You may have heard or come across the word maskne. So, what is maskne? Maskne is the irritation and acne caused by wearing a mask. Anyone can get maskne no matter what kind of mask they have on. The overall condition of your skin, however, plays a significant role in how maskne affects you. Maskne often appears on the areas of contact between your skin and the mask you are wearing.

However, you should not be worried because you can get rid of maskne with a good skincare routine and by using gentle, healing products such as the Pure Nilotica Melt by LXMI. This article will explain what is maskne, what causes it and how one can avoid it.

What is Maskne?

As aforementioned, maskne occurs due to the irritation and acne that comes from wearing a face mask. Since the pandemic hit, it is important to wear a mask when going out to public spaces to slow the virus's spread. Maskne is a real issue, and it can affect anyone. Healthcare workers are more likely to have maskne since they have their masks on for longer periods and their masks are also tighter fitting. Wearing masks can aggravate existing skin conditions or cause new ones to develop. If the weather is hot, you are more likely to have more breakouts.

Suppose you notice that whenever you wear a mask, you have a breakout - that is maskne. However, maskne is more than just pimples forming on your face. Your skin can also be irritated, bumpy, and red. Maskne refers to various skin conditions caused by wearing a face mask, which includes:

• Contact dermatitis, which occurs when you are sensitive or allergic to the fabric of your mask. You could develop a red rash, blisters, and your skin will be irritated.
• Acne, which often occurs due to clogged pores, dirt, dead skin cells, and oil are some of the things that clog your pores. This results in blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
• Folliculitis - an infection of your hair follicles. When it occurs, you may experience pain or itchiness. It often appears as bumps that resemble an acne breakout.
• Wearing a mask when you have rosacea can cause flare-ups, which could lead to redness and pimples.

Having any of the listed conditions makes you more prone to breakouts.

Maskne Causes

The causes of maskne may vary depending on a person’s skin conditions. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause one to have maskne.

• Friction between your skin and your mask can lead to irritation and chaffing, which could cause your maskne.
• When you wear a mask, it traps humidity because of your sweating and breathing, increasing your chances of getting acne.
• Being allergic or sensitive to the fabric of your mask could also be the reason you have maskne. If you wash your mask, avoid using a strong detergent to minimize the chances of your skin getting irritated.
• Maskne is often a result of pores that are clogged. Your skin has dead cells, bacteria, and oil so, when you put on a mask, all these substances could build-up, which results in you having blocked pores.

How Do You Treat Maskne?

Not wearing a mask is not a good idea. It’s important to keep wearing a mask whenever you are in a public space. This helps you protect yourself and everyone around you from spreading the virus. Therefore, ensure that you always have your mask on and that it covers both your mouth and nose. There are various tips you can employ to treat your maskne, for example:

Regularly Wash Your Face

Stick to the regular skincare routine you had before the pandemic. If you do not have a skincare routine, you need to find one that works for your skin type. Ensure that you wash your face in the morning when you wake up, at night before you go to bed, and after wearing a mask, or after sweating. Always use lukewarm water to wash your skin, and instead of rubbing it, pat it dry with a clean and soft towel. Rubbing your face may result in irritation.

Use a Moisturizer

To ensure that your skin stays hydrated, especially as it’s easy for the skin to get irritated with excessive washing, apply a moisturizer once you wash it. Use a non-comedogenic moisturizer that will not clog your pores. If your maskne involves itching and irritation, you may want to consult with your doctor on what cream and moisturizer would be best for you. Get ones that will prevent you from irritation and itching.

Get a Gentle Cleanser

It is essential to have a cleanser to help remove bacteria, sweat, and excess oil. Ensure that the cleanser you have is gentle on your skin. Avoid cleansers containing perfume or alcohol since they are more likely to irritate your skin, making it harder for your symptoms to subside. If you have severe maskne, it would be best to get in touch with your doctor to recommend a cleanser for you. You should also contact your dermatologist or doctor if you have sensitive skin, so they can recommend the best type of medicated cleanser that is appropriate for your skin.

Take a Break from Makeup

If you have maskne and you are trying to treat it, it would be best to steer off makeup for a while until you are healed. Many beauty products, especially ones filled with silicones and harsh additives, will clog your pores, which will make the healing process longer. If you find it hard to take a break from makeup, you can wear it during your zoom calls but take it off immediately after the call ends. However, this may prove a cumbersome task, and your face will not get the break it needs. One idea is to try using sunscreen with a tinted moisturizer instead.

