Adapting to the “new normal” has meant lots of changes for our skin. Whether you wear makeup or not, you might have encountered some new skin issues as of late - namely breakouts! Enter "maskne": the 2020 term for mask + acne.
How to deal with unwanted breakouts while wearing a face mask??
If you’re an essential worker, entering a public place, or are wearing a face mask for any reason, you’re likely wearing it for a good portion of the day. Subsequently, people are beginning to notice a correlation between wearing a mask and acne. We all know how frustrating breakouts can be.
In this article, I will teach you how a few changes to your routine can help eliminate new pimples from wearing a face mask.
Why (and How) Masks Might Cause Breakouts
You’ve found yourself with newly formed acne after wearing a face mask for a few days, but why? There is a wide range of possible causes, but the most likely culprits are poor hygiene and adjusting to ever-evolving mask etiquette.
1. Face Touching
We touch our faces more frequently now - whether putting our face mask on, taking it off, or adjusting it. Long story short, our hands come into contact with our faces more often. Though we’re washing hands more, we’re still touching other surfaces and objects. Our hands transfer dirt, grease, and sweat onto our faces throughout the day. This leads to clogged pores, blackheads, and breakouts.
2. Heat and Sweat
There’s no ventilation under your face mask - that’s part of what makes them effective at mitigating the spread of germs. Then comes the heat, which leads to sweat, but… where does that sweat go? There’s nowhere else for it to stay but underneath your face mask.
The sweat that stays trapped next to your skin mixes with dirt and oil, leading to clogged pores. Heat can also ramp up your oil production, triggering acne breakouts. Humidity - heat mixed with your breath can breed acne-causing bacteria.
3. Bacteria
Bacteria is one of the main causes of acne. It triggers an inflammatory response in your skin leading to the red, tender bumps you know as pimples. Sweat can help transfer bacteria from your mask, your hands, and your saliva. This bacteria can stay trapped underneath your face mask; this is especially true if you use a cloth mask. A cloth can often trap bacteria more effectively than other types of materials.
4. Hair
Sometimes we put our masks on in a hurry, and hair can’t always clear the way before we put it on. Accidentally, trapping hair behind your mask can lead to clogged pores, because our hair is full of natural oils. If you style your hair every morning, you can add oils and emollients to that pore-clogging mix. If we get these oils on our skin, they can be trapped inside the pores.
If you can, the easiest solution is to keep your hair pulled behind your ears with clips, bobby pins, or headbands. Of course, styling your hair in a bun, ponytail, or other updos can reduce this risk as well.
Want to know how to deal with unwanted breakouts while wearing a face mask? Read 9 Tips for Preventing "Maskne" HERE.
Sara was born and raised in the Czech Republic. In 2012, she moved to the US and worked many jobs but never felt fulfilled, which lead her to share her story and her passion for fitness (former fitness professional), nutrition tips (vegan) and makeup. She is also a new mom. Sara and her husband welcomed their baby boy in June 2020.
Sara is a makeup junkie at heart and decided to start her own business to help women look and feel their best. She loves supporting other business moms feel beautiful inside and out as they work to create their own destinies. You could find out more about her HERE.
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