Has your skin suddenly taken a turn for the worse since wearing a mask?  Read on for Trtl’s Top Tips to Overcome ‘Maskne’!

There is no denying that masks are a part of our day to day lives. Wearing face masks are now (in many countries and cities) a compulsory requirement and their sole purpose is of course to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the world. Undoubtedly, this is a positive as it helps to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from catching the virus. Unfortunately, it can come with an unwelcome side effect…‘maskne’.    

If this is the first you have heard of this term (lucky you!) then let us explain a bit more about what it is. Maskne is acne caused by wearing a face mask. It’s where you find acne forming around the lower half of your face due to moisture, trapped dirt, friction and bacteria forms around the area of your face that your mask covers. All of these things create the perfect breeding ground for irritable skin, flare ups and breakouts resulting in mask induced acne (maskne).    

This can be extremely frustrating, especially when a mask is required to enter certain areas. It can feel like a vicious cycle as you are unable to avoid the very thing that is the cause of the problem.

We have pulled together some of the best tips out there on how to look after your skin and keep it fresh despite having to wear a mask every day! 

 

Here’s what you can do:

 

 Wash your mask    

Washing your mask is essential and extremely important to do as frequently as every day or after every use. The reason being is that the mask itself can become contaminated and it's possible for any viral particles on the mask to get into your respiratory system and infect you. Your mask, gathers moisture, dirt, and bacteria which is then in contact with your face. The cleaner your mask is, the cleaner your skin will be!

Cleanse your skin  

It’s important to keep your skin as clean as possible! Find yourself a routine that suits you and your skin the best. Using good cleansing products will always help to improve this - perhaps you already have your own favourite selection of facial products.   

It can be a bit on the pricey side but there are many home remedies you can try. A very nourishing food that is ideal for skin conditions like acne is Avocado!  Mixing a mashed avocado with honey or organic yogurt along with a little water and applying it to your face as a cleansing mask is easy, cheap and very effective! You don’t need to spend a lot to look after your skin. You can find this recipe and more at this fantastic website - https://experiencelife.com/article/avocado-face-mask-recipes/.   

If you have oily skin, you might find it helpful  to carry a facial cleanser with you to freshen up throughout the day.  This could be with a daily toner or a bottle of cleanser specifically for your face along with a fresh cloth or reusable cotton pads. These can then be washed with your mask to be used the next day! 

Exfoliate

Our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells. This happens because we create new skin cells every 30 days or so. Sometimes the dead cells don’t always naturally shed completely which then results in dry and flaky patches or clogged pores (one of the biggest causes of acne!). If you are new to this process, it’s recommended to start off exfoliating once a week and gradually increase this to 2 to 3 times weekly depending on how your skin reacts. You do not want to aggravate your skin - keeping in mind your face has some of the most delicate skin on your entire body; be gentle with it.
Find an exfoliating product that suits your skin best and see how you get on. Many have different levels of exfoliation depending on the type of skin that you have.

The reason this will be beneficial to ‘maskne’ is that the more our skin has been exfoliated and shedded, the smoother our skin. This means that any dirt, bacteria or oils formed on your mask, will find it that bit harder to latch on to your smooth, healthy and nourished skin. 

Cut back or avoid wearing make-up!

Of course, this makes sense! We all know that most foundations (particularly oil based) and powders are not exactly pore-friendly. Your skin needs the ability to breathe - it’s bad enough wearing a warm, stuffy mask. Minimising the amount you use or looking for a finer foundation (there are softer water based options to try) could help to reduce the amount of trapped dirt and oils on the skin and also less transmission to and from the mask.  This is where the importance of keeping your mask clean is evident. 

Avoid touching your face and mask

Avoiding touching the inside of your mask and face is highly recommended so this tip is really a reminder. The dirtier the mask, the dirtier your face will become! If you do touch the inside of your mask or face often (which you shouldn’t be doing) then you are adding to the build up resulting in a higher chance of breakouts. We know this can be very difficult to stick to but if you ever feel the need to touch either, sanitise or wash your hands properly before you do so.   

There you have it!  5 great tips to help prevent maskne! We sincerely hope that our tips have been beneficial to you all and will help anyone who is experiencing this unpleasant condition.  If you have any other tips you can share with us, please reach out to us via Facebook and Instagram. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on the advice Team Trtl have given you today!