How To Look After Your Skin When Wearing A Mask

Of all the health and safety measures currently in place to stem the spread of Covid-19, wearing a mask or face covering when out and about is probably one of the most important. However, since it has become the law to cover your face when accessing public transport or going shopping, many people have begun to suffer from the phenomenon that has come to be known as “maskne”.

Maskne, or acne mechanica, describes the many adverse effects that frequent mask-wearing can have on the health and the condition of the skin. This includes, but is not exclusive to, an increase in the emergence of spots, blemishes and blackheads as well as areas of inflammation and irritation.

Unfortunately, unless you are medically exempt from engaging in this essential safety practice,

there’s a good chance that you’ll be affected by maskne at some point during the ongoing pandemic and this is why we’ve put together a handy guide to how best to look after your skin when wearing a mask or face covering.

Choose your mask wisely

Something that can have a considerable impact on the development of maskne is your choice of mask. As a good starting point, we’d recommend purchasing a face-covering made from a gentle, breathable material such as cotton as this will go some way to ensuring that your skin doesn’t overheat in its newly confined conditions. It is important to wash these every day to reduce the possibility of acne-causing bacteria building up inside your mask, and we’d advise buying more than one so that you always have a clean and dry mask to hand.

Refine your skincare routine

As well as washing your hands where you can, you should also make it your mission to wash your face whenever you return home. Twice a day, this is something that should be done with the aid of cleanser to give you the best chance of removing all of the oil, sweat and assorted debris that could lead to acne breakouts.

At this time, we’d also advise frequent use of a moisturiser to ensure that your skin stays as hydrated as it can and the integration of a broad spectrum SPF into your daily routine – after all, 50% of your face is still uncovered!

Give makeup the boot

With half of your face covered, what’s the use in spending so much time applying makeup? As heavy makeup use can contribute to clogged pores and set the stage for the formation of acne, many people have used the wearing of masks as an excuse to go makeup-free in the pursuit of purer skin. You should use this time to embrace skincare products that properly address the problems that cosmetics aim to conceal – your skin will thank you later!

Book in with RP Aesthetics

At RP Aesthetics, we’re dedicated to helping all of our patients to transform their skin health and achieve the complexion of their dreams. To this end, we’re proud to offer a number of Obagi products, chemical peels and aesthetics treatments and would be delighted to put together a treatment plan to help you meet all of your skincare needs.

Book in with us today by calling 01912 818 775 or 07711 837 788.

Alternatively, you can visit our website.