A perfect example of “this life no just balance” is the fact that although we have to sanitize our hands every 20 seconds, wear face masks to stay protected and stay indoors when we would rather be out we also have to deal with the acne breakouts that come with wearing a face mask for extended periods. Sigh!

The internet calls its “Maskne”, among skincare professionals it is known as “Acne Mechanica”.

Acne Mechanica specifically refers to the skin irritation that is formed by excess pressure, heat, and rubbing against the skin. When the skin is constantly rubbed, it initially becomes rough and then starts to develop acne-like bumps with continuing irritation like sweating or more friction

Wikipedia

It is not a new phenomenon, athletes who wear helmets or people who wear masks for long periods (like medical personnel) experience it quite often. It just became quite popular among the general population because we are now required to wear masks

Maskne occurs due to trapped breath, which creates a humid environment where acne-causing bacteria can thrive. So simple solution will be to stop wearing masks right? Simple solution, but we really can’t, considering there’s a whole pandemic out there! 

So what we’ve done is, to put together a few things you can do to prevent Maskne!

1. DISCARD THAT ILL-FITTED MASK

First, you need to start from the basics, choose a face mask that fits but isn’t too tight, to prevent trapping moisture. That trapped moisture creates the humid environment which acne needs to thrive.

2. OPT FOR MASKS MADE FROM NATURAL FABRIC

Wear face masks made out of natural fabric, like cotton or silk, as these are gentler on the skin. It’ll help reduce the friction and irritation that accompanies mask-wearing.

3. MAKE SURE THAT MASK IS CLEAN

Another important thing is to make sure you are wearing CLEAN face masks daily. Wash your reusable face masks as often as you wash your underwear. You need to get rid of all the oil, dirt and sweat. Choose a gentle detergent that does not irritate the skin when washing your face masks. If the daily washing sounds tedious, then buy a pack of disposable masks and pop on a new one everyday. 

4. WASH YOUR FACE EVERY MORNING & EVERY EVENING.

You should already be doing this but it’s still worth a mention just in case there is someone out there who isn’t. Wash your face twice daily! This is a no brainer because Maskne occurs due to the accumulation of sweat, oil and dirt so cleansing all that off will definitely help reduce the breakouts.

Most importantly, don’t be too hard on your skin and start product hopping from one acne remedy to another, Acne Mechanica usually clears up on its own and the tips shared above will help considerably

Share this article with a loved one and wish them well in these trying times.