Maskne - How to Stop Face Mask Breakouts
Not many of us have had to wear masks day in and day out until the last few weeks, and it’s causing us to break out.
We have had many customers coming into the pharmacy to talk to our team about breakouts they are experiencing for the first time, and it is from wearing a mask; it even has a name, Maskne.
“Maskne is ance formed in areas due to friction, pressure, stretching, rubbing or occlusion…..You can see it in the areas covered by the mask and also the areas where the mask and face shields touch the skin” – Nazanin Saedi, Medical Doctor.
Maskne is acne caused by wearing a face mask, by the overwearing of unwashed masks or from friction from wearing a mask.
Blocked pores from sweat, oil and makeup also trigger Maskne.
Steps to prevent Maskne
It’s vital to ensure you wash your mask daily; treat your mask like your underwear. Sweat, dirt, germs, you name it, are trapped within the mask, further exacerbating your Maskne.
Dirty masks lead to the entry of bacteria and dirt, which lead to the development of whiteheads, blackheads and cysts to form; it usually occurs where the mask covers the bridge of your nose, the chin and cheeks.
Wash your face before and after you wear your mask to eliminate bacteria that linger on the surface of the skin leading to Maskne.
Choose a gentle cleanser; our team favourites are Antipodes Juliet Cleanser, Cetaphil Cleanser or Metoday Micellar Gel.
If you are experiencing irritation, try a cream-based cleanser instead of a gel cleanser. In that case, our favourites are the metoday Plant Collagen Cream Cleanser, Trilogy Very Gentle Cleansing Cream or Snowberry Gentle Cleanse & Tone Soft.
Tone your skin after cleansing with an alcohol-free toner and cotton pad. Our team favourites for Maskne are the Trilogy Vitamin C Energising Mist Toner, the metoday Mist Toner and Antipodes Resurrect Clarifying Facial Toner.
Minimise makeup use and opt for a tinted sunscreen instead of a foundation. The La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Tinted is non-comedogenic, so it does not block your pores.
If you cannot go without foundation, apply your makeup to the area, your mask will not cover.
Regular exfoliation is essential to stop the build-up of dead skin cells. Using a chemical rather than a physical exfoliant is an excellent option if you suffer from Maskne. Our team picks are the metoday AHA Exfoliant and the Trilogy Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream; these both contain “chemical” exfoliants rather than “physical” exfoliant beads. The metoday AHA Exfoliant contains lactic acid and glycolic acid as the exfoliant. Trilogy Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream contains natural active enzymes papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple.
It is also important to moisturise your skin. If you are suffering from Maskne, we recommend a non-comedogenic moisturiser. Our favourites are the Effaclar Mat by La Roche Posay, Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream or Trilogy Mattifying Moisturising Lotion.
We also recommend using a face mask treatment once or twice a week to eliminate impurities and excess sebum. Mud masks are great at purifying the skin. Our favourites are the Antipodes Halo Mud Mask and the La Roche Posay Effaclar Anti-Acne Purifying Mask.
When purchasing a reusable mask, it is also essential to choose one that has minimal friction on your skin. Our reusable bamboo face masks are soft as well as stylish; they also have a space for a filter.
You no longer need to suffer from Maskne; if you want more personalised recommendations and samples, pop in-store and chat with one of our trained team members.