Pure Nilotica Melt by LXMI

Pure Nilotica Melt by LXMI is 100% organic, unprocessed, and non-comedogenic. It has a buttery formula that melts upon application. It delivers vitamin A, E & K, essential fatty acids, and allantoin, which protect, brighten and hydrate the skin. Intensely healing and repairing, it can be used to reverse the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and reveal a dewy, healthy glow. You can use it during the day, overnight as an ultra-moisturizing mask, or as a healing salve for scars or sunburns. Using pure Nilotica can help heal your maskne because it can restore your skin, improve its resilience, and reduce sensitivity, which is extra important when it comes to treating maskne.

How to Prevent Maskne

Masks might be here to stay even after the pandemic ends. So it would be best to learn how to prevent yourself from getting maskne. Listed below are a few tips you can employ to ensure that you prevent yourself from getting maskne.

Wash Your Masks

It is essential to wash your reusable fabric masks before you wear them again. As mentioned earlier, when you have your mask on, it collects sweat, oils, bacteria, and dead skin cells. If you wear makeup, some of it is likely to be stuck on your mask. Therefore, if you wear a dirty mask, then you are more likely to get maskne. To prevent this from happening, ensure that you wash all your fabric face masks regularly. Avoid using strong detergent since it may later irritate your skin. Instead, use a hypoallergenic soap or detergent. Make sure that your mask completely dries out.

Get Rid of Disposable Masks

Make sure that you toss away disposable masks after use. Avoid reusing a disposable mask because it increases your chances of getting maskne. If you would like to reuse a mask, then it would be best to get a fabric mask because you can wash it (and it’s also a more eco-friendly option). If you use a disposable mask, always ensure that you have at least five with you whenever you leave the house, just in case you need to change them. As soon as you get back in the house, toss the used disposable mask in the trash can.

Invest in a High Quality Face Mask

Cheap masks are being marketed by companies looking to cash in on the pandemic.  You may find a novelty mask that references your favorite action hero, sports team, or cartoon, but often times these cheap masks aren't doing your skin any favors when it comes to preventing maskne.  

• Cotton material on the inside is best
• Avoid using a tight fitting mask
• If you do buy a cloth mask, wash it every time after use. (In hot water.)

Use a Moisturizer

A mask can irritate your skin, especially if you have or tend to have dry skin. The best one we can recommend is the LXMI Creme Du Nil.

Apply it to your face before putting your mask on. A moisturizer can act as a barrier between the mask and your skin hence lowering your chances of developing maskne.

Remove Your Mask Every 4 Hours

It is essential to remove your mask after about every four hours so that your skin can get a break. If you work in public premises, try to take regular breaks throughout the day to allow your skin to breathe. Make sure that you have washed your hands clean before you take off your mask. You also need to ensure that you observe the social distancing rule when you take your mask off to allow your face to breathe.

Wash Your Face

Make sure that you wash your face once you get home and take off your mask. Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face, then ensure that you apply a nourishing moisturizer once you are done. As aforementioned, when you sweat, all that sweat accumulates in your mask. This leads up to the build-up of bacteria throughout the day. Therefore, it is essential that when you get home, you wash your face to avoid getting maskne. It would also be best that you change masks during the day, especially if you are sweating, to prevent bacteria build-up.

Streamline Your Skin Care Routine

Having a simple and soothing skincare routine will prevent you from having maskne. Don’t overload your skin by using too many products, as it’s easier for the mask to intensify how the product works on your skin. For instance, think of how effective it is to repair cracked soles when a rich, healing skincare product is applied overnight while wearing socks. However, you need to ensure that the products you are using do not contain retinols and/or strong acids. It would be best to use such products at night, and you may also have to reduce your usage frequency.

Choose the Appropriate Mask

The kind of mask you wear can be the reason you have maskne depending on your skin condition. So you need to ensure that you are careful when choosing what mask to wear. When picking a mask, make sure that it is made from natural and soft fabric like cotton, it has more than two layers of fabric, and it fits you well. It should not be too tight. A mask that is too tight increases your chances of getting maskne. Masks made from synthetic fabrics such as rayon or nylon are more likely to irritate your skin, so make sure you avoid them. Ensure that the type of mask you choose offers you the right protection. 

Maskne can be a serious skin condition. If you have a break out that you cannot seem to treat with any remedy, it would be best to make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist. The irritation and itching on your skin should not be severe, and it should be able to go away after a while with the right products and care. Although you may feel uncomfortable when you wear a mask and you have maskne, it is essential to remember that wearing a mask is for your protection and those around you.