Your face was clear, then seemingly almost overnight, you developed breakouts. 

 

You’re looking in the mirror and questioning what you’re going to do before that special occasion next week. 

 

Let me fill you in on what’s really going on with your skin. You’re suffering from a condition known as maskne (mask-nee), a condition whereby acne breakouts – as well as other skin irritations such as redness with occasional chaffing and conditions such as rosacea and dermatitis – occur after prolonged periods of wearing face masks.

 

Now I know what some of you may be saying, “Honey girl, what are you talking about?!” 

 

Let’s break down these common skin conditions resulting from wearing masks.

 

The dreaded Acne and Pimples. *Sigh* Those dreaded bumps that are messing up that perfect selfie shot of yours. Acne breakouts occur when your pores become clogged with dead skin cells, grime, and oil. (That’s so cute, right?) When these pores become clogged, it causes whiteheads, pimples, painful cysts, and blackheads.

 

Rosacea is another consequence of prolonged mask use. Some common trademarks of this condition are tiny red, pus-filled bumps that are like acne. Thankfully, this chronic condition is readily treatable and manageable.

 

Rosacea often displays fragile blood vessels on the surface of the skin faintly concealed by blush skin. It can come about at any age and affects both men and women. For women, rosacea typically occurs around thirty. For men afflicted with rosacea, the skin on the nose can become swollen and bumpy from the extra thickening of the skin. 

 

Another maskne related skin condition is contact dermatitis which results from a sensitivity to the face mask’s material. There are two different types of contact dermatitis: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Give me a quick second to break it down for you.

 

Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction that is triggered by something that touches your skin. The second type is called irritant dermatitis. This is caused when something harms your skin and results in irritation.  

 

Maskne may be new to you, but it didn’t suddenly show up as an imaginary condition (You don’t say!). Maskne is a common occurrence in many professions: the healthcare industry, dentistry, and construction, just to name a few.

 

When wearing a face mask, simply talking or breathing can trap a lot of hot air within the space of contact between the face mask and your skin. This creates the perfect storm for bacteria, yeast, and other flora to feast on your delicious skin in the warm, moist, humid environment *GASPS*

 

The combination of the humid environment and friction of the mask against the skin can promote skin conditions like acne, rosacea flare-ups, and more, as we just discussed. Once these pimples and pustules appear around the mouth, nose, and even the chin line, the result is maskne.

 

Alright, alright, alright. You get what maskne is and the consequences of it. But what happens when you do get the dreaded maskne breakout? 

 

For better or for worse, that is the question! Do lotions, sunscreen, makeup, and a variety of other everyday skin care products worsen maskne? 

 

The short answer: well, not always. These products can actually lead to more balanced flora for normal skin. 

 

When you layer your skin with sunscreen or moisturizer, you can help build a barrier between the damaging friction that occurs from wearing masks. Oily, sensitive, or dry – no matter your skin type, your skin care regime could be beneficial at lessening maskne. 

 

Ingredients like organic Jojoba oil found in our Baina Essentials Luminesce Moisturizer has rich in anti-inflammatory properties to help avoid breakouts! While Hyaluronic Acid quenches thirsty skin cells, keeping them nice and hydrated throughout the day! 

 

However, we don’t advise that you use thick layers of product on your skin as it can cause further breakouts and irritation. It’s important to reach out to your dermatologist to monitor your needs for skin care treatments. 

 

Hello gentleman! I wanted to give a quick shoutout to you, and your skin care needs as well! As we now know, having facial hair coupled with wearing N95 face masks, which have become the norm and are known to trap warm air, moisture, sweat, and bacteria on the face, can pose a daunting challenge for the skin underneath.

 

The secret weapon to alleviate the resulting skin issues is to use Baina Essentials Botanical + Vitamin C Toner! This toner has Witch Hazel and tea tree essential oil for a great, refreshing feeling. Our toner also helps to mitigate the problems brewing on your skin underneath that face mask. 

 

Alright, ladies, come back. This part is for you, too! It’s now required that we all wear a face mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19. So what can you do to have a fighting chance against maskne? The battle over maskne can be won with a combination of several factors.

 

Face masks made of lightweight fabrics are the best to wear. Tighter weaved with multiple layers is the best. Yet these fabric facemasks aren’t as trusted at keeping the COVID-19 virus out compared to the more reliable N95 facemasks used by health professionals. 

 

Another tip is to keep your face masks clean. Makeup, along with fragrances, sweat, and much more debris from the daily wearing of face masks, has become a breeding ground for maskne. These face masks, especially reusable and cloth face masks, must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid clogging up those pores. 

 

If you’re forced to reuse a face mask due to limited supply in your area, keep it clean. If you have an ample supply of face masks, change them out for a new one every time you go out.

 

We are not doctors, so we’re not going to go into the many medical treatments that are used to remediate these skin care issues. However, we advise that if these routine tips don’t help mitigate your maskne, and your maskne worsens, please reach out to your doctor, dermatologist, or licensed healthcare provider for that extra help regarding your skin care and maskne.

 

It’s important to always have a solid skin care routine, especially with our new face mask accessory. 

 

Having a gentle but effective cleanser is vital to keeping your skin clean. Another ingredient to look for is hyaluronic acid, which creates a healthy barrier between your delicate skin and topical masks. Add a toner to your skin care routine for even better results. 

 

However, don’t get too carried away with your skin care routine! There is such a thing as too many skin care practices, which can result in your skin drying out and becoming drier and coarser than a piece of sandpaper! We don’t want that! 

 

Look at it like this – what happens if you keep scrubbing one area too much? Let me just tell you point blank: it becomes compromised. The skin is then vulnerable to all things, from bacteria to infections. Couple that with the added friction from wearing that face mask when out in public, and the situation only worsens. 

 

I hope that after reading this, you realize that you’re not alone if you suffer from maskne or any of its related effects. Stay responsible and wear a face mask around others while in public and remember the steps we discussed to help ease face mask irritation.

 

If this post provided you with valuable information and skin care know-how, then subscribe to our Baina Essentials mailing list to be the first to know about the latest blogs, newest products, skin care, and beauty tips, and more! 

 

Until next time, always remember to be radiantly you!