As we know wearing a face mask combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, can help slow the spread of Covid-19. However, for many people, face masks are having a detrimental impact on their skin. Breakouts, in particular, have become so common that mask acne has been dubbed “maskne”. While you can’t ditch the mask, there are steps you can take to prevent and treat mask-related acne to enjoy a safe summer with healthy skin.
Here are a few tips from our aesthetic therapists and skin experts Chantelle van Vliet and Charley Lavender to help you prevent and treat mask-related acne to enjoy a safe summer with healthy skin.
Breathability
Choose a mask that allows your skin to breathe while also protecting others and yourself from the spread of coronavirus. The mask should sit snugly but comfortably on your face and should cover both your mouth and nose. An ill-fitting mask will rub, causing skin irritation.
Avoid heavy make-up
Try to avoid wearing heavy foundation or make-up. Instead opt for a moisturiser, with at least SPF 30. Not only will this protect your skin from UV rays, but wearing sunscreen can also help prevent other mask-related skin issues, such as tan lines. And the moisturising helps reduce friction and chafing.
Gentle cleanse
After a long day of wearing your mask, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face to remove all the accumulated debris and oil, If you find the mask is having a drying effect on your skin make sure to moisturise immediately after washing your face. Our skin expert Charley recommends a moisturiser with ceramides, which help lock moisture into your skin, and/or hyaluronic acid, which has a hydrating effect.
Light therapy
Have a regular Dermalux LED Phototherapy facial. This light-powered treatment is clinically-proven to calm redness and irritation and banish blemish-causing bacteria. Its unique combination of Blue, Red and Near Infrared wavelengths can help banish any forms of acne including the new skin terror that is maskne. Dermalux is a non-contact facial which means it meets social distancing guidelines and Covid-19 safety protocols, making it a perfect skin boosting treatment in these challenging times.
“Dermalux LED light therapy uses three clinically proven wavelengths of light to target the skin in different ways,’ explains Chantelle. ‘Non-invasive red LED light rejuvenates and heals the skin, simultaneously boosting fibroblast activity for an increase in collagen production. Infrared light increases cell energy and reduces inflammation to counteract ageing and skin damage; and anti-bacterial blue LED helps destroy the p-acnes bacteria in acne-prone skin. Dermalux is one of the only devices that can operate all these lights at once, which makes it perfect for anyone suffering with the dreaded maskne.”