You don’t necessarily have to be a healthcare or frontline worker to wear protective gears and face- masks for hours daily and notice your skin reacting to it. Anyone who has been wearing masks daily for a few hours must be aware of the irritation it causes, specifically in hot, humid weather.
The unfortunate reaction of your skin to the face masks you have been wearing, which have now become an accessory and essential part of everyone’s attire, is known as ‘Maskne’ – a trending term for mask acne. Mask acne can be anything, from acne and pimples around your nose, jawline, cheeks, to redness or irritation around that area.
All You Need to Know About Maskne
Maskne, or skin breakouts after wearing masks for a few hours, occur due to clogging of pores caused by skin oils, sweat, yeast and bacteria trapped under the skin, said Elizabeth Mullans, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Houston, Texas, quotes The New York Times. She further went on to say that face masks cause irritation by rubbing against the skin constantly; this damages the protective barrier of the skin.