Dr. Lisa Kellett was on CP24 Breakfast explaining what “Maskne” is, and how to prevent and treat it.
What it is Maskne?
“Maskne” refers to common effects from wearing a face mask for an extended period of time. Things like acne, rashes, and irritating or peeling skin can all result from wearing a mask and most commonly appear on the area of the cheeks and nose.
Why does Maskne happen?
A lot of people are wearing masks for long periods of time and can develop reactions from things like the friction of the mask rubbing against the skin, an allergy or reaction to a specific material in the mask, and also pre existing skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema can also be aggravated by wearing a mask.
How to avoid Maskne
Some simple things you can do to avoid “Maskne” are:
- using a gel-based moisturizer immediately before putting the mask on and after taking it off
- limit the amount of makeup (if any at all) you wear under the mask
- taking a 15-minute break from the mask every four hours to allow the skin to recover
- Wash masks with a hypoallergenic detergent and by hand, not in a washing machine
How to treat Maskne
Some ways to treat “Maskne” at home are:
- Take off your mask in the car and at home if it is safe to do so
- using an over-the-counter 5% Benzoyl Peroxide cream
- wash your face with a gel-based (non-foaming) cleanser twice daily
Some ways to treat “Maskne” in clinic are:
- Use Blu Light as an anti-inflammatory mechanism
- Sooth and calm using medical-grade skin oxygenation