Mascne – an unwanted side effect from wearing a mask

With the great unveiling of protective masks against Covid infection, what impact has it had on our skin health?

One of the most common everyday sights of the pandemic has been the introduction of face masks. With many restrictions being lifted over the next few weeks what will be revealed when faces are exposed?

One report found that acne was the most prevalent skin reaction to wearing face masks, followed by rashes on the face and itch symptoms. A duration of face mask wearing of more than four hours per day and the reuse of face masks also increased the risk of adverse skin reactions compared to changing the mask every day. Practitioners predict that the abolition of face coverings will lead to another spike in the number of people seeking cosmetic treatments to help combat the signs of mask wearing on their faces, with research from Uvence cosmetics showing over three million people are considering treatments in 2021.

Nonsurgical skin rejuvenating treatments have been championed by high-profile individuals prior to the pandemic – but many of these treatments are expected to resurface in the mainstream now that there is an increased emphasis on our skin and faces, ranging from PRP to Uvence.

Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, discusses how the abolition of face masks will impact the cosmetics arena: “Many people are now seeing the visible impacts of face coverings on their skin, such as acne breakouts and damage to skin texture, and has become a growing concern in the wake of the pandemic. The closed-up environment that masks create means that the moisture next to the skin increases, which can lead unwanted breakouts as the skin is unable to 'breathe' properly.

"During the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of people seeking cosmetic treatments. Myself and my peers in the industry are anticipating a new wave of demand for cosmetic enhancements once face coverings are used less frequently and people begin to expose their faces again.

"My patients often express to me their concerns over the impact of face masks when it comes to their skin. It is important to remember that these skin implications will improve over time, and while it is understandable that many people will want to address their concerns using cosmetic treatments, I would advise to wait until you know this is the best option for you. There are many alternative options before seeking cosmetic treatments, and doing your research will help you to identify what avenue is most suited."

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