Wearing masks has many uses, for fashion reasons or as a shield against deadly viruses. However, while they do provide protection, some people face negative ramifications too. Acne breakouts are common consequences of wearing masks for a long time, a phenomenon termed as Maskne.
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These occur due to constant chafing of the fabric against your skin, bacteria deposits, etc. And they lead to breakouts. Yet, prevention and cure are both available to safeguard against it. If you are wondering how to prevent masked, here are some tips that would work to your advantage.
Ways to avoid getting Maskne
The following are some of the best manners in which you can protect your skin against masked breakouts.
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Washing the face
The most common reason for masked is oil and dirt accumulation in your skin cells. When you wear masks for long, these deposits sit inside your pores, and that leads to breakouts. Thus, you must wash your face always, both before as well as after wearing a mask.
In the question of how to prevent masked, make sure that you do not rub or scrub your face hard. Use gentle cleansers without oil or fragrance and rinse your face with lukewarm water. This is especially important if you had the mask on for more than 30 minutes.
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Avoid too much makeup
You should not wear makeup and put your mask on top of it. These objects block the air from entering, and that increases humidification underneath. In turn, that leads to breakouts and clogged pores. Plus, the makeup residues seep into the mask fabric, which may cause infections later.
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Adopt skin treatment plans
To prevent masked, you can adopt strategies for maskne treatment before and after it occurs. If you have milder acne, you should use products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid for treatment. This composition varies from product to product, though.
However, before using it, you should test if the product suits your skin type.
Otherwise, using it directly on the affected area would make the maskne worse. So, test on a small surface of your inner forearm and see if there is a reaction.
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Be careful about mask reuse
Among the main ways to prevent masked, one of the best decisions is to change your mask daily. If you are using surgical masks, for example, do not clean and reuse them. They are not made for multiple applications. Throw the old one out and wear a fresh one instead.
On the other hand, if you use cloth masks instead, the best move is to clean them frequently. As per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) regulations, do so in the washing machine or by hand. Also, remember to use a non-fragrance detergent for this.
Indeed, washing the masks regularly would protect against skin blemishes and cross-contamination of viruses, too. Plus, do not use a fabric mask for long, either. It is one of the main things to remember regarding how to prevent masked.
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Follow a strict skincare routine
Always follow a strictly supervised skincare routine to avoid masked. There are many good skin care products for this purpose, and you should choose non-comedogenic and oil-free ones.
In this regard, remember to use a gentle exfoliator to remove surface debris and dead skin cells. Otherwise, they would clog the pores and cause spots. Following a night-time skincare regime is also important, with moisturizers and calming serums. These would make the skin barriers stronger and lessen sensitive and dry skin.
In respect to wearing a mask, make sure to handle your skincare routine once before doing so. Use your products at least half an hour prior to this. The cream would absorb in the skin by then and would protect the pores.
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Lessen friction
Chafing is one of the leading causes of maskne in human beings. Thus, if you want to know how to prevent maskne, you should first handle it.
Ensure that the mask does not sit tightly on your face, which would reduce the chances of chafing. For this, you should loosen the straps of your mask around your face. Try the headband type masks for this, or adjust the pads behind your ears. The pads in question are usually visible under the mask straps.
Also, wearing a mask larger than your face would reduce the chances of it touching your skin too much.
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Moisturize
When skin irritations occur as peeling or drying of the skin, this would later lead to redness, skin sensitivity, break down, and dark marks. These are usually the first symptoms of maskne.
Here, daily moisturizing would work very well to protect your skin. Follow a moisturizing regime before each time you have to wear a mask. This would keep the skin fresh and reduce the chances of peeling skin. Also, after you are done wearing the mask, put pure petroleum cream on your epidermis too.
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Adopt cotton mask use
Indeed, cotton is a very breathable fabric. And if you have to wear a mask, choose this fabric mainly. Synthetic fabrics are not good for your skin, as they hold a lot of heat in. Ones made of 100% cotton would let oxygen enter through the mask.
Also, if you are using such masks to prevent harmful bacteria from entering, use a fresh one always.
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Take breaks
it is important to let your skin breathe to reduce the chances of maskne or general breakout. Thus, do not wear your masks continuously. Remove it and let your skin breathe once in a while.
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Use SPF
UV rays can seep through masks and cause breakouts. And wearing such a cover would increase the intensity of the irritation. Therefore, you should remember to put SPF on beforehand if you are worried about how to prevent maskne.
Overall, wearing a mask would protect your skin and you against many diseases, impurities, and other problems. But, if you follow these tips and take care of your skin well, your skin would stay safe. Maintain a good skincare habit regularly, before and after donning a mask.
