Maskne & Acne
Suffering from breakouts
under your mask?
By Elizabeth Rostan, MD
Filed Under
IN THE MEDIA
Quick Look
MASKNE
Acne caused by irritation made worse from mask wearing. Created by the hot, occlusive environment around the mouth and nose areas when wearing a mask.
WORSEN IT
Maskne is caused by four main factors and can worsen spread of bacteria
- Skin irritation due to friction
- Increased humidity
- Wearing pore-clogging products under mask
- Poor face mask fit/hygiene
- Not cleansing the skin before & after mask use
HOW DOES WEARING A MASK CAUSE ACNE?
Traps sebum oil and
sweat on the skin
Sebum oil increases and
causes irritation
Pores become blocked
and attract acne bacteria
Bacteria overgrowth
causes inflammation in
the skin (spots)
AREAS OF MASKNE DEVELOPMENT
Back to School – and sadly mask wearing. Masks can exacerbate the most common teen skin problem – acne. Let’s discuss some ways to combat this troubling issue.
How To
Prevent Maskne
Six skin care tips to protect your face from mask irritation.
Wash Your Face First
Wash your face twice daily with a gentle or medicated cleanser. Cleansers that contain glycolic acid exfoliate sticky skin cells from the surface so they do not clog pores, and cleaners with salicylic acid clear oil and sebum from the surface as well as from deep down in pores to wash away acne triggers. CSL Dual Action Cleanser contains both glycolic and salicylic acid and is a great choice for face as well as chest and back.
For on the go and before or after sports practice, the CSL Clarifying Pads are cleansing wipes with glycolic and salicylic acid and are great for a quick clean up.
Apply a Moisturizer
Not only will this keep your skin hydrated, it will also act as a barrier between your face and your mask, reducing friction. Apply onto a cleansed face before and after wearing a mask.
Look for moisturizers that contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or dimethicone, which will provide extra protection. Take care to avoid fragrances amongst other common contact allergens. This may take trial and error to find the right formulation for your skin type.
Ditch the Makeup
Wearing skin makeup under a mask causes clogged pores and breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Makeup residue will also soil your mask.
Wash Your Mask
If wearing a cotton mask wash it after each use as its surface contains dirt and oil and can become a breeding ground for bacteria from your nose and mouth.
Nighttime Routine
Nightly use of a retinoid product is essential to acne treatment. Differin is gentle and anti-inflammatory and available over the counter. Tretinoin is a prescription medication that is very helpful but more irritating. A very popular choice is CSL Retinol Pads – gentle yet effective and easy to use and remember.
Morning Routine
Benzoyl peroxide lotion in the morning helps dry pimples (but can bleach the inside of a dark mask). Glycolic and mandeleic acid lotions also help exfoliate to keep pores from clogging – CSL Glycolic lotion or Acne Wash and Vivant Mandeleic acid serum.
A great product that is very effective and popular is Vivant Exfol-A which contains retinyl proprionate – a highly effective form of retinoid – as well as exfoliating, brightening and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Choose a fragrance-free laundry soap
Fragrances can irritate your skin — skip the fabric softener, too.
Visit A Dermatologist Practice
A pore cleansing facial with extractions does absolute wonders for acne flares. First a steam and chemical peel helps loosen dead skin cells and the surface of clogged pores, then physical extraction of the clogged pores is done by careful pressure with fingers or a pore extracting tool.
Use of the cleansers and products at home helps maintain results from your acne facial. A HydraFacial is another great way to rid skin of clogged pores and acne.
Treatments Available at Charlotte Skin and Laser
- Acne Facials
- HydraFacial
- Dermatology
- Chemical Peels
