If you are following the coronavirus guidelines, you are most likely familiar with maskne. This is the form of acne which appears due to the accumulation of skin oils, bacteria, and sweat trapped on the skin due to wearing a mask. Maskne is commonly experienced since moisture, sweat, and oil can clog pores, cause skin irritation and acne.
What Causes Maskne?
No matter your skin type, if you are wearing a face mask for an extended amount of time, you are most likely going to experience some irritation. While some individuals will experience acne popping up, others will face friction due to material rubbing against the skin. Moreover, certain individuals may even be subject to small bumps, broken blood vessels, inflamed hair follicles, rosacea, dermatitis, or acne.
No doubt wearing a mask can contribute to maskne. Nonetheless, your lifestyle and dietary habits can also have an impact on it. The majority of the masks available in the market are either too loose, too tight, or do not cover the entire face. Very few masks are available with custom-fitting. This means individuals will be continuously adjusting their masks to fit it properly.
Touching your face continuously can lead to the transfer of dirt and grime, which can irritate the skin. This is further aggravated as the mask has to be removed to eat or drink which can amplify friction and irritation. Furthermore, breathing into the mask, coughing or sneezing can increase moisture content, which can change the skin’s natural PH balance. This leads to the overgrowth of bacteria, thereby leading to maskne.
Wearing a face mask is the new norm, and it is here to stay. Below are a few tips to ensure your skin remains flawless and maskne free.
Skin Care Routine for Maskne
One of the best ways you can prevent breakouts is by using the right skincare products. This includes your daytime as well as nighttime skincare routine. Use the best face moisturizer for maskne and sunblock with broad-spectrum SPF 50 UVA and UVB protection, such as Herbion Sunflower Sunblock. This best Sunblock for the face and body has a non-greasy formula that is rich in vitamins and antioxidants which help repair the skin from damage caused by the sun’s harmful rays.
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Makeup for Maskne
Since the coronavirus face mask covers most of the face, there is no need to wear the same amount of makeup as one would without the mask. However, if you must wear makeup, keep it light. Minimum layers on the face allow the skin to breathe. Keep the focus on the eyes and eyebrows. Think cat-eye, fluttery lashes, bushy brows, and vibrant eye shadows. You can easily skip the bronzer, contour powder, blush, and highlight on the cheeks. This will help reduce the number of layers on the face.
Having light makeup is great for looking presentable at times when you do take off your mask. So if you must wear makeup, use non-comedogenic and paraben-free cosmetic products. However, whenever possible, avoid wearing makeup. This will give your skin time to breathe.
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Best Face Wash for Maskne
Before wearing your mask, make sure you cleanse using a mild cleanser, such as Herbion oil-free Neem Face Wash. This acne face wash gently cleanses the skin of dirt and impurities. The anti-acne formula is enriched with Neem, Aloe Vera, and Moringa, which combine to prevent the formation of breakouts.
Since some masks can be too tight, it can make them tug and pull on the skin, thereby causing pain on the ears, nose, and even lead to a headache. To avoid this, you can lubricate the edges of the mask with a moisturizing balm, as it helps create a barrier that prevents friction. Applying moisturizers with anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as Niacinamide will help support the skin barrier. This incredible ingredient also promotes water retention in the skin as well as regulates oil production.
Furthermore, you can also enhance skin benefits by using a Niacinamide serum. The best part is, it can be incorporated into your nighttime as well as your daytime skincare routine as it sits well underneath makeup.
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Maintain Face Mask Hygiene
If you use a reusable mask, make sure you wash it frequently. This helps eliminate viruses, bacteria, dirt, and oils that might be present on the fabric. This is especially true for women as they often tend to apply lipstick, lip gloss, foundation, face powder, or other products that can transfer on the mask. Nonetheless, this also poses a high probability for men as they might use aftershave that can transfer to the mask. Wearing COVID cloth face masks with product buildup can increase the probability of breakouts.
Ideally, one should wash a cloth mask after each use. Make sure the detergent has completely rinsed out of the mask, as its residue can also irritate the skin. Use mild cleaning products that are eco-friendly to avoid irritation. Furthermore, whenever possible, dry cloth masks in direct sunlight.
Best Face Mask for Maskne
If you are experiencing maskne, you might want to pay closer attention to the material of the face mask you are wearing. While we understand this does not apply to healthcare workers as they wear N95 masks. These particular masks are designed to have a tight grip around the nose and mouth. Therefore, healthcare workers who wear N95 masks for hours on end tend to experience skin irritation. On the other hand, the general public can benefit from wearing surgical masks as they do not cling on to the skin and have a comparatively loose fitting. Therefore, they provide protection against droplets. However, they do not prevent small particles from entering the mask.
Wearing fabric comfortable coronavirus face mask is a good option too. Especially since it is economical, environment friendly, and reusable. However, the effectiveness is a bit questionable, as it depends entirely on the fit of the mask, number of layers, as well as material. Most cloth masks are notorious for absorbing the skin’s natural oils. This makes the skin overproduce oil, which can aggravate acne. Therefore, if you do choose to wear a cloth mask, opt for a silk-lined one. The antimicrobial attributes of this material are suited well for sensitive skin. However, since the material is so soft and slippery, these masks tend to leave gaps around the nose, mouth, and cheeks, leaving you vulnerable to getting ill. Moreover, since silk is a porous fabric, smaller droplets might be able to penetrate through the mask. Therefore its effectiveness is questionable. Hence, if you want to use a silk mask, get one with numerous layers.
Another good option is cotton masks. This breathable coronavirus face mask makes it comfortable for wearing for long hours and less irritating than other fabrics.
Conclusion
Acne is a common skin condition and is experienced by most people at some point in their life. Eliminate acne for good with the best pimple cream, Herbion DermiDoc. This skin cream for acne can be used on both acne and scars. The best part is, the all-natural formula does not have any side effects and can be used up to 3 – 4 times a day. Shop online for the complete range of Herbion Naturals products at Daraz Online Shopping.
