With COVID-19 not slowing down anytime soon, it's likely that face masks will remain a part of our daily routines for the foreseeable future. And if you're wearing face masks at work, while running errands, walking around your neighborhood or even working out -- that time or having something pressed up against your skin can add up fast. While wearing face masks is crucial for public health and keeping yourself safe, some people are battling new, pesky breakouts or acne from all the time spent wearing masks -- also known as "maskne."
Face masks can cause skin irritation and breakouts for several reasons, which can vary based on the person, how tight they are wearing the mask, and what it's made of. "
caused by the friction and occlusion to the skin from the mask. Historically it has been described in athletes who wear chin straps on helmets and violin players who rest the instrument on the chin," Caren Campbell, a board certified dermatologist, tells CNET.
In addition to friction, some people are sensitive to certain fabrics, and when you pair that with trapped sweat, makeup and/or dirt, it's a recipe for a breakout.
"The irritations caused by wearing face masks and coverings are most likely due to contact dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to fabrics (usually synthetic), soaps, etc., bacteria from not cleaning the mask properly or re-wearing a mask and the reusing of disposable masks," Joshua Ross, an aesthetician at SkinLab says.
Keep reading for Ross and Dr. Campbell's best tips for preventing and treating maskne -- and yes, you can (and should) keep wearing your face mask.
Read the full article at CNET.
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