5 Tips to Take Care of Your Skin While Wearing a Mask

Protective face coverings are becoming a new part of normality, slipping into our everyday lives. While face coverings have been worn in various parts of the world for decades, as a tool to help slow the spread of viruses, their use is entirely new for many of us. 

But continuous use can sometimes irritate the skin. Direct friction can lead to skin barrier disruption, irritation and inflammation. Also, masks can trap oil, dirt and sweat on the skin, leading to flares of conditions like acne, eczema and rosacea.”

However, with the right care, and the right protection, face coverings and healthy, happy skin are compatible.

Read on for five tips to take care of your skin while wearing a face mask. 

1. Cleanse more frequently

When you take off your mask, wash your hands and cleanse your face. Now that we’re washing our hands more frequently than ever, we also need to make sure we pay attention to the face, too, and improve on our regular cleansing routine. 

2. Keep your skin hydrated

As you’re washing your face more frequently, you need to counteract this with more moisturizing, to help keep your skin’s natural moisture barrier intact. 

3. Avoid using makeup

Some kinds of makeup can obstruct your pores, and in some cases add to irritation if your mask does rub on the skin slightly. In addition, your makeup look is bound to smudge once it’s under material for a significant amount of time! Now’s a great time to forget about the makeup, and if you really don’t want to go without, focus on your eyes! 

 4.  Look for 100% cotton face masks

Look for standard materials and masks that are generally used for surgery or procedural medicine. If you’re making your own mask, use simple 100% cotton fabric to construct it. The more synthetic a material is, the more heat retention occurs on the skin that is covered by the mask. This will likely lead to irritation, so make sure to avoid those.

 5. Time trips to beat the heat

Avoid going out at the hottest parts of the day and for extended periods. Stop at home between errands if you can, to cool off and doff your mask. When you do have to be out, stay well-hydrated and seek the shade.