Whether you have struggled with acne before, or if it’s new to you, no one wants it! And now it’s becoming a prevalent and unwanted side effect of wearing a mask.
The good news is that we can help!
From reviewing your skincare routine, prescribing medications, or offering a treatment, we can help clear your skin and protect it from future breakouts.
Why do masks cause acne?
If you’ve ever decided to cut yourself some bangs after never having them before, you may be familiar with the type of acne that can form from excess coverage of typically open areas.
In the case of bangs, hair product, hair oils, and the excess moisture can clog pores in this area. It’s very similar when wearing a face mask over our mouth and nose.
Due to the increase in moisture, beneath your mask can become a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria, and along with skin irritation or rubbing from the fabric, this can expand into some difficult-to-deal with acne marks.
Who’s at most risk for maskne?
You’ll likely know already if you’re an at-risk person for developing acne from your mask. If you’ve been wearing it semi-frequently for some time, you’ll notice oilier skin around that area, along with some more clogged pores.
And if you have to wear it very frequently, if you’re a nurse or in another profession where it’s required, you might already have acne forming.
Ultimately, those most at risk for getting acne from a face mask are those who already experience acne breakouts or are more prone to acne. Those with sensitive skin may also experience breakouts in the area around their nose and mouths.
How to Prevent Mask Acne
Since it seems we’ll all be wearing masks for a bit longer, knowing how to prevent this acne can save you a lot of heartache down the line.
If you’ve already developed it, of course treatment is necessary first.
Prevention for mask acne:
- Make sure to wash your face thoroughly before and after wearing your mask
- Avoid wearing makeup beneath your mask if you can
- Don’t use a highly fragranced detergent if you have a cloth mask
- Use a clean mask whenever you can, and wash reusable masks often
See your dermatologist for a skincare regime specific to maskne prevention
How to Treat Acne Caused by Your Face Mask
Unfortunately, even with prevention, acne will come to the surface. Here are our best tips for treating acne caused by your mask.
Top 3 things to do at home to treat and prevent Maskne:
- Use a light, non-comedogenic moisturizer. This can help alleviate the excess moisture caused by your breath beneath your mask.
- Using a face wash formulated for acne-prone skin in that area can clear up problems.
- See your dermatologist so they can determine which type of acne you’re suffering from and a skin regimen specific to your skin type.
How Dermatologists Can Treat Your Maskne
Dermatologists are really the people you want helping you with your skincare woes—obviously. It’s what they do! More often than not, patients come to us after having tried to remedy the situation themselves.
Unfortunately, their own remedies typically make things worse, not better.
Because COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon, we wanted to clue you in on some of the ways we can treat mask-specific acne at our dermatology office.
In-office Maskne treatments at The Derm:
- Tailored, full skincare regime and the products that will help your specific skin type and ailments. This may include medical-grade products and/or prescriptions.
- Customized aesthetic treatments such as facials to treat, heal, and prevent future breakouts specific to your skin type and its need.
If you’re struggling with your skin because of your face mask, book an appointment with us so we can determine what the exact problem is and how we can treat, heal, and prevent it.
