Maskne: Why It Happens, How to Treat It, and How to Prevent It
We know that masks can be effective in reducing the spread of Covid-19, but they have one major downside: acne, or as it’s been lovingly called: maskne.
Face coverings create a warm, moist environment around your face. This in and of itself isn’t a bad thing - we know how great steam can be for your skin - but when combined with the friction from the mask and the bacterial growth that can occur on the cloth, skin gets irritated.
The irritation can cause your skin to over- or under-produce oils, and the combination of oils, sweat, and moisture from breathing and talking mix together and clog your pores, which can lead to pimples or cystic acne.
The Maskne Facial:
You can treat maskne at home by cleansing your face every day and using a serum like Native Nectar’s “Clear & Glow,” which contains salicylic acid to clear breakouts, chamomile to reduce inflammation, and tea tree oil to heal and protect the skin. But sometimes you need a quick, professional fix, and that’s why we’ve added the Maskne Facial to our services.
This service is designed by our estheticians to get you quick results. They will complete a consultation and evaluation with you, determining your skin’s sensitivity, any problem areas, and answer any questions you might have about products or methods. You’ll then have a deep cleanse and tone, followed by exfoliation and extractions - these steps help to clear out any occlusions.
Then our estheticians will move on to some healing steps, beginning with a high frequency treatment. This uses a tool to create oxygen molecules to stimulate the skin - you may feel a slight sensation similar to static electricity! This stimulation increases blood circulation and encourages cell renewal, leading to clearer, softer skin. Your esthetician will choose a serum based off of your skin evaluation, and apply some SPF for protection before you head out.
Preventing Maskne at Home:
The best way to prevent maskne at home is to wear a fresh mask every day, or even to change masks throughout the day if yours seems to be getting too moist too fast.
Make sure your mask fits right. You want it to cover your nose, mouth, and chin, and rest against your cheeks. But it shouldn’t be so tight that it causes redness from rubbing on the skin.
If you’re able to, taking a break from a mask for a few minutes every few hours can help your skin “breathe” - that is, you give the steam created by your breath a chance to evaporate, thus stalling any growth or clogging. Make sure you wash your hands before taking off your mask to keep it clean!
Use a gentle laundry detergent. While your regular laundry detergent may not be an irritant for your body, facial skin is generally more sensitive and susceptible to allergens.
If you have any questions about the products and services we offer to help treat Maskne, feel free to call the shop or message us on Instagram!