Protect Your Skin While Wearing a Mask

Facial masks, which are worn to protect against Covid-19, can cause unwanted pimples, redness and itching on the skin. After wearing a mask, oily skin, irritation and acne can occur. Care of our skin, which is the most sensitive organ of our body, is very important in this period. How can those who have to wear a mask all day protect their skin more effectively? Liv Hospital Dermatology Specialist Dr. Figen Akın told us.

May be acne with sweating

The most common cause of acne is the excessive functioning of the sebaceous glands. Sebum, which is sebaceous gland secretion, consists of fatty acids, triglycerides, fatty esters and squalene. The breakdown of free fatty acids with sebaceous gland content initiates inflammatory reactions in this region and triggers the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Unfortunately, the masks we use in the Covid period create an appropriate environment for the formation of sweating and friction and acne on our face. Increased sweat secretion directly increases sebum (oil) production. Sweat and lubrication disrupt the skin's microbiota, causing some pathogenic skin mites to multiply. The amount of mite, called demodicosis and normally found in the oily areas of the skin, increases with increased lubrication and together. It causes pimples especially on the parts of the face that are covered with a mask.

With increased heat all day long, there may be redness

During the day, heat increase is observed in the parts covered with a mask. With increasing heat, enlargement and redness of the skin vessels occur. These skin rashes become permanent after a while and may cause a picture that appears as redness and pimples on the skin we call Roza (rose disease). Pressure, heat and friction trigger acne outflow, causing irritation of the hair follicles. In cases where it is necessary to wear a mask all day long, mechanical acne may occur with the effect of rubbing.

How do we protect the skin?

• Care should be taken with mild, non-irritating cleansers.
• Tonically, pure rose water can be wiped with mineral water or mineral soda, so that it can be soothed.
• It is necessary to avoid excessive skin cleansing. It can cause exacerbations in acne and roza disease by disrupting the microbiota of the skin.
• Care should be taken that the materials used as masks are semi-permeable. Synthetic, hard, breathable masks can disrupt the skin structure and prepare the ground for irritant and contact eczema.