Wearing a face mask is essential to protecting you and others from contracting COVID-19. However, if you are wearing one for hours at a time every day, you might be noticing that they aren’t so great for your skin. Mask-induced breakouts, also called “maskne,” is becoming a common complaint of many women. If you are one of them, you need to remember that you still need to wear your mask. However, there are a few things you can do to prevent and treat your breakouts.
Take Extra Good Care of Your Skin
Wearing a mask creates a perfect place for bacteria, yeast, and other microbes to grow because it creates a warm and humid environment that is prone to breakouts. If you wear a mask often, it is vital that you wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Switch to a cleanser that contains salicylic acid if breakouts continue because it will help mildly exfoliate your skin and unclog pores. You should also continue to use moisturizer and sunscreen every day. This will help minimize friction that can irritate your skin and cause breakouts from that, too.
Avoid Wearing Heavy Makeup
If you must wear makeup, avoid wearing thick, oil-based products because they can make the acne worse. Go light with your makeup and consider using a tinted sunscreen instead.
Wash Masks After Use
Washing your mask is essential to helping prevent acne if you are not wearing disposable masks. A reusable cloth mask will absorb sweat and contain germs and bacteria that can make your face breakout. Make sure that you wash your mask daily.
Consult with a Professional
When maskne becomes problematic, it is time to take action and talk to your aesthetician about acne treatments, such as:
- Facials and medical-grade chemical peels can be an effective acne treatment to help clear your skin and revitalize your complexion.
- Microdermabrasion to exfoliate your skin combined with a specialty mask to help improve skin problems like acne.
- For stubborn acne, Acne Light Treatment (BLU-U) can be used to target bacteria in your oil glands and excessive oil production.
If you have maskne, don’t stop wearing your mask. But do call North Scottsdale Laser & Skin Care Clinic at (408) 448-0918 to schedule a consultation to see what acne treatments are best for you.
