Taking on the ‘maskne’ breakout one blemish at a time
THE days when face masks were all about a good deep skin treatment are fast fading into the distant past as the ‘maskne’ outbreak gains momentum.
Caused by the routine wearing of facemasks in this brave new world of taking care of ourselves and those around us, mask induced acne, or ‘maskne’ is on the rise. It’s the perfect storm for flareups on our faces, buried under constantly rubbing masks allowing entry to bacteria and dirt through micro-abrasions.
“Maskne is absolutely real, no questions asked, said Dr Mona Gohara, Yale School of Medicine Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology. “I wear two masks and sometimes a protective shield and have myself experienced it and continue to experience it.”
So, what is to be done? The warm and moist environment under a facemask, trapping air and driving dirt into our pores is a given, no matter the temperature outdoors.
“It’s about trying to reduce the bacterial build-up which is beneficial for the skin but also about ensuring the essential hygiene necessary for controlling coronavirus risks, too,” said Dermalogica digital and content education manager Candice Gardner. “Avoid wearing makeup underneath the mask too, if possible and introduce products that can help keep the skin clear such as a prebiotic cleanser or a face wash with salicylic acid, which can reduce clogging and has an anti-inflammatory action.”
The key is to work backwards from a maskne flareup, determining whether it is occurring on acne-prone skin or if it is only turning up for the first time since the onset of puberty, and keep on going from there.
“Treating the skin is like a marathon,” said Image skincare head Charlene Stoker. You don’t do the full run without some training and it’s the same with skin. You need to build it up for the more advanced stuff.”
Maskne management can start on the surface with an enzyme peel treatment to calm and brighten the skin before moving to deeper, more intensive treatments.
The best approach is progressive, peeling back the layers until clear, unblemished skin is revealed.
