Since the Covid 19 pandemic, millions of people have been suffering from a new disease called “maskne”. This is acne caused by surgical facial masks. Many people do not know how to treat and/or prevent maskne. Many people are also not aware that they can get acne from wearing surgical face masks.
The word maskne almost speaks for itself: Acne caused by wearing surgical face masks. The scientific term for this is acne mechanica. You may be reading this now and thinking to yourself that this is not relevant to you as you don’t have acne or other skin blemishes, but unfortunately acne can develop after just a few months of wearing surgical face masks. In this blog you will learn what mascne actually is, how it develops and how to stop and prevent it.
HOW DOES MASCNE DEVELOP?
Mascne occurs when sweat, oil and bacteria build up on the skin underneath the mask. This creates the perfect breeding ground for an infection, also known as a breakout. This type of acne is called acne mechanica and is different from acne or blemishes caused by hormones or hereditary problems like cystic acne. Acne mechanica is mainly caused by rubbing fabrics against the skin, which irritates the hair follicles. When the mask is worn, small bits of fluid from the mouth get into and onto the mask. These small pieces are called aerosols. The oils and sweat, both from the skin, combined with the aerosols and the object that causes them, cause your skin to go through an uncomfortable time and create more bacteria.
CONCLUSION: When hair follicles are irritated, bacteria can more easily enter and infect the skin. This process can be compared to general, normal acne or even infections from blemishes.
WHAT DOES MASCNE LOOK LIKE?
Mascne mainly shows and forms around and in the area that the mask covers. That is, around the mouth, cheeks, chin, jaw and nose. Treacherous; if not treated correctly, it can spread and enlarge to other areas. Small inflammations form in and on the skin, commonly known as cystic acne; red skin, bumps and sometimes itchy or painful patches, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Everyone’s skin is different, and so are their routines and skincare products. Another and less common form is blackheads and whiteheads. These don’t have to be painful or itchy, but after a while they can also develop into cystic acne. It’s really not funny.
DOES THE MASK REALLY EXIST?
A crucial question, if you ask us. At the beginning of the pandemic, not many people had any side effects from the mask. After a few weeks of quarantine and getting used to the mask, the number of people suffering from acne around the mouth increased. Since the word “mask” was first mentioned, scientists and dermatologists have conducted studies on it. While the studies were still ongoing, it was already being concluded on social media that it was something caused by the surgical face mask. After a short time, several dermatologists commented on the new term and indeed concluded that it was a mask. Fortunately, after this conclusion, they did not leave us in the dark and also gave some tips. Some of these tips are already known when thinking about general acne, and other tips relate to actually wearing the mask.
HOW TO TREAT MASK IN 6 EASY STEPS
Acne in general is not easy to treat. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with maskne either. The good news, however, is that it can be done. The bad news? It takes time, effort and patience.
1. WASH OR CHANGE YOUR PILLOWCASE EVERY DAY.
Changing your pillowcase every day may seem a little extreme, but it is very important when treating mask or acne. If you have sensitive skin and are particularly prone to breakouts, you should also be mindful of what type of detergent you use. We recommend a cotton pillowcase.
2. YOUR SURGICAL FACE MASKS.
Wear a soft, natural and breathable fabric such as cotton. A transparent surgical mask is best. We advise you not to wear synthetic fabrics such as nylon or polyester. These can be irritating and also encourage sweat, which cannot be released under a mask. Bacteria love that. Also, buy several masks, change them every hour (yes, this may sound extreme) and wash them before reuse.
3. TAKE A 2-MINUTE MASK BREAK EVERY HOUR.
Give your face some air to breathe and wash it briefly with cold water. Pat dry with something soft. If this is not possible, you can also use (toilet) paper.
4. LEAVE OUT MAKE-UP
Yes, we understand you, but this will make a big difference. Your skin needs to be able to breathe. If you can’t do without make-up, then don’t use it where your mask is.
5. CLEANSE AND MOISTURISE YOUR FACE DAILY.
Eine sanfte, pH-neutrale Hautpflege kann Hautproblemen vorbeugen. Mit scharfen Produkten laufen Sie Gefahr, dass der pH-Wert Ihres Gesichts aus dem Gleichgewicht gerät. Dies kann Akne und Schmerzen nur verschlimmern. Die Heilung kann dann für die Haut sehr viel schwieriger sein.
6. USE A NOURISHING
You may think that this blog just didn’t tell me that a moisturiser causes acne? Yes, but a surgical mask is constantly moving and rubbing on your skin, damaging it like sandpaper. When you use a nourishing moisturiser, it protects the skin barrier.
CONCLUSION
If you are lucky and do not suffer from measles, be aware that measles does not announce itself in advance or pick out a random person. The four factors mentioned in this blog play an essential role in measles. Be gentle with yourself, be patient and use natural, pH-balanced skin care products. This way you minimise the risk of getting masque.
YOUR NEW SKINCARE ROUTINE TO FIGHT ACNE.
We have made a fine selection of products to treat maskne:
The ORIGINAL Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask – Use daily as a Sport Repair or once a week as a healing and deep cleansing mud mask. The Aftermask Vitamin Serum – Use as a daily light moisturiser under your face mask and of course as an aftermask.
The Leave-Me-On Winter Mask – Recommended and used by thousands of nurses and doctors worldwide.
