From “maskne” to rosacea, masks has proven problematic for our skin, but there are steps you can take to prevent or treat it.
“Maskne” is a play on the ‘derm-urban dictionary’ term ‘backne’ (back acne), newly coined for our COVID-19 face mask era.
This might be new to most of us but it has been a common issue for healthcare workers, cyclists and contact sport players wearing helmet straps and professions where they use very thick makeup causing the same problems.
Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in chronic skin barrier disruption, any stress on the skin or system overall can exacerbate this condition.
Pores get clogged and come become pimples or acne cysts. Your breath trapped beneath the mask makes the skin surface warm and moist, the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to folliculitis, which is when yeast or bacteria infect hair follicles.
Miliaria (Heat Rash)
Mask wearing leads to local alteration of the skin microbiome. With mask use, the covered skin is subjected to elevated CO2 levels, increased humidity, higher temperatures, and more bacteria and microorganisms from the mouth and respiratory system. Heat rash or Milaria happens when the sweat gland ducts are congested due to dead skin cells or bacteria. High, moist temperatures are a some of the main causes of this congestion.
Inflammatory Skin Disorders
Alteration of skin microbiome by masks can worsen or trigger rosacea, perioral dermatitis (inflammatory rash involving the skin around the mouth), as well as seborrheic dermatitis (usually appears with dryness, redness and thick, greasy, white or yellow scales on the scalp, especially around the hairline and behind the ears).
These disorders are all inflammatory diseases that results from skin barrier dysfunction.
Dehydration
When your face is abraded by friction, the top layer of your skin releases water. As a result, your skin loses its natural moisture, while also becoming a less effective protective barrier against the mask.
Prevention
Preventing these skin conditions is much simpler than treating them and these are steps you should be following now to ensure your skin stays healthy.
1 Start with the mask, make sure your mask is thoroughly cleansed. Dirt and oil from your skin plus bacteria from your mouth and nose will end up on your cloth mask. Keep a rotation of masks and wash them after every use. Stick to a fragrance-free laundry detergent. Fragrance within fabric can be irritant so you do not want it on your face. Do not reuse disposable masks.
2. Cleanse Regularly – When you remove your mask cleanse your face. As you will be cleansing your skin a lot more when you wear a face mask every day, make sure that you use a gentle cleanser. Cleansers with Sulphates will dry your skin out even more and disrupt your barrier function. Try Sknlogic Gentle cleanse cream, it is gentle enough for people with compromised skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Eczema and does not contain any Sulphates.
3. Exfoliate – The build-up of oil, dead skin cells and other debris can be irritating to the skin. Exfoliate twice a week with an enzymatic exfoliator. While you might usually prefer a mechanical exfoliator, an enzymatic exfoliator will be a much better fit especially if you have breakouts. Acid exfoliants can dive deeply into pores, loosening clogs and leaving behind a clearer, fresher appearance, while simultaneously helping to fight the bacteria that can cause acne. Try Sknlogic Exfoliate Enzymatic.
4. Protect your barrier function – One of the central issues that arises from wearing a mask all day is skin barrier injury, restoring the skin barrier is key. Our Sknlogic Omega Face oil is great for this, it is a light oil so can be used on any skin type and is extremely nourishing. It contains all the Omega’s, 3,5, 6, 7 & 9 to fill up your fatty acid reservoir and improve your skin’s barrier function to make sure your skin stays protected. We suggest putting it on around 30 minutes before wearing the mask. This will also help prevent drying and flaking of the skin. Looking after your barrier function will also prevent introducing bacteria under the skin. Omega face oil also works as an occlusive to lock in moisture in the skin preventing dehydrated skin.
5. Keep your skin Hydrated – Dermatologists recommends applying a moisturiser on your face every 2 hours to make sure your skin is hydrated throughout the day. If you find your skin is still very dehydrated try Sknlogic Hydrating Serum once a day in the evenings. This serum contains Hyaluronic Acid. Think of hyaluronic acid like a BIG drink of water for your skin. It can hold up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water. Hyaluronic acid penetrates the skin and binds water to skin cells, infusing all layers of the skin with valuable, rejuvenating moisture.
6. Try a different kind of Mask. Few things are as nourishing and deep cleansing as a facial mask. If you feel like your skin needs a detox, try Sknlogic Charcoal Detox Masque with Activated Charcoal to deep clean your skin while restoring your barrier function. If your skin needs an extra moisture boost try Sknlogic Multi Regenerating Masque with Shea Butter, Hyaluronic Acid and Dermal stem cells. Not only will it restore the skin’s natural moisture but it will also help treat the signs of ageing.
7. Skip the makeup : Masks act like occlusive barriers, which means trapped makeup can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. If you absolutely cannot go without your makeup, use a mineral foundation that does not include an talc. We like GloSkinBeauty.
Treatment
If your skin is already feeling the effects of mask wearing, here’s what you can do for some of the most common problems:
1. Dryness or flaky skin: This is often the first signs of mask irritation. To fight this always apply moisturiser before wearing your mask. Try using Sknlogic Omega Face oil underneath your moisturiser for extra moisture and to restore your skin’s barrier function to prevent further irritation.
2. Redness or Swelling: If you have redness and swelling after taking off your mask, icing the skin can help. You can use ice cubes in a bag or frozen peas. Buffer with a paper towel and apply to the skin for a few minutes at a time. Follow with a small amount of over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% cream. Use the hydrocortisone only as needed. Be careful not to use it too much or too often. Overuse can thin the skin and make you break out. Don’t apply your mask right on top of the hydrocortisone. That traps it in and makes it stronger.
3. Acne or Breakouts. If you are getting pimples underneath your mask try Sknlogic Multi Active Lotion twice a week on the affected area. Multi Active Lotion contains Salicylic Acid a treatment for acne and breakouts. Try using Charcoal Detox Masque with Activated Charcoal twice a week to help detox and clear the skin. Please note that if you are allergic to aspirin you will not be able to use Multi Active Lotion Charcoal Detox Masque.
4. Don’t fly solo. Speak to your aesthetician, they can recommend what products and treatments will work best for your specific skin condition.
For more information: contact SKNLOGIC
Cosmeceutical skin care aims to provide a skin care solution that works with the skin’s biological processes to achieve visible results.
