How To Deal With “Maskne”

WHAT IS ‘MASKNE’?

Wearing face coverings in warm environments – such as shops or public transport – can lead to issues with the skin underneath and often cause unwanted breakouts. But why?

The reason for an increase in blemishes or redness is because under a face mask the skin encounters higher levels of humidity than usual, due to an excess of trapped exhaled air. This changes the skin’s microclimate and upsets the skin’s natural microflora, so the pH balance of the skin can change significantly. Due to high moisture under the mask area, skin perspires less, gets clogged easily, and the growth of acne-causing bacteria leads to breakouts.

What to do?

 1. Drink PLENTY of water.

Hydration is key in this situation. Dry skin can trigger the inflammatory process and exacerbate the problem.

2. Try a fabric face mask.

A fabric face mask can be more gentle on your skin. Make sure to wash it frequently.

3. Cleanse and Exfoliate Skin.

 A gentle cleanse and exfoliation of your face should be a routine habit you perform at the end of each day anyway, but especially as a result of increased mask wearing. Look out for ingredients such as Salicylic acid in your cleanser. This super ingredient kills bacteria and exfoliates skin.  A favourite in-house is: SkinCeuticals Simply Clean Gel Cleanser.  Suitable for all skin types, especially oily and combination skins, massage Simply Clean into damp skin on the face and neck before rinsing with warm water. Can be used once or twice a day for best results.

4. Run, don’t walk to get your HydraFacial®.

Get the best skin of your life with HydraFacial®. HydraFacial®. is the best anti-acne, skin-clearing, face-hydrating facial around. It is a 6 step, 45 minute treatment that uses a unique Vortex-Fusion delivery system to exfoliate, extract and hydrate skin. All of the things you need to quickly address MASKne are included in this facial treatment.

Schedule your next HydraFacial® treatment.

Click here.

Dr Chloë.