Now the mask has become our most essential thing if we are going out of the home. It works as a protecting shield from the coronavirus. But do you know continuous wearing of the mask can cause severe skin problems?
Here we will give you five different ways to prevent skin problems by wearing a face mask.
Wearing a mask for long hours leads to the following skin problems:
Acne:
Clog pores are the main reason for acne. Your pores are clogged with dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, and makeup residues.
Red rashes:
Red rashes are common after the long-wearing of the mask. Rashes come with inflammation, swelling, redness, breakouts.
Rash and soreness behind the ear:
Wearing a mask may cause rash and soreness behind the ear. It may cause friction, sweating, and pressure of the masked thread, which is painful.
Dermatitis:
Synthetic mask promotes dermatitis, and you may experience dryness, irritation, and allergic experience. By the way, you can avoid dermatitis by wearing a breathable cotton mask.
Repeated rubbing of the mask on your nose and ears causes sensitive spots. To avoid this problem, you can take the mask off where possible.
Five effective ways to avoid skin problem caused by wearing mask
Use cleanser and moisturizer daily.
Routine skincare can protect your skin from damage due to wearing a mask. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and face wash while washing your face. Your face masks dehydrate your skin, and the result is dehydrated skin. Hence moisturizer is a must-have skincare product you need to apply after washing your face. Moisturizers hydrate your skin from the deep layer and reduce dryness.
Board-certified dermatologist Carrie L. Kovarik suggests to use a moisturizer that contains Ceramides, Hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone. You can avoid breakouts by using the right type of moisturizer according to your skin type.
When you have oily skin and you belong to the summer region, use gel-based moisturizer. For normal to combination skin, use lotion; for dry skin, use cream-based moisturizer.
Skip makeup products and avoid new skincare products
Being women, we all love applying makeup. It makes us happy, boosts our confidence. But do you know it may cause skin problems if you apply it beneath a mask? Yes, in this case, makeup generally clogs your pores and caused breakout. However, you can use “non-comedogenic” makeup. These products do not clog pores.
Wearing a mask for an extended period makes your skin sensitive. Would you please avoid experimenting with new products to alleviate skin problems and avoid harsh skin care products like a Charcoal face mask, chemical peel, scrubber, exfoliant, retinoids?
Wear the right kind of mask
To eliminate skin problems, you must use comfortable cotton musk with at least two layers of fabric. Use a soft, breathable, natural fabric cotton mask that led to less sweating. Wearing a snug but comfortable cover protects you and others from coronavirus infection. You should wear a snug fit across your nose. It also reduces skin problems. Too tight synthetic mask (Rayon, Polyester, Nylon) irritates your skin. Don’t touch your mask and face frequently because if you do so, that means you are transferring germ to your face and mask. That may cause breakouts of acne.
Take at least 15-minute mask break every four hours
Frontline workers are giving day and night to save our life.
They have become the next to God in the coronavirus pandemic situation. They are making too many sacrifices to make our world corona-free. But at the same time, they face immense skin problems due to long hours of working with wearing a PPE kit and face mask. The dermatologist recommends taking at least 15 minutes mask break in every four hours. Of course, only remove the cover in a safe condition after washing your hands.
It is safe to be removed the mask when you stay at least six feet away from other people, inside your private car where you are alone, and at your home.
Wash your mask regularly.
Now, most healthcare organizations suggest washing your cloth mask after each use. A washing mask eliminates dirt, oil, and pollutants inside the show that would clog your problem and promote skin issues. You may clean your cloth mask by hand or washing machine. Try to use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent instead of strong detergent liquid. It would help if you used disinfectant to wash your mask. Because it indeed makes your mask germ-free.
When to call dermatologist?
Consult with experienced and board-certified skin specialists in UAE if you face severe skin problems after wearing a mask for a more extended period f of time. First, you need to follow mask hygiene protocol and take care of your skin; if these things don’t work, consult with a dermatologist. Talk about your problem in detail; if you have red rashes, eczema, skin inflammation in your body, apart from your face, the doctor may ask you to do a corona test. Corona is now affecting our skin, and skin problems can signify that you are suffering from corona infection.