Have you been getting a breakout on your chin area? No, you’re not turning back into a teenager. You’ve probably put it down to stress in this uncertain time of living through a pandemic.
While, that can definitely be a contributing factor, there’s a strong possibility that it’s because of your Mask. Remember the ‘good ol’ days” when the only face masks we talked about were in reference to skincare? Now, face masks are face coverings for our protection and the protection of others from Covid-19, and with that comes a new skin concern for some: Acne. Oh and get this… Mask related acne has become so common lately, there’s a new term for it: Maskne.
Masks, which are really important for our safety, can trap in humidity, dirt, oil and sweat if you are not cleaning them properly or you are reusing them for long periods of time.
When oil and debris clog the pores, this causes pimples. Any friction and irritation from the mask can push bacteria into your skin or even create micro tears, which allow for easier entry of bacteria and dirt and can lead to further inflammation.
Don’t panic… and please don’t stop wearing your masks! This isn’t mask shaming! The good news is there are solutions.

The best thing to do is keep a simple skincare routine. When a breakout happens we usually want to throw the kitchen sink at it with every single treatment under the sun, but that can lead to more skin aggravation. Rather just keep your skin clean twice a day so that you remove excess oil and clogged pores. As if we needed another reminder to have a good skincare routine.
Keep your masks clean – make sure you hand wash them regularly in hot water and try to have a backup mask (or two) ready so you can rotate a clean one in before each outing.
1 Comment
Thanks for the tip I had been wondering if I was entering some adult acne phase with the spots on my chin!
September 15, 2020 at 1:35 am