Prevent the appearance of mask induced maskne

The return of semi-normal life has changed our habits and has brought new skin issues, such as maskne. Never heard of it? Are you suffering from this new form of acne? Let us tell you all about this new skin problem and the best way to overcome it. So, if you are fighting it or just want to prevent it, you've come to the right place.

Causes of maskne

This is a type of mask induced acne, but what causes it? It is caused by the constant chafing of face masks against your face’s skin, which is gradually torn free, but at a microscopic level. The result? It weakens your skin’s natural barrier, allowing bacteria and dirt to get inside.

As face masks create a warm and humid environment around your mouth, bacteria and dirt that have penetrated your skin gradually to block the pores. This microclimate allows bacteria to proliferate in such a way that your skin becomes irritated. In addition, sebum and sweat accumulate in this area. These lead to the appearance of pimples, blackheads or marks.

The use of synthetic or plastified face masks only serves to increase irritation and the appearance of maskne. These materials further prevent perspiration and your skin becomes even more irritated. That’s why you should look for cotton masks, particularly if you have sensitive skin. The lighter the material, the more your skin will be able to breathe. That’s right! Remember that you should only use pre-approved masks for appropriate protection.

Tips to prevent or eliminate maskne

And now the long-awaited question: how can you prevent maskne? The answer is simpler than you think. Your daily skincare routine is your best bet for preventing blemishes. But we do have a few tips on how to adapt your routine to the maskne effect.

As always, the first step is cleansing. For example, wash your face thoroughly morning and night with CeraVe's dermatologist-developed foaming gel cleanser. CeraVe's light, fragrance-free cleanser removes dirt, excess oil and grease without damaging the skin's protective barrier. This refreshing gel contains 3 essential ceramides to restore the skin's protective barrier and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin while cleansing.

If you have oily skin, La Roche-Posay's EFFACLAR range contains products to eliminate excess sebum, as well as anti-imperfection care: anti-blemish, anti-blackhead, anti-marks. La Roche-Posay has 25 years of dermatological expertise in the service of oily skin. The La Roche-Posay laboratories have developed this expert range to offer a dermatological response adapted to each oily or acne-prone skin profile.

For your light to moderate imperfections, you can turn to Vichy's Normaderm Phytosolution product line, which offers expert solutions. This range helps fight against the 6 signs of blemished skin: pimples, redness, pores, shine, dullness, marks. The range includes a purifying Cleansing Gel, a daily double correction care with hyaluronic acid and a S.O.S anti-blemish paste with 10% sulphur.

Let's get back to the second step of your routine. Once your skin is clean, it's important to moisturize it. With the current situation and the frequent wearing of masks, your skin really needs to strengthen its protective barrier. That's where moisturizer comes in. We recommend that you choose a light moisturizer that doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. It keeps bacteria at bay. An extra tip if you really want to help your skin absorb the moisturizer: gently exfoliate your skin first to remove the layer of dead skin cells on your face to help the moisturizer’s absorption.

Now that you know all about maskne, you can adapt your routine to better protect and care for your skin. Take care of yourself!