Maskne!

Doctors, who wear three masks together for many hours (surgery, KN95 and shield), have been complaining for years about problems caused by the accumulation of sweat and oiliness in the areas covered by the mask. In addition, the mask maximizes pre-existing skin problems. The most common form of maskne is acne mechanica, the type of acne that a hockey athlete develops in areas where the protective contact with the skin.

Prevention
The right mask.
Dermatologists recommend 100% cotton masks as a compromise solution for people with acne. Wash the mask daily to remove grease and sweat.
Fewer care products.
One reason is that the mask intensifies their action. Especially in the case of products that contain retinol or acids, the “cocoon” created by the mask can cause side effects. Apply the active care products only at night, when you are not wearing a mask. For the day, a light moisturizer is enough, which has a dual role: to retain the moisture of the skin and at the same time to protect it from abrasion with the mask.
Less make-up.
If you are painting for a video call, rinse before leaving the house. An alternative is a light-colored sunscreen.
Washing.
If you sweat under the mask, take it off and wash your face with micellar water. Be careful, because the constant washing of the face dries the skin and misleads it to produce more oils, which lead to a resurgence of acne. After washing, apply your moisturizer (and at night, your night product).

The treatment
Acne treatments are intense and you will still have to deal with the constant use of the mask, which is why the maskne requires a lot of attention. Dermatologists recommend applying to the pimples a simple cream with benzene peroxide, which you will find in pharmacies, starting with products with a concentration of 2.5% or 5%, never 10%. If you use retinol night cream, apply retinol overnight and benzene peroxide treatment the next night.

If you also experience discoloration, use a topical cream with glycolic acid, which treats pimples and discoloration at the same time (not suitable for long-term use without the advice of a dermatologist). The blue screens of the devices aggravate the discolorations and the use of sunscreen product is recommended even in the house.

If the irritation on your face looks more like an itchy rash, it may not be acne, but dermatitis, which is caused by dyeing a fabric or formaldehyde, which usually comes out of the fabric of the mask after washing and should be see a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you have tried all of the above and the acne persists, maybe the pimples are not due to the use of a mask, but to poor nutrition (chocolate, processed fats, sugar), lack of sleep or even stress.