There are two types of people in the world: those gifted with flawless, glowing skin and the rest of us who just dream of a day where we wake up without a red bump on our face. But these days, it seems many of us, regardless of the state of our faces pre–pandemic, have been facing a new skin care dilemma: mascne.
Mascne (a.k.a maskne) is a pretty self–explanatory concept, it’s acne caused by continuously wearing a mask or other facial covering. Now before anyone decides to take this as a cue to not wear masks anymore, it certainly is not. And while the extreme breakouts caused by this change in lifestyle under COVID–19 restrictions may be frustrating, there are many products and practices that you can incorporate into your daily routine that can help address this issue.
There are a number of factors that cause the dreaded mascne to arise. It can be caused by irritation from wearing your mask, not washing your mask often, a negative reaction to the materials in the mask, or even from washing your mask with a harsh detergent. Frequent mask wearing can also cause pores to clog up, which can facilitate to more breakouts.
If you feel like your skin has been getting worse as a result of mask wearing, don't be disheartened. There are a myriad of skincare products out there that are known for being able to treat breakouts and mascne.
One remedy suggested by skincare specialists is to wear 100% cotton masks. This material is easy to wash and allows your skin breathe–while still protecting those around you. Dermatologists also recommend treatments that include benzyl peroxide and glycolic acid to spot treat blemishes and dark spots. Meanwhile, over–the–counter pimple patches, facial toners, and chemical exfoliators are also known to be effective in reducing mascne.
Several well–known skincare brands have also formulated special collections of recommended skincare products with fighting mascne in mind, including Dr.Jart+ and Paula’s Choice. If you have a go–to brand that you trust for all of their skincare needs, be sure to take a look at their website to see which of their products are best tailored to treat your specific mascne–related needs.
Aside from stocking up on fancy face washes, making small changes to your daily routine can also quell your acne issues, including avoiding putting makeup on the lower half of your face (more time to focus on perfecting your eye–shadow!), keeping your skin moisturized, and avoiding over–exfoliation.
As frustrating as mask–related breakouts can be, there are several ways that you can fend off those pesky red bumps. With these beauty tips in mind, and a little patience, you can overcome the mascne crisis.
