When the face mask is an enemy for our skin

When you wear a face mask for a whole day, like doctors, nurses and workers do on a daily basis, you run the risk of the appearance of pimples in the T-zone, on the nose and in the lips area. And there is nothing worse than feeling obliged to wear a medical device, and when removing it, you realize that your skin also suffers. The phenomenon of "maskne", a word born from the crasis of mask + acne, is widespread in this particular historical period, and worries many people, especially those who have been fighting with acne for some time and / or thought they had got rid of it. Unfortunately, the mask will accompany us daily (and we don't know how long), but with the right precautions the maskne will not.

The mask covers a large part of our face, so the heat and sweat we produce with our breath moisten and warm the face area, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and enlarging the pores. It is then the prolonged contact with the mask and the friction with the fabric that occludes the pores, as Wishtrend TV explains, making various pimples and imperfections appear, both on the skin most prone to acne and on dry skin. Bacteria and enlarged pores also cause dryness, redness and itching - all symptoms of contact dermatitis. Here are some practical tips on how to take care of your skin while avoiding the onset of unwanted imperfections and reducing the physical damage of the mask. The game-changer moments of the day are when we wear the face mask and the moment of the skincare routine.

While wearing face mask

Avoid wearing heavy makeup under the mask, especially products such as primer or foundation. Instagram's most famous dermatologist, Dr. Anjali Mahto, confirms that the makeup + wet environment combo can facilitate the appearance of pimples and blackheads.

Apply frequently a moisturizer on the points of the face where the mask makes friction, on the neck of the nose and under the chin, especially if it is made of fabric and is often washed

Respecting the safety limits, remove the mask every 1-2 hours. Get fresh air and breathe the skin, this makes the difference

Stay faithful to a delicate skincare routine to be practiced as soon as you return home, which facilitates oxygenation of the skin without being too aggressive and respects the lipid barrier of the skin.

 

The anti-maskne skincare routine

Step 0: Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face.

Step 1: Gently cleanse. It is advisable to use warm water in combination with a gentle detergent. Say goodbye to astringent active ingredients such as tea tree, welcome instead chamomile and calendula. The Gentle Gel Cleanser by Honest Beauty contains these two ingredients which exert a purifying and soothing action together with the yucca root which removes impurities and make-up without affecting the barrier of the skin.

Step 2: Dry your face after washing by dabbing the water off your face with a soft towel or cotton cloth, without rubbing to avoid causing irritation (which is exactly what we want to avoid).

Step 3: Depending on your skin type, pass a moisturizing tonic on your face. If you have dry skin do not use the product more than twice a week, if instead you tend to develop acne use a daily tonic suitable for your problem. Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion absorbs excess sebum and, thanks to the presence of menthol, regenerates and refreshes the skin.

Step 4: Double hydration is essential: serum and moisturizer.

Serum for normal / dry skin: Vitamin C is a faithful ally in periods when the skin is in short supply of oxygen. Its beneficial action is now recognized on a planetary level. Kylie Skin Serum  contains this wonderful ingredient that has a soothing and antioxidant action.

Serum for oily skin: Niacinamide is a powerful antioxidant that reduces redness and smoothes irritated skin usually more recommended for oily-prone skin due to its ability to reduce sebum production. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum has an anti-imperfection formula with immediately visible results.

Moisturizing cream: The dermatologist @brownskinderm recommends opting for creams that contain ceramide or hyaluronic acid for final hydration. Ceramide is the first ingredient of Ceramidin Cream by Dr.Jart, a rich and highly moisturizing cream, perfect for an evening pampering for dry skin. For combination / oily skin, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream Fresh Hydration counteracts the shiny effect, visibly reduces excess sebum, without drying out the skin and giving it a healthy and fresh appearance throughout the day.

Feeling good about yourself and being and feeling beautiful is important, but health is even more important, and wearing a mask is advisable and mandatory in certain cases. Mask acne is a temporary episode, in fact the appearance of imperfections is due to a stressful condition of the skin, so it is right to protect the skin as much as possible without ever forgetting the importance of the mask.