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Maskne is the New Acne: How to Keep Your Skin Clear!
Have you noticed random breakouts around your cheeks, chin, and possibly nose? Are they disrupting your otherwise acne-free skin? You're not alone!
Masks are officially in and while they’re an important public health measure to contain the spread of coronavirus—and sometimes even a fashion statement— they’re not always skin-friendly, with many regular wearers reporting skin issues such as mask acne or "maskne".
Maskne is also known as acne mechanica, meaning it is caused by the friction and occlusion to the skin from the mask,” explains Caren Campbell, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco. Essentially? It’s a skin irritation that’s caused by all that rubbing, heat, and the pressure of a mask on your skin for extended periods of time.
Characterized by acne around your chin, cheek and any area covered by your mask, historically, this kind of issue has been experienced in athletes who wear chin straps from helmets or violin players who rest an instrument on their chins, she says. But now, in a mask-wearing world, more and more everyday people are noticing the symptoms: rough, bumpy skin; bothered, irritated spots; acne and breakouts.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to clear things up from carefully choosing a mask to how you nourish your skin when you’re home and mask-free.
Start with these four ways to get your skin clear and look and feel your best today!
Start with a clean mask
Keeping your mask clean (read: washing it regularly if it’s a reusable cloth product) or using a new disposable surgical mask each day is best so that dirt and bacteria don’t accumulate inside the mask (and then on your skin), says Dr. Campbell. You also want to make sure your mask fits appropriately, in that it’s not too loose but also not too tight—all the while effectively covering both your nose and mouth.
Keep your face light
That means no makeup or minimal makeup, which ultimately limits the amount of potentially pore-clogging ingredients on your skin, lowering the risk that you wind up with bothered skin. If you are wearing makeup, opt for non-comedogenic products and ingredients (you’ll usually see this term on a product in question or its label), which won’t clog your pores.
Commit to a regular skincare routine
It should come as no surprise that giving your skin a little TLC will go a long way toward helping it feel and look its best. The problem? While ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids are often helpful when it comes to acne and unclogging pores, these aren’t pregnancy-friendly ingredients—and it’s usually best to avoid them if you have a baby on the way or are breastfeeding. Enter: Our Rose Glow Purifying Cleanser which can help clear up any breakouts, control against oil, and clean without irritating sensitive skin. (It’s also been EWG-verified, so you can rest easy knowing it’s safe for any part of your motherhood journey). For distressed skin, our Rose Glow Brightening Essence can also help dissolve any impurities and dead skin, while providing moisture and brightening your skin.
Find moments of zen
Stress plays a role in the development of skincare issues like acne in multiple ways, including hormone changes and sweating. That means keeping calm becomes a key part of your day-to-day healthy skin regime.“Meditation is my best recommendation for patients looking to reduce stress,” says Dr. Campbell.
“Waking Up is my favorite meditation app or the 21-day meditations with Oprah and Deepak.” Meditation not your thing? Think about those moments when you feel your calmest—maybe it’s on a long walk, right after a workout, or after a few minutes of peace and quiet doing something you love. Make sure to work these stress-busters into your everyday.