8 Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Side Effects of Wearing a Face Mask!

By The Captain May 28, 2020

Protect your Skin from the Side Effects of Wearing a Face Mask Wellness Captain

Protect Your Skin!

The coronavirus pandemic has already affected and changed almost all aspects of our lives. One of the many things we now have to get accustomed to as we take our first steps out of self- isolation and lockdown is wearing a face mask in public areas where six-foot social distancing is not an option, such as inside public institutions, supermarkets or on public transport.

Whether you wear a DIY mask or a medical one purchased online, the fact that you need to keep it on your face for extended periods of time can seriously affect your skin and cause various skin issues such as rashes, acne and eczema.

“If any part of the mask touches active acne, this can also aggravate the acne and create more inflamed spots, while severe eczema and psoriasis can also worsen,” explains leading dermatologist Dr. Anil Budh-Raja.

But let’s look on the bright side! There are numerous ways to prevent the face masks that we constantly have to wear from damaging our skin. Having said that, here are 8 ways to protect your skin and keep it clear and healthy at all times.

How to protect your skin:

Wash your skin thoroughly. You can use gentle, unscented cleansers like CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash, which cleanses, hydrates and helps restore the protective skin barrier. If you have dry skin, also apply some light moisturizer or ointment such as this one, which is not too greasy.
Apply creams with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as green tea, resveratrol and turmeric to soothe irritated skin and stop using harsh scrubs or chemical exfoliators.
Apply a sunscreen lotion or cream for sensitive skin such as this mineral-based one to protect your skin
Make sure your mask covers your nose and mouth, but it is not too tight to irritate your skin. Also, pay attention to the fabric the mask is made of.

“Choose a tight, secure fit with tightly woven fabric,” said Noelani E. Gonzalez, a dermatologist and director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West in New York. “You basically want something soft, natural and breathable — like 100% cotton. Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon and rayon,” she added. “These are more likely to make you sweat, which will dampen the fabric and, in turn, may cause irritation.”

Less is more so avoid heavy makeup or foundation under your mask. This prevents your skin from breathing and clogs your pores, causing acne flare-ups. “When you wear makeup under a mask, the increased humidity on your skin can lead to clogged pores and breakouts,” Gonzales said. “Not wearing makeup will help your skin breathe better.”
If you wear glasses and a mask, the skin across the bridge of your nose might get irritated. Not to mention that your glasses get foggy. To stop this from happening, you can tape the mask with paper-tape to prevent your warm breath from reaching your lenses. “This is something a lot of medical students learn early on when they’re using eye protection goggles,” said Dr. Andrew Janowski, instructor of pediatric infectious diseases at Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
If you are wearing cloth masks, wash them after each use, according to CDC instructions. Don’t use bleach as it may affect the integrity of the material.
Don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water every time you remove your mask. Your hands might also get damaged by all the excessive washing, so here’s how to keep your skin healthy and smooth.