How to Prevent Maskne
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January 14, 2021
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February 11, 2021
I knew this was going to be a problem.
When it was mandated in Los Angeles for everyone to wear a face mask while outdoors to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, I knew it was only a matter of time before my skin would flare up with acne.
To my surprise, I only had to deal with a pimple here or there where for the most part, my acne was under control.
However, when a friend of mine asked me to help clear out a garage for a film shoot he was working on, the following day I suffered from the dreaded “maskne.”
What went wrong, you may ask?
Well, for starters, it was unusually hot that day for January where the temperature was almost 80 degrees.
Secondly, I wore the same face mask the whole time while clearing out this garage (the owner was a total hoarder) and my friend and I were there for 5 hours.
As a result, I got maskne and it was totally my fault.
*I wish to be transparent with my viewers/readers. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will be paid a small commission.
What Is Maskne?
When dirt and bacteria on your face gets trapped on your mask and you wear it for long periods of time, in addition to the friction of your face mask constantly rubbing against your face, this can cause your skin to clog and develop pimples.
If you have acne, the last thing you want is to have anything touching your face as I mentioned in my ebook The Best 21 Tips to Prevent Acne.
Knowing this, I should have taken better precautions to protect my skin.
Consequently, this is what I SHOULD have done and WILL be doing moving forward.
Maskne Prevention Tips
- Clean Face Masks Often
Face masks should be cleaned on a regular basis. However if you suffer from acne, you may need to clean them a little more frequently.
If you use reusable face masks, using a natural laundry detergent for sensitive skin can help minimize breakouts.
The residue left from harsh detergents can irritate your face, which can lead to unwanted acne flare-ups. Therefore, trying using a natural detergent instead.
- Change Face Masks Throughout the Day
Although millions of people were left unemployed due to COVID-19, there are many people who still have a job where they are required to wear a face mask all day at work.
This can pose a problem if you are prone to acne and have to wear a face mask for more than four hours.
Accordingly, try to bring multiple face masks with you to work and change them often.
If you have to wear a mask for 8 hours while on the job, I highly recommend changing your face mask at least 3 times per day.
Regularly switching out your face mask for a clean one can help minimize dirt and bacteria getting trapped on your skin, which can cause breakouts.
- Use Disposable Face Masks
I think everyone should have disposable face masks handy.
While it is more cost effective to wear a reusable face mask, if you really have sensitive skin, disposable face masks can be ideal to help prevent maskne.
What’s nice about disposable face masks is that you don’t have to worry about constantly washing your masks, residue leftover from detergents irritating your skin, or thick fabric constantly rubbing against your face.
Disposable face masks are lightweight, breathable, and softer against your skin where you can wear a new, clean mask every time.
Again, reusable face masks can save you more money, but if anything, if you know you are going to be at work or outdoors for more than several hours, disposable masks can keep pesky acne at bay.
Bonus Maskne Skincare Tips
- Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is the holy grail for getting rid of acne!
When I broke out from maskne, I spot treated my pimples with Tea Tree Oil, which works as an antiseptic to help kill bacteria.
I love Tea Tree Oil for acne because it works fast to dry out pimples.
This was one of the main acne treatments I used to help clear my cystic acne, which I talk about in my ebook A Skincare Guide to Preventing Cystic Acne.
Otherwise, painful cysts can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to heal without any acne treatment.
Try it!
Using Tea Tree Oil for acne will be a game changer for you.
- Drink More Water
Water helps to flush out the toxins in your skin, so be sure to get in at least 8 glasses a day (something I definitely need to improve on).
Try your best to avoid consuming sugary beverages because sugar is what feeds acne.
- Drink More Green Smoothies
At least this is what I am doing!
It’s a good idea to try to stay away from all fruit smoothies because fruit has a lot of sugar. To learn how to make a healthy smoothie, check out this blog post.
Personally, I LOVE green smoothies because they are packed with fiber. Plus, green smoothies are a great source of vitamin B.
If you never tried a green smoothie before, here are three green smoothie recipes that you can easily make. I usually drink a green smoothie for breakfast or for lunch.
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Thanks!
-Tanisa
