Have you found your skin is breaking out in the areas covered by your face mask? Me too!!!
There is a new term to describe this sort of breakout, "Maskne".
The warm moist environment under your face mask encourages the growth of the bacteria that causes acne. As if we don't have enough to worry about!
You may have particular trouble on the areas of skin where the edges of the mask fit tightest against the skin such as under the jawline, across the nose and the upper cheek area.
Not only can the skin breakout more in those areas, it can also become dry, irritated and chafed from the mask rubbing the skin plus, it can trigger a rosacea flare up. 🤦♀️
The stress we all are experiencing during this covid crisis also contributes to breakouts.
Oily skin is particularly prone to maskne but any skin type of any age can experience maskne breakout.
Read Older Skin with Acne Breakout: Causes & Remedies
A facial will certainly help heal the skin but facials, and any other services where a face mask needs to be removed, were not permitted in Pennsylvania where I am a licensed esthetician. I think that may have just changed but with rising COVID numbers, these services will probably not be allowed again. I'm sure many other states have the same type of rule.
It's quite frustrating.
Prevent, Hide & Heal a Breakout from your Face Mask
Don't lose it! There are some easy things you can do to help prevent the breakout, hide the breakout and help heal the breakout that has already occurred. I have included Amazon Affiliate links in this post to help you find all my favorite tried and true cruelty free skin care products.
Prevent Maskne Breakout
To help prevent a breakout from your face mask, start by wearing the right face mask.
If you wear a mask all day at work and find you sweat a lot, you should change your mask to a fresh clean one part way through the day.
Click here to visit the Beach Ruffles Etsy Shop for 3D Origami Face Masks
Be sure to have plenty of cloth masks so you have clean ones available daily or to change throughout the day. And... have the right one to coordinate with your outfit.
Hide Maskne Breakout
So Your Skin Broke Out Anyway
Even though you have done all the right things with your face mask, your skin can still break out especially if you have sensitive skin.
I have a few skin care tips and some of my favorite effective products to recommend for you to help heal the breakout asap.
Heal Maskne Breakout
Follow a good skin care routine, use products formulated to heal and soothe skin experiencing an acne breakout, do some stress relieving activities and limit alcohol consumption.
Skin Care Products to Heal Maskne Breakout
Use a gentle facial cleanser twice a day.
Wash your face in the morning to remove oil and sweat that have accumulated overnight.
Before bed, wash your face to remove all makeup, excess oil, sweat and dirt that has accumulated during the day.
Apply your cleanser then use a soft wash cloth in a circular motion to remove the cleanser. The wash cloth offers some gentle exfoliation and helps remove makeup more effectively. Be sure rinse well.
I love this minty fresh feeling cleanser. I find it helps calm and clear a breakout. It is great for any age oily or normal/oily combination skin that is breaking out. It is also good for treating an area that is breaking out on dry skin.
If you are feeling a bit lazy, rightfully so, try makeup removing wipes. You can keep them right beside your bed and wash your face in bed!
Formula 10.0.6 Keep Me Clean Clarifying Facial WipesThese Formula 10.0.6 Facial Wipes remove makeup, dirt, and oils with cucumber extract and witch hazel while being gentle even on the most sensitive skin!
Step 2: Toner
Use a toner on a cotton pad to remove any cleanser residue. Most toners contain healing balancing ingredients to treat the skin along with removing cleanser residue.
I love Ole Henriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. It's a 3 jobs in one product. It cleanses, it balance and it exfoliates. Plus, it feels cool and refreshing.
This amazing healing mud mask heals and exfoliates the skin with antioxidant Goji Berry and Green Coffee Beans. This mask is great for any skin type.
Reduce Stress To Heal a Breakout
The stress hormone cortisol, which our bodies produce when we are under a lot of stress, can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce oil. Too much oil contributes to breakouts. Do some stress reducing activities to take down the cortisol level.
Walking is a great stress reducer especially when you walk outside in the fresh air. It is an easy exercise to do when you really don't feel like exercising.
This is my favorite stress relieve. Put on some tunes and dance like nobody's watching!!!
Watch a sappy, lighthearted Hallmark or Lifetime movie to escape reality for a while.
Get lost in a book or magazine to escape reality for a while.
You may feel you need some wine to help you relax and relieve your stress.
Limit your alcohol consumption though, if you want better skin. Overindulging in alcoholic beverages can cause dehydrated skin.
Dehydrated skin is irritated skin and it takes longer to heal when it breaks out. Yes, dehydrated can still breakout.
Alcohol can also trigger a rosacea flare up.
Read Skin and the Effects of Alcohol
Here's a quick recap about maskne to prevent it, hide it, and heal it
1. Wear the right protective face mask and keep it clean.
2. Use a good skin care routine with cleanser, toner, spot treatments and moisturizer to heal maskne breakouts.
3. Take down cortisol levels with stress relieving activities.
4. Limit alcohol consumption.
It sounds like a lot, but once you get into this good skin care routine, it will become easy. You will see an improvement in your maskne face mask breakout and you will see an improvement in the overall appearance of you skin.
Let's all wear our masks and get this pandemic over with asap!!!
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