How to Prevent Skin Problems From Wearing Face Masks and Coverings
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of changes to our lives. The new way of life outside the house is to wear protective face masks or coverings. Whether it is medical grade or home-made fabric masks, they come with their problems for some people. The tighter the mask, the better your protection but the friction caused by the mask is greater. This friction combined with the increased humidity underneath the mask may cause skin irritation or acne breakouts.
Caring for your skin is one of the important steps to preventing skin problems. Here's some tips.
DO’s
- Ensure your face is clean. A gentle cleanser that removes excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the skin.
- Moisturize. Prepping your skin with moisturizer 30 minutes before wearing your mask creates a protective barrier between the mask and your skin to reduce friction. Important areas are your nose bridge, cheeks, and the bottom of your chin.
- After you have removed your mask, make sure you remove the trapped sweat and dirt on your skin from underneath your mask with a gentle cleanser or cleansing wipe.
AVOID
- Avoid certain kinds of makeup like foundation. If you choose to wear makeup, double check to ensure it is non-comedogenic so that it does not clog your pores.
- When using washable masks, avoid detergents with fragrance and additives that may irritate the skin.
More Safety Information about Face Masks and Coverings
For more information and a video on how to safely wear and dispose your face masks or covering, please visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-and-coverings-covid-19