Beauty Of 5: How To Battle Maskne – Acne Resulting From Mask Wearing

Source: Gabriel Vergani / EyeEm / Getty

Current CDC recommendations advise citizens to wear face masks to help slow the spread of Covid-19, but while masks help protect us from airborne droplets, they can be less than complementary when it comes to our skin goals.

“Acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and perioral dermatitis are becoming a huge issue that I am seeing amongst my patients in clinic,” Dr. Melanie Palm, Consulting Dermatologist for Clarisonic shared in an email. “Changes in humidity and micro-environment of the skin by wearing necessary facial coverings can wreak havoc on the skin. The skin microbiome, sebaceous gland function, sweat production, and skin turnover are all being affected.”

Of course, in the grand scheme of things, I think we’d all choose acne — or maskne — over the virus, but the good thing is with the right skincare regimen you don’t have to choose. Click through to see Dr. Palm’s recommendations for battling maskne and keeping your skin breakout free during the pandemic.

Source: SkinActive Water Rose Micellar Cleansing Water / Garnier

Wash Your Face

It sounds super basic, but many of us don’t think to wash our face as routinely as we do our hands right now and that’s not a good thing.

“Clean skin thoroughly after wearing a mask during the day,” Dr. Palm advised. “In order to remove makeup, cellular build-up, and sweep off excess sebum, you need an effective cleansing routine,”

Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water is my mid-day go to because it requires no rinsing. Simply apply the cleanser to a cotton pad and wipe over your face to remove all that sweat that was building up under your mask. “Be clean with your makeup application under your mask as well,” Dr. Palm added. “Make sure that your beauty tools including poofs, puffs, and brushes are cleaned frequently to decrease the opportunity for breakouts or worse, skin infections.” Check out our guide to keeping your brushes clean here.

Source: Clarisonic / Clarisonic Mia Prima Acne Corrector

Deep Cleanse

As Dr. Palm, put it, “Hard times call for effective cleansing routines, whether it is our hands or our face. Cleansing with hands or a washcloth just doesn’t cut it.” If you’ve never tried a face washing tool like Clarisonic, now might be the ideal time. The Mia Prima Acne Corrector corrects and prevents acne and has been shown to visibly reduce breakouts in just three days. Dr. Palm advised, “You need a more effective tool that allows for cleansing in the acne-prone nooks and crannies like the corner of the nose or chin,” and the bristles on this ergonomic brush do just that.

*From 5/21 – 5/25 Mia Smart devices and Mia Smart sets will be 30% off on Clarisonic.com.·From 5/21 – 5/25 Mia Smart devices will be 30% off on Sephora.com.

Source: L’Oreal / L’Oreal Paris Skincare Pure Clay Face Mask

Exfoliate

While all of our routines may look a little different in the midst of COVID-19, exfoliation should still be a regular part of your skin regimen.

“Use an exfoliating mask in the evening once a week max, followed up by a night cream to restore moisture,” Dr. Palm recommended. L’Oréal’s Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refining Face Mask is formulated with three pure clays and Red Algae Extract to de-clog pores and refine your skin in just 10 minutes.  

Source: Bliss / BLISS

Let Your Moisturizer Soak In

Hopefully, you already know how important moisturizing your skin is, but what you may not know is you need to let the product soak in before you put on your mask. Lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizers with ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide help strengthen the skin barrier, Dr. Palm explained, advising “[Wait]at least 15 minutes before putting on a mask so the skin can fully absorb the product.” Bliss’s Rose Gold Rescue Moisturizer is ideal for balanced moisture and it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.

Bliss is currently offering 20% off sitewide on blissworld.com from 5/20-5/25. Use code HELLOSUMMER.

Source: Bliss / BLISS

Treat Issues

If you’re already noticing negative effects of mask wearing on your skin, now’s the time to start treating those breakouts.

“Consider Salicylic acid and beta-bydroxy acid for an anti-acne agent,” Dr. Palm suggested. “Salicylic acid is excellent to combat mask-ne. BHAs effectively penetrate down the hair follicle where acne starts. It is able to break the adhesions between dead skin cells, lifting dull flaky skin off to reveal the glowing, healthy skin below. In darker skin types, sal acid also serves as an extremely effective brightening agent, lifting away brown stains from old blemishes.”

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable treatment, I recommend Bliss’s That’s Incredi-Peel Spa-Strength Glycolic Resurfacing Pads. They are literally the easiest Spa-grade treatment you can give yourself at home to clear out those pore-causing breakouts and restore smoothness to the skin.

Bliss is currently offering 20% off sitewide on blissworld.com from 5/20-5/25. Use code HELLOSUMMER.