Masks have become more and more common, as they’re a great way to keep yourself and others around you safe. Plus, wearing a mask shows the people around you that you care about their safety. The biggest problem, however, is that wearing masks more often has also corresponded with an increase in what people are terming “maskne.” What is maskne, and what can you do to keep yourself safe from it? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Epidemic of Maskne
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Maskne is a combination of the words “mask” and “acne.” It describes a frustrating experience that many people have, where they experience more acne as a result of wearing a mask. Especially if you’re an essential worker, such as a grocery store clerk or a teacher, you may be wearing a mask for many hours a day, leading to an increase in acne.
While you may understand that this isn’t a reason to stop wearing a mask, that doesn’t stop it from being annoying. Acne can make you feel more self-conscious, even if most people don’t see it, and the mask pressing on your acne can be uncomfortable. That’s why many people are looking for a way to avoid maskne.
Things That Can Exacerbate Maskne
Unfortunately, there are many things that can make maskne worse, including things you might be doing every day. Are you doing any of these things? If so, it could be contributing to your maskne:
- Not washing your face in the morning or night
- Reusing disposable masks
- Wearing reusable masks repeatedly without washing them
- Touching your face under your mask
Are you guilty of any of these things? If so, there’s no need to feel bad. These are common mistakes that have been made as we continue to adjust to the new normal of mask wearing. It’s all about learning and changing your habits in response to new information. If you’re willing to move away from the things you’re doing and toward healthier habits, you can avoid it.
Ways You Can Avoid Maskne
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Aside from just moving away from habits that exacerbate maskne, there are also a variety of ways you can proactively avoid maskne. Whether you do all of these things or just a few of them, you can use them to cut down on the amount of maskne you experience.
- Switch out disposable masks every day.
- Wash reusable masks as often as possible.
- Clean your face well every night.
- If you wear makeup, apply less under the mask
- Use a hypoallergenic mask material.
- Try a silicone insert that keeps your mask from touching your face.
Some of these things are more accessible than others. For example, buying a silicone insert for your mask may be more difficult than just making sure you clean your face in the morning and the night. However, ideally, you should try to do as many of them as possible for best results.
Conclusion
Avoiding maskne doesn’t have to be difficult. As a matter of fact, with just a bit of understanding when it comes to this new experience, it can be surprisingly easy. If you find that you’re extremely skilled at understanding methods of avoiding maskne and interested in more aspects of skincare, you may want to consider turning your inherent skills into a career. With the esthetics program from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, you can use your skin care skills to help other people avoid maskne and similar skin care problems.