Our Guide to Maskne and How to Deal with it
Pronounced mask-knee. Is it a luscious new beauty product? Is it a lovely treatment? Sadly not. Maskne is the new buzz term for acne caused by face masks. And again not the beauty kind – the COVID-19 pandemic kind. Masks are a new part of our lives and so are the skin troubles that come with them. Here’s a guide for managing the dreaded maskne so you can keep smiling under those masks.
How is Maskne Caused?
Unfortunately, the wearing of face masks can contribute to clogged pores. As we sweat and breathe air behind a mask, this can cause excess sebum production - meaning pores get clogged more easily. This can in turn lead to acne. Further to this, bacterial imbalances and friction from mask wearing can lead to acne, eczema and rosacea flare-ups as well as perioral dermatitis (where fine pimples appear around the nose and mouth). Certain mask materials and fabrics can also aggravate skin causing irritation.
How to Manage Maskne
There are a few steps you can take to help reduce maskne. First off, we suggest you change your disposable mask daily, or wear a freshly cleaned reusable mask. This will help to reduce pore clogging. When it’s safe to do so, it’s also great to take a break from mask wearing to give your skin a break. This could be for a quick walk outdoors during your lunch break, where it’s also great to get a little bit of sun on your skin (wearing SPF of course!). When you get the chance, you might also want to take a break from make up to give your skin a bit of a breather. This is a great time to try some hybrid products such as our Ultraceuticals UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 30 Sheer Tint for a lovely light coverage.
Products for Helping Maskne
A regular cleanser – cleansing your skin well is one of the most important beauty steps you can take. We are loving Skin Moderne’s Cleansing Gel Smoothies – a sulphate free cleanser without harsh ingredients that purifies and leaves skin clean and nourished. It can be a good idea to wash your face once you get home from wearing a mask if possible, and you might like to do a double cleanse to first wash off any build up and then follow with a deeper cleanse.
Keep moisturising – a good layer of moisturiser can help act as a protective barrier against any mask friction. You might like to try Skin Moderne’s Breakfast Smoothie – a nutrient dense moisturiser loaded with macadamia seed oil and shea butter which also gives a subtle glow of colour.
Serum – specifically designed serums can help to reduce breakouts by reducing the size of the sebaceous gland. Skin Moderne’s Clarifi serum works to control bacteria, refine pores, modulate sebum and balance and brighten skin.
Treatments for Helping Maskne
Microdermabrasion – microdermabrasion involves using a fine diamond-encrusted wand with light suction to unblock pores by vacuuming away dead skin cells. It also helps to stimulate collagen and elastin.
Microhydrabrasion – this technology uses a dual system combining both dry and wet systems. The treatment gently buffs away dead skin cells while vacuuming out dead skin cells and clearing pores.
DermaQuest Resurfacers – a treatment designed to treat breakouts and smoothen and brighten skin using AHAs, antioxidants, vitamins, peptides and stem cells.
Peel – our Skin Perfecting Mandelic Peel is a great option. This specialised peel eliminates dead skin cells and unblocks pore – just what you need after long days of wearing masks to cleanse and reinvigorate skin.
LED - This treatment triggers your body’s natural cell processes to accelerate rejuvenation and repair of the skin. It’s recommended for skin rejuvenation, sun damage, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, sensitive and inflammatory conditions, wound healing and scarring as well as anyone looking to restore skin’s radiance.
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