During the Cornavirus Pandemic we’ve been hearing a lot of new buzz words and phrases. Talk of “social distancing”, “lockdowns” and “flattening the curve” have all been the focus in news stories and on social media. One word in particular has caught our attention: MASKNE (professionally known as Acne Mechanica)
Maskne is the word used to describe breakouts, spots, or irritation caused by friction, rubbing, pressure or stretching of the skin – the potential result of wearing a mask or face covering. It’s not a new term, Maskne is a common concern for people who wear masks regularly but has become much more widely known since wearing face coverings in shops has become mandatory. The combination of heat, friction and sweating whilst wearing a face covering or mask creates a breeding ground for bacteria and increases oil production as well as causing micro-tears in the skin which can allow bacteria and dirt to get under the skin resulting in breakouts and irritation.
Below we’ve outlined some handy tips to help keep your skin healthy and under control. Please contact us if you’d like some more personal, skin specific advice too.
Use a fresh mask
Make sure you use a clean face covering each day – re-usable face coverings should be washed thoroughly after each use. Having a face covering in your handbag may seem like a handy idea but putting a dirty mask on your face is not only bad for your skin but your health too.
Allow your skin to breathe
Avoid wearing your mask for prolonged periods of time (where possible) and allow your skin some space to breathe now and again. Obviously if you have to wear a mask for work this may be tricky but changing your mask and taking regular breaks from wearing it may help.
Avoid makeup
Where possible, avoid wearing too much makeup under your mask – no one can see your face anyway! This will allow your skin to breathe and help prevent pores from becoming clogged. If you really must wear foundation, try a mineral based product such as Irresistible Face Base by Mii Cosmetics.
Cleanse twice daily, exfoliate twice weekly
Okay, you should be doing this anyway… But using a good quality cleanser in the morning and in the evening will help remove dead skin cells and clean out pores to prevent clogging. It will also remove any bacteria sitting on the surface of the skin. Cleansers with Salicylic Acid are particularly effective as they will deeply cleanse the skin and calm any inflamation. Try Medik8’s Clarifying Foam. If your skin is more sensitive and irritated, try Medik8’s Gentle Cleanse.
Using an exfoliant like Medik8’s Pore Refining Scrub twice weekly will help to decongest skin and slough away dead skin cells.
Blemish treatments
Professional LED treatment, Dermalux, is a great option for boosting overall skin health. The wavelengths used in this light treatment have been proven to regulate oil production, reduce inflamation and have wonderful anti-bacterial properties.
Using a targeted product at home such as Medik8’s Blemish SOS is a great way to treat individual blemishes. It clears pores and calms inflamation working quickly to diminish blemishes.
Contact us
If you’ve been suffering from Maskne and have particularly sensitive skin or are not sure which products would work best for you, please get in touch – we’re more than happy to help. You can contact us using this form or by calling 01289332060.
