more often than usual. In addition to a well-chosen gel, mousse or micellar liquid, let’s also use a toner to restore the skin’s proper pH. Because of the frequent washing, it is worth choosing cosmetics with a mild composition, so as not to over-dry the skin. Using gentle cleansers, we can afford to wash our face thoroughly every time we come home.

Pandemic acne
Always cleanse your facial skin before going to bed.

4. moisturize the skin. Creams for acne seal the hydrolipidic mantle, which does not allow bacteria to penetrate the skin. They can be used even several times a day. You also need to remember to drink water regularly. Two liters, drunk daily, will certainly strengthen the skin in the fight against microorganisms.

5. apply light makeup. Opaque, heavy fluids combined with high temperatures under the mask are a killer for the skin. Opt for lightweight BB and CC creams, and try to go makeup-free at home – the more air your skin gets, the easier it can cope with maskne.

6. Visit a dermatologist or cosmetologist. If we feel that our struggle with maskne has gotten out of control, let’s not delay visiting a specialist. The sooner, the better. Proliferating inflammation and deep discoloration will be much more difficult to treat, and expensive to get rid of. An expert will advise us on a product that hits our needs perfectly.

UDOSTĘPNIJ

Używamy plików cookie, aby zapewnić najlepszą jakość korzystania z Internetu. Zgadzając się, zgadzasz się na użycie plików cookie zgodnie z naszą polityką plików cookie.

Close Popup
Privacy Settings saved!
Ustawienie prywatności

When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Control your personal Cookie Services here.

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

Technical Cookies
In order to use this website we use the following technically required cookies
  • wordpress_test_cookie
  • wordpress_logged_in_
  • wordpress_sec

Odrzuć
Zapisz
Zaakceptuj