MASKNE is here to stay for awhile…
Yup, we knew this was bound to happen when the word “mask” started being used less for skincare but more for COVID-19 prevention… What a year 2020 has been so far!
WHAT IS MASKNE?
“Maskne” – or acne mechanica, as professionals call it – is breakouts occurring in forms of pimples, redness, and irritations caused by frequent and extended use of masks. This type of acne is different from blemishes or cystic acne caused by hormones.
#TLDR
Causes
- Friction
- Moisture
- Heat and bacteria
- Trapped dirt
Treatment & Prevention
- Exfoliate weekly, but do not over-exfoliate!
- Cleanse AM and PM with a gentle cleansing routine
- Use concentrated actives only at nights (AHA, BHA, Vitamin C, Retinol etc…)
- Take breaks from wearing a mask and let your skin breathe, which means you need to stay home as much as possible!
Tip: Practice #socialdistancing – it’s good for your skin!
MASKNE CAUSES
Maskne occurs when sweat, oil and bacteria are trapped on your skin while wearing a mask, creating the perfect breeding ground for breakouts. It’s also caused by masks physically rubbing against the skin, which can damage the skin’s protective barrier, or by masks trapping moisture.
Those of us living in warmer climates may experience maskne more intensely due to the heat causing extra sweat. The humid, warm months can be detrimental to our skin under the mask.
But, maskne is not seasonal! The cold, dry, winter months won’t chase away maskne. The friction caused by masks rubbing against drier winter skin can cause hair follicles to break open, which in turn allows acne-causing-bacteria into the skin.
Maskne during warmer months would likely be due to clogged pores, whereas a more likely contributing factor during cold months would be friction on the skin caused by mask rubbing.
HOW TO TREAT & PREVENT MASKNE
Cleanliness is the gold standard
Wear clean masks! That’s one of the most basic and effective ways to prevent maskne. If disposable masks aren’t readily available, be sure to wash and dry your cloth masks daily.
Simple but longer cleansing
Double-cleansing still stands, but with maskne issues, it’s time to pay more attention to second cleansing. Choose a gentle, no fuss cleanser like Sioris Day By Day Cleansing Gel or Celimax Madecica pH Balancing Foam Cleansing so you can cleanse longer to gently draw out impurities without irritating mask sensitized skin. A gentle morning cleanse will have your skin start fresh without overnight sebum buildup that can clog pores under COVID masks. And a solid double-cleansing routine with a gentle second cleanser will reset your skin after being under a mask all day.
Exfoliate but be gentle
Here’s the dilemma: to treat and prevent maskne, you need to exfoliate the surface of the skin and clean out pores, but intense chemical or physical exfoliation can make your skin more vulnerable to maskne. The best way to approach this dilemma is to either opt for gentle daily exfoliating toning pads like Celimax Heatleaf BHA Peeling Pad, or go for a once-a-week gentle oatmeal exfoliation with Sioris My Soft Grain Scrub.
Skip concentrated skincare products during the day
Wearing a mask can intensify product delivery to the skin. Think sheetmask – the theory and mechanics behind sheetmasking is that having a sheet/cloth over your skin with serum/essence intensifies their benefits. The same goes for your COVID-19 mask. Your skincare products are being intensified along with the trapped dirt and bacteria. It’s best to minimize potential skin irritations by saving your serums with strong actives for nights and opt for simple and gentle skincare during the day.
A good moisturizer is a must
A daytime moisturizer will do the double duty of moisturizing the skin and protecting the skin from mask friction. This is especially important when going into colder months as mask friction will be more of an issue with drier air. Sioris Stay With Me Day Cream is the top choice for this job! This cream is not only packed with skin nourishing Panthenol, but a natural exfoliant, White Willow Bark Extract, that helps to prevent pore clogging and soothes irritated skin.
FUTURE OF MASKNE
Maskne isn’t going away for a while. I’m sure we’ll start seeing ingenious COVID-19 masks that’s breathable and flexible enough to prevent maskne. But until COVID-19 is out of our lives, with a few small changes in your lifestyle and skincare choices (as mentioned in this post), you can keep your clear, glowing skin!
Remember, the best way to prevent maskne is to practice social distancing like your skin depends on it! Taking a break from wearing a mask by staying home as much as possible IS the best solution for maskne.
