Maskne
What is it, what causes it and how to prevent it and how to get rid of it?

What is Maskne?

Now with the pandemic going on most people are accustomed to wearing masks. This can increase the frequency of acne occuring and therefore the term 'maskne' has been born.

Causes

Various causes can lead to an individual developing maskne. The most common cause is that the face covering trapping heat, oils, bacteria and sweat beneath it in addition to friction from the mask repeatedly rubbing against the skin. This can aggrevate existing acne or cause new breakouts due to the pores being clogged. Given that mask-wearing is inaudible in preventing the spread of COVID-19, we can expect to be wearing them as a part of our daily lives for a while, so it is important to know how to cope with maskne.

How to prevent it or get rid of it?

Keep in mind: preventing is always better than solving it.

• Switch up or wash your mask

To get rid of maskne it is best to keep the sauna-like environment to a minimum. You may want to change the mask you're wearing every 4-5 hours maximum. It is really important as bacteria can remain on the mask after you take it off, so don't re-use your (disposable) mask / re-use a re-usable mask before washing it as it is not COVID free but it also reintroduces the dirts, oils and bacteria to your skin which you want to avoid at all costs! Additionally, lightweight fabrics such as cotton, silk and satin help prevent friction against your skin so these are our top picks! While your at it, it is best to use a fragrance-free laundry soap as fragrances can irritate your skin. Skip the fabric softener too. 

• Wash your face first

Use a gentle cleanser that is free of fragrance and oil and rinse with lukewarm water. Starting with a clean skin prevents dirt and oil from being trapped on the skin surface, which cause breakout. 

Our fave cleanser pick:

• Ditch the make-up

​Having make-up around the area of the mask is not going to work in your favour as it will cause the pores to clog and in turn cause breakouts. Try to use less makeup!

• Use exfoliators

Regularly exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells and other impurities before they have the chance to clog your pores!

Our fave exfoliator picks:

• Apply a moisturizer

​Not only will this keep your skin hydrated, it will also act as a barrier between your face and your mask, reducing friction. Apply onto a cleansed face before and after wearing a mask. Best are moisturizers containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or dimethicone, which will provide extra protection. Take care to avoid fragrances amongst other common contact allergens. This may take trial and error to find the right formulation for your skin type. 

Our fave moisturizer picks (all without oil):

COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream For the dry skin	Klairs Supple Preparation All-Over Lotion For the sensitive skin	Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask  For the oily skin
Holika Holika Aloe 99% Soothing Gel For the normal skin	COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Mpisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap) For all skin types	MISSHA Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream  For the mature skin

• ​​Avoid oil

Heavy products can make matters worse when left under a mask. Look for moisturizers, sunscreen and makeup that are lightweight and oil-free.

Our fave oil-free sunscreen pick:

• Stay away from harsh products

Medicated skin care products that contain benzoyl peroxide, retinols and salicylic acid will be more irritating to the skin under a mask. Be careful about how much and what you use. 

• Spot treatment

At night, after you're done for the day and can let your face breathe fresh air, use a spot treatment directly on the pimples. Clean any excess product from your skin in the morning before putting on your mask. 

Our fave spot treatment picks:

• Clean hands

Always, always clean your hands first before touching the face. Your hands have millions of bacteria on them. By touching the face with dirty, sweaty or oily hands you are contributing more to your mask acne. It is such an easy solution, but people tend to overlook it.