All Things Acne Part 3: Maskne

Maskne, yes, literally mask acne, and no, this does not refer to those hydrating sheet masks or pore clearing clay masks, but our new COVID-19 fashion. Of course it is a health protocol and has been shown to help not only yourself, but others by you wearing one. However it does have its negative effects as well, some feel claustrophobic in it, others may suffer from severe asthma, it causes extra unhygienic build up and it’s not good for your skin.

The number of individuals experiencing acne since the start of the pandemic has increased rapidly, originally thought to be due to excess stress, however, most individuals found the problem to be in the same area; the chin and jawline. In a previous article on face mapping, one can see the most common cause for chin and jawline acne is hormones. Although stress can cause hormones to fluctuate, the most common cause in this case is the wearing of masks. The technical term for maskne is acne mechanica and happens due to a number of reasons/

1. Friction- remember when you were little and went swimming in dams or rivers with those swim trunks over the costume or bikini pants? If you walked around wet all day your thighs would start chaffing from continued friction. The same applies here The mask has a cause of friction on its own, but add some liquid exerting from your mouth and you have that chaff effect again, leading to acne

2. Unwashed masks- It’s the same principal as changing your underwear everyday. There is so much build up in your mouth and on your skin it naturally transfers onto your skin, but that doesn’t mean there has to be a constant back and forth transference.

3. Pressure- the mask pressing down blocks your pores in the same way a long day of heavy makeup can, not allowing your skin a space to breathe.

4. Washing detergent- another problem cause is the way your mask is washed. Detergent and face wash have different chemical compounds and ingredients. More sensitive skins should especially refrain from washing with a detergent.

5. Unhygienic dental practices- Just that. Not brushing your teeth causes those bacteria to spread inside and outside the skin area

Mostly maskne is the trapping of oils, sweat and dirt in a single, isolated place over a long period of time and in a continuous manner, so of course build up will accumulate and pores will be blocked, luckily there are prevention and treatment methods:

• Wash your masks regularly, preferably with something that won’t irritate your skin further, perhaps the same cleanser used for your makeup brushes and skin tools. Face wash is also suggested, but could be a very expensive alternative. Natural soaps containing aloe or rooibos are also gentle on the skin.

• Wash your face, before wearing the mask to limit transfer and after to get rid of transfer. Try to opt for a gentle cleanser as opposed to a strong acne one. Over doing it also causes irritation.

• Choose lightweight mask material, even if this only applies to the inner lining, for a breathable effect (on your skin) a good suggestion would be 100% cotton. It’s also softer with a less vigorous friction effect.

• Don’t squeeze or pop any blemishes! Burst acne leads to scarring and spreading of bacteria. Rather practice spot treatment with products containing salicylic acid or tea tree oil.

• Lessen the makeup. Your skin is already struggling to breathe, why give it even less breathing space?

• Exfoliate, this helps remove dead skin cells and acts as a deeper pore cleaner. I would not suggest more than 1 to 2 times per week though, over exfoliating can damage the skin barrier

• Hydration, yes water always seems to be the key. In this case you want to rid of any and all toxins, so drink up!

There we have it my lovelies. We are still stuck in unsettling times, but it doesn’t mean your skin needs to go down with the rest of it. Take care & you might just inspire the next person to do the same.

Keep going, keep glowing, keep growing. You’re doing amazing.

•B