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Maskne Is Real—Here’s What to Do About it

How to treat and prevent mask-related breakouts

You’ve probably heard of backne and chestne, charming names for the pimples that sprout up on our back and chest. Now meet maskne, the newly minted term to describe acne brought on by wearing masks. Indeed, dermatologists have noticed a rise in patients presenting breakouts around their mouth and along their jaw as protective face coverings have become increasingly commonplace. While masks will likely be sticking around for a while, the bumps on our skin don’t have to. Read on for pro tips on how to treat and prevent maskne.

Keep your mask clean

This is key to prevent bacteria from transferring onto your face and triggering breakouts, which tend to thrive in the warm, humid environment created by a mask. If you’re using a disposable surgical mask, discard it immediately after using. If you’ve bought cute reusable fabric masks, throw them in the washing machine regularly to get rid of any grime, makeup and microbes. Got sensitive skin? Look for a fragrance-free detergent as scented laundry liquid can be irritating to some.

Simplify your routine

“To help treat and prevent maskne, you need to go back to basics,” says Dr. Paul Cohen, of Rosedale Dermatology Centre. That means keeping your pores clean with a gentle pH balanced cleanser rather than an abrasive formula that could further aggravate the breakouts. You also want to reach for a lightweight moisturizer, as thicker creams run the risk of clogging pores, especially under a heat-trapping mask.

Don’t skip SPF

While your mask may provide sun protection while being worn, depending on the material, you want to make sure you’re covered when you take it off to eat, drink or drive (remember, UVA rays do penetrate through glass). This is especially important if you’re using photo-sensitizing topicals to treat your pimples (more on those later). Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen specifically made for the face that has the term “non-comedogenic” on the bottle.

Go lighter with makeup

If you’re very acne-prone, it’s probably best to try and avoid makeup altogether under your mask, say dermatologists. “I think that a lot of people have been happy over the last few months because they don’t need to wear so much makeup underneath the mask,” says Dr. Jonathan Levy, medical director of Toronto’s Refine by Medcan. “Use this as a nice opportunity to take a holiday from wearing makeup on a daily basis.” If you are going to wear some, try to keep it on the lighter side

Identify the issue

Maskne can sometimes be confused with other skin issues such as perioral dermatitis, a.k.a. an inflammatory rash around the mouth. This usually occurs as a reaction to an occlusive or irritating product. “There’s also seborrheic dermatitis, detected as a red, flaky rash, and often that’s because of the yeast that lives on our skin and feeds on the natural oils we produce,” says Levy. If you’re sweating under your mask, say after a workout, a gentle face cleansing wipe can help clean things up when you’re on the go.

Treat the breakouts

Once you’ve made sure you’re dealing with acne, reduce the lifespan of your pimples by dabbing on a spot treatment before bedtime. The experts cite salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide as their go-to ingredients for tackling comedones. Levy is also a fan of applying retinol a few nights a week to treat and prevent further flare-ups. Just remember to be diligent with sun protection when using these topicals as they can cause photo-sensitivity.

 

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