The term “maskne” has been coined referring to individuals who are experiencing acne and mild to severe skin irritations because of wearing a mask for extended periods of time. Some are experiencing rosacea flareups, contact dermatitis, hair follicle infections, and mild to severe pain and itchiness.
Let’s explore 5 Tips to Prevent and Treat Maskne
First, let me state that if you have severe acne, or if your skin irritation symptoms persist after trying these recommendations, be sure to follow up with your dermatologist or healthcare provider. These tips ae not meant to be replace or override what your dermatologist or healthcare provider have advised.
1- Keep your skin clean
You must eliminate bacterial build-up and restore the balance of your skin barrier.
Your skin already contains oil, bacteria and dead cells. Now that you add the moisture from your breath to the mixture inside the mask, the mask becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Cleaning becomes CRUCIAL!
It is important to cleanse your skin a few times during the day. The professionals at B-BOX come to your rescue and recommend that you prepare a small kit that you can take with you to work.
Go easy WHEN CLEANSING YOUR SKIN. If your skin is irritated, rinse with water rather than a towel. Rubbing a towel will only make the situation worse. Let the cleanser do the work.
Here are our recommendations to promote a healthy skin barrier:
- Morning Routine Before Leaving Home
- Do the Double Clean technique. We recommend using the Swipe + Gluco-Foam cleanser
- Spray the face with Total PH Essence
- Perform a treatment with the B-BOX Cryo device, this will calm the inflammation
- Apply your Kalm Emulsion
- Care to be done during the day
- Spray the area a few times during the day with cold water and dry without rubbing with a clean towel. Then spray 1 pump of Total PH Essence on the lower part of the face.
- You must avoid oil-based products in this area at all costs as this will clog the pores and block the skin’s ability to breathe.
- Take a mask break
If you can remove your mask safely and sanitary for a few minutes (15 min. is enough) as often as possible during the day, do so. This step will go a long way in relieving discomfort and stopping the build-up of bacteria. Take care to remove it with clean hands and replace it regularly. This will prevent too much bacteria from building up.
3- Drop the make-up!
We advise you to avoid wearing make-up under your mask. This will promote better oxygenation and avoid clogging the pores further. In addition, your cleanings during the day will be even more effective.
4- Create a barrier between your skin and the mask.
After cleansing, apply a product that doesn’t clog pores and another containing calming ingredients or one that supports the natural skin barrier. We recommend spraying TOTAL PH Essence and then a small amount of KALM cream. This extra protection will help keep skin fresher longer.
5- The material of the mask is important!
Avoid wearing masks made of synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or rayon. Make sure that you are not using a mask that has been sprayed with chemicals. A cotton cloth with a few layers is fine. Soft cotton will help reduce irritation from rubbing the mask against the skin. Also avoid washing your mask in a scented detergent.
Wash reusable cloth masks after each use. I know. This means that you will need to have a supply that will last for several days so that you always have a clean one. After wearing a disposable mask, throw it away, don’t reuse it. Disposable masks are bacteria sponges. You should not wear a disposable mask for more than 3 hours in a row without changing it.
Remember to keep several masks on hand in case you need a new mask.
Contents of your MASKNE kit that you must bring with you:
– B-BOX TOTAL PH Essence
– B-BOX KALM Emulsion
– Cotton mask in the quantity necessary to change it regularly
– Bag for storing soiled masks