Tips and tricks to keep “maskne” at bay
“Maskne” a.k.a., acne mechanica is a type of acne that forms from repetitive rubbing and perspiration. It is common amongst athletes that wear padded equipment like helmets and shoulder pads in football, hockey and lacrosse. Unbeknownst to me, wearing a mask while making a grocery store run or while in the office all day would be akin to wearing sweaty athletic equipment. Through much experimentation, consulting with my esthetician, and my dermatologist on my woeful bought with “maskne” covering my 30-something year old chin, I would like to share some tips and tricks that have helped me tame any flare-ups and quickly get rid of active breakouts.
1. Always wear a clean mask:
To prevent “maskne” the most crucial tip is to keep your masks clean. Any time I wear a mask for an extended period of time or there is moisture build-up, I wash my mask and grab a new, clean mask to replace it. The same goes for disposable masks, any time moisture accumulates under the mask on my face, I throw it away in exchange for a new mask. This has honestly been the most effective way in preventing “maskne” for me. I now keep multiple masks with me at all time to quickly change them out as needed to keep my face dry.
Wearing multiple masks in a day based on your activity might be unrealistic. Initially I didn’t realize how frequently I was taking the same mask on and off throughout a single day. Living in an apartment, I practiced wearing a mask any time I left my unit to walk to my mailbox, the parking garage or when leaving the building. For repetitive use throughout a single day, a friend of mine recommended that I keep a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol on hand to spray and sterilize any mask between errands when I was leaving the apartment. I use my best judgement whether I need to replace my mask with a new, clean one or if I can get away with a quick spritz if I didn’t work-up a sweat.
2. Skip the makeup:
This was the biggest adjustment for me. I love makeup and honestly never went without it. However, wearing a full-face of makeup under a mask was the perfect recipe for breakouts. Regardless of what level of coverage, powder, or products I used, it was always an issue. Instead, forgoing the makeup all together on days where I know I’ll be wearing a mask for extended periods of time has been life changing.
If you have to wear makeup under a mask for an outing where you’ll remove the mask when you get to your destination, I recommend wearing minimal layers of product where the mask touches. For example, if you typically wear full-coverage foundation, try a lighter version or a tinted SPF. I personally have found spot concealing with my favorite concealer or lightweight tinted moisturizer to be the most effective way to cover-up any imperfections without creating one heavy layer across my entire face. I have seen tutorials for mask-proof makeup and to be honest, this is just waiting for a breakout to happen. The mask acts as an occlusive barrier much like occlusive skin care products that amplify the effects of the layers underneath. In this case, those layers are makeup.
My colleagues and I now joke about just doing our eye makeup when we are in the office since masks are still required. And honestly, I’m not missing the extra steps in my morning routine—it’s nice to only put on mascara, fluff my brows and go!
3. Water wipes:
This tip came directly from my facialist! She sees hundreds of clients battling “maskne,” even some that weren’t necessarily acne-prone. My facialist acknowledged that many of us are running between spaces that require a mask and outside which can cause moisture to build-up or sweat to accumulate under the mask. As an experienced aesthetician, she recommended that after a brisk walk or even if you have to wear a mask during your workout routine, wipe your face with a gentle water wipe when you can take the mask off before you get home to properly wash your face.
This has been a game-changer for me! I now keep water wipes on-hand just in case I need a quick wipe in-between errands and I also have a stash of individually wrapped wipes in my commuter bag for work. Again, this is when you’re in a pinch and you can’t run and wash your face or restart your skincare routine.
The key here is not to use abrasive alcohol wipes used for sterilization nor should you use makeup remover wipes. She recommends water wipes which are actually formulated for babies’ sensitive skin. Most brands claim that these types of wipes are 99% water with 1% or less fruit extract to provide gentle exfoliation. These can be found at most major grocery stores, pharmacies and your local Target or Walmart. I usually just purchase whatever brand is on sale at my local store.
4. Pimple patches:
So what do you do if you already have active breakouts? My sister originally tuned me into pimple patches years ago and I only recently started using them regularly. Let me tell you, they work! I hesitated to use patches in my day-time routine because I never found a patch that was completely invisible. However, if like me, you need to wear a mask in your office or for long periods of time, patches work wonders—and no one sees them under the mask!
Patches can serve two purposes, they can help prevent a breakout from getting bigger and they can help heal a breakout that is irritated. These patches work similarly to the hydrocolloid blister bandages by absorbing fluid and speeding-up the healing process. Most patch brands recommend a minimum of 6-8 hour wear which is akin to a day. I typically place a patch on a breakout after my morning routine—skipping moisturizer and sunscreen in that particular spot so the patch can adhere to the skin more easily. I then remove the patch in the evening before completing my nighttime skincare routine. If needed, I can always put another patch on the breakout overnight for double the action and protection.
Have you suffered from “maskne” over the past few months? What has worked for you? Let me know in the comments down below if you’ve tried any of these tips in this post.