Everywhere we go, it seems normal to see everyone with a mask on. Even at local places like a supermarket or restaurant, everyone pairs their outfit with an N-95 mask. Due to both the recent fires and seasonal change, wearing masks can be very harmful towards your skin. Have you noticed that after a morning run with your mask on, your skin is more oily and prone to breaking out? Believe it or not, a simple mask could be the reason why you’re getting acne.
Reasons On Why A Mask Is Breaking You Out:
There are three signs on why a mask could be breaking you out: rubbing, irritation, and occlusion. As Goodrx describes the difference between each reason, rubbing is seen to, “cause irritation through friction and chafing, almost like rug burn,” irritation is caused when, “the material of a mask absorbs the skin’s natural oils….you see redness, dry patches, peeling, or dark marks” and occlusion happens when, “your breath trapped beneath the mask makes the skin surface warm and moist.”
When going outside (and depending on what kind of mask you wear), the restrictiveness of the mask causes for breakouts to happen. When you breathe out without any ventilation, the air becomes trapped to then form bacteria around your face.
Tips On Preventing Breakouts
Unless necessary, you should avoid going outside. According to the New York Times, “around 80 percent of Americans say they wear masks frequently or always when they expect to be within six feet of other people.” This causes both the mask usage to go up as well as acne breakouts. However, if you have to go outside and wear a mask, here are some tips on how to avoid breakouts.
- Try to avoid wearing foundation
You should avoid wearing foundation under your mask, as it will only make your skin conditions worse. Heavy coverage foundation especially is something you should avoid. If you have to wear foundation, find one with a light-weight formula.
- Washing your face
When coming back after a long day of wearing your mask, you should immediately wash your face. As previously explained, the air that you breathe out is trapped around your mask, which creates clogged pores and acne. Without washing your face, you allow for this bacteria to subside.
An amazing cleanser is the MDSUN’s Active Cleanser. This cleanser is for those who have oily to combination skin. This cleanser works well to eliminate possible breakouts as well as keeping your skin smooth and hydrated. The main ingredients in this cleanser contain Glycolic Acid, Provitamin B5, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lactic Acid, β- Glucan. As Glycolic Acid helps with skin texture, Provitamin B5 is another active ingredient that helps soothe your skin.
- Have a good skin regimen
Finally, a simple skin regimen is the key to having clear skin during a pandemic. Not only are anxiety and stress levels high, but breaking out from your mask could add onto this. By applying a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen – these can help to transform your skin completely.