maskne: tips to treat and prevent it
There are some essentials we just don't leave our house without– our keys, phone, wallet, SPF and now... a face mask!
Wearing a face mask is necessary to keep us all safe and healthy as we navigate through this pandemic. Unfortunately, they're not our skin's BFF. It's safe to say that face masks are one of our skin's worst enemies.
Maskne aka acne mechanica is acne or skin irritations around the mouth, cheeks and jawline. It can be caused by friction, heat, moisture, bacteria and clogged pores from wearing a face mask.
It can be hard to tell what's causing your maskne. Is it the friction of the mask? Is it the bacteria transferring from the mask onto your skin? Is there a buildup of oil and dirt in your pores? Is it all of the above??
As we approach warmer, humid weather, the buildup of sweat, oil and moisture trapped under the mask can clog up your pores and cause breakouts.
The key is to treat your skin with the right products and care. Here are some tips you can follow to prevent and heal maskne:
Wear silk, cotton or anti-microbial masks that are not too tight
Wash and change your mask after every use
Use a fragrance-free laundry detergent
Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser
Exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week
Add salicylic acid to your routine to minimize bacteria build-up
Apply an anti-oxidant, such as vitamin C, in the AM to protect against harmful pollutants and bacteria under your mask
Use cold tools to help heal and prevent inflammation
Use a calming clay mask to detox
Avoid wearing makeup under your mask
Add a barrier between your skin and the mask- (moisturizer and/or SPF)
Visit your Esthetician monthly to detox and refresh your skin
This may be easier said than done, but our last tip is, don't stress out about your maskne! Treat your skin well and stay on top of your skincare routine. Stress contributes to skin problems and more importantly, it wreaks havoc on your emotional well-being. Our philosophy is, healthy skin is more important than perfect skin. Love your skin, in all it's stages.
Here are some products we recommend to treat maskne:
the MAX facial cleanser
ORMEDIC balancing facial cleanser
CLEAR CELL restoring serum
I MASK purifying probiotic mask
CLEAR CELL salicylic clarifying pads
If you're not sure what products to treat your skin with, contact us and we'd be happy to help you.
