ByPuja Gupta
September 11, 2020 (IANSlife) Since the month of March after COVID19 was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the group leading from the front as well as experts in the field began to acknowledge the use of masks as a first line of defense against the virus.
With the pandemic ensued lockdown, a number of do’s and don’ts were facilitated. It is likely that the use of masks will remain a constant part of our lives in the near future; wearing a mask at work, while running errands or just walking around to keep you safe. Since masks persistently rub against your skin you may experience breakouts; let’s understand how to handle these breakouts better.
Time spent wearing reusable masks may result in a rash or an acne breakout now cited as ‘Maskne’. Using face masks may cause skin irritation and breakouts for many reasons - type of fabric and tightness over the face are a few examples; the material may cause excessive friction to the skin. Many are sensitive to fabrics and when paired with makeup, dirt and sweat, it is a recipe for acne. Irritation caused by wearing masks is likely to be a result of ‘contact dermatitis’ - an allergic reaction to cloth materials; the bacteria formed from not cleaning the mask well enough or re-usage of disposable masks. The use of a mask may lead to abrasions on the bridge of your nose, chin, cheeks, or also behind the ears.
Here are a few tips, shared by Dr Kiran Godse, consultant dermatologist in Hiranandani Hospital Vashi, to prevent or treat breakouts while safely using masks. It includes:
Remember, we are living in a time where safety and precaution are paramount in defeating an unforeseeable adversary!
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Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in