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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n
For most people, wearing a face mask is a harmless inconvenience, but wearing the coverings may cause skin problems for some, one dermatologist explains.<\/p>\n
It’s been called mask-acne<\/a>, or “maskne.”<\/p>\n Dermatologist Dr. Allison Truong, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Group in Los Angeles, said that she is seeing many patients with this problem.<\/p>\n Patients are complaining of three types of skin issues:<\/p>\n If your skin is red, burning or itchy<\/a>, it may be an irritation or allergy<\/a>. If there are little pustules or blackheads<\/a> or whiteheads, it’s most likely maskne, Truong said.<\/p>\n Truong advises using a gentle cleanser when you wash your face and using sunscreen<\/a> to create a barrier between your skin and the mask. When you take off your mask, wash your face and use moisturizer, she suggested.<\/p>\n It is important to wash fabric masks every day. Laundry detergents can be a common cause of allergic<\/a> reactions, Truong said, so she suggests using fragrance-free detergents.<\/p>\n Irritated, red, itchy<\/a> or burning skin should be treated with an over-the-counter<\/a> hydrocortisone cream once or twice a day, Truong said.<\/p>\n She also suggests not wearing makeup<\/a> under a mask, but if you do, be sure it’s noncomedogenic (specially formulated so as not to cause blocked pores).<\/p>\n For severe acne<\/a>, use an over-the-counter<\/a> cleanser containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide<\/a>. If it doesn’t get better after a week or two, see a dermatologist, Truong said.<\/p>\n Despite possible skin issues, Truong urges everyone to wear a face mask during the pandemic.<\/p>\n “Every day, there are studies demonstrating the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19<\/a>,” Truong said in a Cedars-Sinai news release. “If you keep your mask clean, follow daily proper skin hygiene, and use the appropriate products, you should be able to control any skin irritations and acne<\/a> while continuing to protect yourself and others from the virus.”<\/p>\n — Steven Reinberg<\/p>\n\n
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