MASKNE: COVID-19 AND YOUR SKINCARE

Just when you thought you had Rona figured out... She hits you with skin issues. Maskne is acne brought on by frequent mask usage. Heat & moisture, bacteria, and friction are results of wearing your mask often. THIS is the perfect breeding ground for acne.

“Maskne is acne formed in areas due to friction, pressure, stretching, rubbing or occlusion,” Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Thomas Jefferson University, explains to Health. “You can see it in the areas covered by the mask and also the areas where the mask and face shields touch the skin.”
Kathleen C. Suozzi, MD, director of Yale Medicine’s Aesthetic Dermatology Program and an assistant professor of dermatology, explains that maskne is technically referred to as acne mechanica.

Prevention is always your best bet. If you are wearing a cloth mask, wash it daily, urges Dr. Saedi. If you are wearing a disposable mask, try to replace it as often as possible or allow it to air out in between uses. And for tight-fitting N95 respirators—which should be reserved for essential workers right now—Dr. Suozzi suggests applying silicone gel strips to sit under the pressure points of the mask. “This will help prevent against skin irritation,” she explains. ​

If you start developing maskne, first and foremost, be gentle—that means going easy on at-home spa days. “People might be overdoing it at home with face masks, scrubs, washes, and toners,” says Dr. Suozzi, who adds overdoing skincare right now can compromise your skin's protective barrier. Instead, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, says Dr. Saedi. “I would avoid products that are too drying because they will cause the skin barrier to become more compromised.” She suggests a face wash with salicylic acid, like Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser ($10; Ulta.com) to help unclog the pores.

As far as treatment options go for acne breakouts, "over the counter products that help resolve the clogged pores are beneficial," says Dr. Suozzi. For that, she recommends products like Differin Acne Treatment Gel ($29; Ulta.com) or La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel ($30; Dermstore.com I personally recommend Proactiv's Adapalene Gel.

​And while wearing your mask out in public right now is essential–especially in social settings where physical distancing is difficult to maintain—remember you can (and should!) take the mask off and give your face a necessary breather when you're away from other people, like in your own home (provided you're not caring for anyone ill) and while driving your car.