Face masks have become indispensable tools in our everyday lives, which have been reshaped by social distancing.
Yet prolonged use of such safety devices can have undesirable effects.
If you have to wear a mask for eight or more hours per day, perhaps even one with a high filtration efficiency such as a FFP2 or FFP3 mask, you might experience the following inconveniences:
- Moisture build-up: when you talk while wearing a face mask, a good amount of moisture will accumulate in the gaps between your mouth and your safety device. The deriving heat and humidity might alter the pH of the portion of skin covered by the mask
- Constant friction against your skin,especially in areas of greater contact (behind your ears, at the nape of your neck, above your nose, on your cheeks)
When your skin cannot breathe, sebum builds up and alters the hydrolipidic film on your skin. In such case, individuals with a specific predisposition can develop the so-called "maskne"(mask-related acne). When the friction of the mask produces small lesions, germs and dirt can penetrate the deepest layers of your skin, thus exacerbating the ongoing inflammation. If you have an oily or combination skin, the reduced oxygenation and perspiration of the areas covered by the mask can cause the obstruction of the pores and an increased production of sebum, which results in the build-up of blackheads and pimples around the lips, chin and nose.
These minor symptoms can lead to more severe skin conditions, such as:
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Frictional contact dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Rosacea
- New wrinkle patterns
SKINCARE CAN HELP TO PREVENT THE EFFECTS OF A PROLONGED USE OF FACE MASKS:
- Start using face scrubs and exfoliators less frequently. To prevent your skin from undergoing extra stress, use them NO MORE THAN once per week (ideally every 10 to 12 days) and in any case NEVER in the morning before putting your face mask on.
- After taking off your face mask, carry out a delicate, regenerative, moisturising and antioxidant skincare routine to relieve the stress your skin has been experiencing during the whole day. Avoid using alcohol-based tonics and choose those containing distilled water or aloe extract instead. If you suffer from maskne, look for antioxidant products containing substances with soothing properties.
- Apply a highly moisturising serum every evening; if you have an oily skin or mask-related acne, opt for a non-greasy serum.
- If your skin looks swollen or slightly irritated, spray it with thermal water or cover your face with a towel dampened with fresh (or even cold) water after cleansing it.
- Incorporate a soothing and repairing treatment in our beauty routine, for example our programme “Regenerate and Brighten Your Skin” , which includes a JetPeel treatment with sulphurous thermal water and hyaluronic acid (to be carried out every 15 days).
