2020 - The year of a global pandemic, face masks, quarantine and social distancing. Now that wearing face masks is our new normal, so many people are breaking out from them. Lets break down what maske actually is and how we can prevent and treat it!
Maskne: What is it? Mask acne occurs when sweat, excess oils, bacteria and moisture are trapped when wearing a face mask.
How do I prevent it? Cleansing your skin twice a day, avoiding excessive makeup and applying your daily skincare routine. And most importantly, wash or change your mask daily!
How do I treat it? Use a gentle cleanser in the morning and a treatment cleanser in the evening. Using a gentle cleanser in the morning will help to not over dry the skin and using a treatment cleanser in the evening- a cleanser with salicylic acid or glycolic acid will exfoliate and help remove all the debris from the skin that has accumulated throughout the day.
Keeping your skin exfoliated, hydrated and moisturized is another great way to avoid mask acne. Exfoliating 1-3 times a week to remove the build up of dead skin cells and using a hyaluronic acid or niacinamide serum to hydrate the skin and helps balance sebum production. Do not skip your moisturizer! This will ensure your skin stays protected throughout the day.
Spot treating your breakouts is a must! Using products with salicylic acid to help unclog pores by dissolving dead skin cells or benzoyl peroxide ensures to destroy bacteria and dry it out. Spot treating with a clay or charcoal mask is another way to help dry out a pesky blemish.
While maskne is a hassle- keeping yourself and your loved ones save is a priority. Stay safe and healthy!