Regardless of which country you are in, it is likely that you will have to wear a face mask every day for a long period of time. This is where the term "Maskne" comes into play - as the name suggests, it refers to acne or a general irritation of the area of the face where you wear the mask.
Rubbing, chafing and sweat trapped under a mask can irritate the skin and cause chin, mouth and nose acne. The constant, pressure from the mask, rubbing, heat and sweat can cause irritation, allergic reactions, acne, wrinkles and even discolouration in some cases.
Although the wearing of masks may be new to some, it has been common practice in many parts of Asia (including South Korea) for years to protect against "highly polluted" dust storms or against spreading viruses while being sick. This article was inspired by the solution they found and how it helped them.
TRIM YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
In general stay away from rough scrubs, strong exfoliants and thick creams that have a tendency to exacerbate congestion. Instead, just reach for a gentle cleanser, a moisturizing toner, a light moisturizing serum or gel and sunscreen, and give priority to skin soothing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. Wait five minutes after application before putting on your mask so that the products can be absorbed into the skin.
HYDRATE
If you read our blog entries, you will find that we preach for two things: hydrate your skin and use sunscreen every day. When our masks are on, they create a hot and humid environment that is ideal for bacterial outbreaks and a form of acne called Acne Mechanica.
Good skin hydration can help make the skin less prone to breakouts. The right type of facial mask (clay) with moisturizing, soothing effect will also help to hydrate the skin while providing soothing and antioxidant benefits.
CHANGE OR WASH YOUR MASK REGULARLY
Regardless of whether you use a medical face mask or a cloth mask, it is important to either change it as recommended or keep it as clean as possible. Frequent washing is essential so you can easily switch to a clean mask instead of bringing dirt, oil and debris from a dirty mask back to your skin surface.
You should also cover yourself with soft-material masks to reduce friction - a problem that can cause micro-cracks (in the skin) that facilitate the penetration of bacteria and dirt and ultimately lead to inflammation and acne.
KNOW YOUR OUTBREAKS
Finally, it is a good idea to use products that are formulated to help combat blemishes, as the moist, hot environment and constant rubbing of the mask can more easily lead to acne Mechanica. Once you have discovered the blemish, you need to find out the nature of it. As mentioned before it can be acne Mechanica, it can be irritation, it can be hormonal acne due to increased stress, or it can even be dermatitis.
Different outbreaks require different treatment. We have create a "Maskne" routine that you can use with our products:
1.) Use 2-3x per week our Face Mask for clean Skin
2.) After that hydrate the skin with our Acne treatment oil
3.) Let the oil soak in and then apply the 10 % Azelaic acid - Zero Acne Cream as spot treatment or for whole face
4.) Use daily or Micro-needle patches on pimples or blemishes
But the key is not to go from zero to ten at once. Use gentle formulas to remove blemishes and be careful not to dry out or chafe your skin, as this can lead to more sensitive skin and more breakouts.