The truth behind the mask: Maskne

There probably aren't too many people about now that haven't heard of the term 'Maskne', which seems to be the newest skincare concern of 2020-21.

Maskne is a type of acne caused by friction, heat, moisture and clogged pores, mostly associated with the chin, mouth and cheeks from the wearing of a face covering for a long period of time. Foreheads can also be affected with the use of reusable visors that have a fixed sponge insert.

When you wear a face mask, you help prevent yourself from contracting any airborne infectious germs as well as helping to prevent the spread of infection to eliminate cross-contamination. When someone coughs, talks or sneezes, they ultimately release germs into the air that might infect others nearby.

WHY DOES MASKNE HAPPEN?

By protecting your face with a mask, you trap your breath within it, creating a hot and moist environment for the skin under the mask. This leads to a build up of sweat and oil which leads to rashes and inflammation.

When oil is accumulated in the skin, it creates a breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria, thus leading to breakouts. Additionally, when we breathe in and out, the humidity and temperature of the skin within the masked area increases. This in turn then creates an ideal environment for more bacteria to breed. Wearing a face mask can also stop dead skin cells shedding as they would normally do - which is a total nightmare!

On top of all this (yes there's more..), the constant friction of a face mask on the skin creates tiny tears that allow dirt, bacteria, sweat, oil and make-up to enter the skin. Lastly, the wearing of a face mask can also exacerbate underlying or current skin conditions that may already exist such as Rosacea.

WE ALL HAVE TO WEAR IT, SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THROUGH IT?

It's pretty much a given now that you must wear a face mask whenever you step out of the house and are in the company of others, such as entering shops, banks and hospitals etc. or on public transport. So to help guide you on the best practice to keeping your skin clear of breakouts, when wearing face masks, I'm going to recommend the following guidance and a few of my own personal product recommendations from my main range [Comfort Zone] to get you back on track to beautiful, clear skin!

1. THOROUGHLY WASH YOUR FACE BEFORE AND AFTER

Its crucial to cleanse your face thoroughly twice a day (morning and night). Remember to wash your hands before you wash your face, otherwise you may risk spreading impurities that may be present on your hands, onto your face. For normal and oily skin types, I would recommend a foaming cleanser as they remove oil more effectively. For dryer and sensitive skin types, using a pH balanced cleansing lotion or milk is ideal to clean and soothe all at the same time.

I recommend the [Comfort Zone] Active Pureness Cleansing Gel (pH 5 - 6) with its antioxidant and antibacterial properties or the Essential Cleansing Milk (pH 5.3 - 6.3) which helps to remove make-up, residues and excess oil on the skin.

Don't forget to wash your mask too! If you're using a reusable cloth mask, this must be washed regularly (ideally I would recommend a new one for each trip from home) and single-use masks should be changed regularly (every 2-3 hours) and disposed of appropriately. Chemical-free washing powders, such as the Ultra Power Plus from Norwex, is ideal for removing bacteria and preventing inhalation of residual chemicals left in the fabric from other types of washing powders/liquids.

2. CONTINUE TO MOISTURISE REGULARLY

Protect your skin's barrier function with a hydrating moisturiser. Moisturising daily reduces the chances of our skin becoming extremely dry or oily which could cause, or further aggravate, skin problems such as acne. A moisturiser which contains Hyaluronic Acid can help repair, stimulate, hydrate and protect the skin - helping it to recover its glow!

I recommend the [Comfort Zone] Hydramemory Cream-Gel (Spring/Summer) or Hydramemory Cream (Autumn/Winter), both with a pH 5 - 6, which contains that all important hyaluronic acid, as well as Omegas 3,6 & 9 for rehydration and to help stimulate our skin to reproduce more of our own hyaluronic acid (yes our skin actually can do this already, but starts to slow up when we hit 30yrs old - boo hoo!).

3. EXFOLIATE REGULARLY

Skin exfoliation is physically or chemically removing dead skin cells and build up, that causes the skin to appear dull. Long-term build up of dead skin cells could lead to further worsening of breakouts. For those with acne-prone skin, exfoliating regularly is essential in preventing breakouts and will also ensure that your skin reaps the benefits of the skincare products and active ingredients that you painstakingly apply every day! I would recommend to exfoliate the skin every week, using a gentle face scrub with tiny particles (not containing silicones!) such as the [Comfort Zone] Essential Scrub (pH 5.3 - 6.3) that uses jojoba spheres so as to not scratch or damage the skin. For sensitive skin types, there's the [Comfort Zone] Essential Peeling (pH 5.3 - 6.3) which uses a pineapple extract to gently exfoliate the skin with an enzymatic peeling action.

For an even better result, consider the use of a detoxing mask (usually clay-based as this has skin clearing properties) following your exfoliation - I used to call this my 'Scrub and Mud Night' (I recommend exfoliating in the evening, when your skin is at its least sensitive)! [Comfort Zone] have a lovely green and white clay-based mask in their Active Pureness range - the Active Pureness Mask (pH 6.5 - 7.5) which helps create an antioxidant and antibacterial effect on the skin to reduce the formation of blemishes and blackheads.

4. SKIP MAKE-UP (IF POSSIBLE)

If its not bad enough that your skin is fighting against all the hot and humid elements building up under a face mask, it can be made a lot worse by the use of heavy, or oil-based make-up.

Now its one thing saying to avoid wearing make-up if you can but, if you're like me, and wouldn't put your bin out without a bit of slap on, then I would recommend using a pure mineral-based brand, such as Jane Iredale or BareMinerals whose powder foundations are inert, i.e. bacteria can't grow on their particles. But definitely avoid using oily make-up products, as these could clog your skin further.

5. ALWAYS TREAT THE IRRITATED SKIN

If you notice any redness due to irritation, wash the area with a gentle cleanser (see point 1) and apply a topical cream to help the skin heal as soon as possible. Products that help soothe the skin can help to treat mild irritation, such as the [Comfort Zone] Remedy skincare range which contains Marula Oil to help protect the skin's barrier and a natural-origin prebiotic to help reinforce the skin's barrier against microorganisms.

For a spot/blemish treatment, I would recommend the [Comfort Zone] Active Pureness Corrector (pH 3.5 - 4.5) which contains glycolic and mandelic acid to help reduce and eliminate localised spots and blemishes.

In the meantime, I would recommend holding off from any strong anti-ageing products temporarily, if your skin has become red and irritated from wearing a face mask. These may irritate the skin further, especially if they contain retinols.

6. BRUSH YOUR TEETH REGULARLY

Brushing your teeth after every meal is part of making sure your mask is clean. This prevents breathing food particles into the mask unknowingly. No access to a toothbrush at work? Chew some sugar-free gum to create the acid-busting saliva that helps neutralize acid build-up as well as keeping the breath fresh.

7. CONSIDER TAKING A SKINCARE SUPPLEMENT

One of the best skincare supplements I have ever encountered was The Advanced Nutrition Programme (ANP), designed by Patrick Holford (renowned UK author of many nutrition books) and the Environ Skincare founder Dr Des Fernandes.

These supplements are specific to skin conditions such as acne breakouts and dryness/sensitivity to name a few. I would highly recommend the ANP Skin Accumax supplement for breakouts and the Skin Omegas+ for general hydration and skin renewal. These can be taken alongside the topical use of any skincare brand as they treat the skin from within. Lastly, let's not forget the cleansing properties of water! Keep your skin hydrated from the inside out with at least 6-8 glasses of H2o every day!

Thanks for reading my first post (first of many more hopefully). If you have any questions regarding the information you have read, or wish to comment, please don't hesitate to do so by contacting me.

Here's to better skin days in 2021!

Esther x