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Lifestyle
Goodbye Maskne!
Wearing a mouth and nose cover regularly has become part of our daily lives since the Corona pandemic. The moist and warm climate that your skin is exposed to under the mask can dry it out and irritate it due to the resulting friction, especially on the nose, chin, cheeks, and jaw area – that is, the areas where the mask rests. Maskne: the "trend word" is a combination of the words mask and acne and describes the development of pimples and skin irritations caused by wearing a mask.
Below, we explain how maskne develops, how you can get rid of it quickly, and how you can prevent its occurrence in the future.
HOW DOES MASKNE DEVELOP?
Maskne describes a new type of acne triggered by the daily wearing of a mouth and nose mask. The blemishes usually appear at the pressure points of the mask: on the nose, chin, cheek area, and jawbones. People who have previously struggled with blemishes and acne are particularly affected. People with sensitive skin also experience increased redness, irritation, or dryness. On the one hand, the friction of the mask irritates and aggravates the skin. The skin barrier is compromised, making it vulnerable to dirt and bacteria. On the other hand, sweat and moisture form under the mask due to breathing, which disrupts the pH balance of your skin and promotes pimples and redness.
PREVENTING AND PROPERLY CARING FOR MASKNE
To prevent and heal maskne, a daily and effective facial cleansing with the right ingredients is essential. During the day, sweat, dirt, and bacteria accumulate on the skin. The warm and humid air under the mask also provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Therefore, the face should be thoroughly yet gently cleansed in the morning and evening. Regular use of an exfoliant is important to remove sebum, dirt, and dead skin flakes. Afterwards, the skin should be effectively cared for with a day or night care product. Creams are particularly suitable here, as their high-quality active ingredients can penetrate specifically into the lower layers of the skin and help your skin regenerate from within and support the skin barrier.
THESE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS WORK TARGETED AND SUSTAINABLY ON MASKNE
With a daily skincare routine using the right active ingredients, you can effectively combat maskne and regain a calm and radiant complexion. The decisive factor here is the use of high-quality ingredients that are specially adapted to sensitive acne-prone skin.
Salicylic acid/BHA
Products that contain this highly effective acid in a high-quality form gently and deeply cleanse your skin without friction. This non-aggressive peeling effect removes dead skin flakes and accelerates the healing of blemishes, while at the same time preventing the formation of new pimples, as BHA has an inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria.
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, is a true skin vitamin miracle: it has the ability to deeply soothe your skin and accelerate wound healing. DOCTOR Mi! uses this deeply effective ingredient, among other things, in the cleansing gel CLEAN, which can be used for facial cleansing morning and evening due to its soothing property.
Here you can learn more about the appropriate care routine for acne-prone skin
Care routine for acne
Retinol
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that stimulates and supports the regeneration of skin cells. This allows your skin to achieve optimal regeneration and stimulates its self-healing powers. By promoting healthy skin cells and regulating cell functions, retinol is also effective against acne. It reduces the skin's sebum production and thus prevents the formation of pimples.
Tip: Pay special attention to retinol-containing products to ensure that the active ingredient is of high quality and highly concentrated in order to sustainably improve your skin.
MASKNE SPECIAL: 5 TIPS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
In addition to proper care, the correct and hygienic use of your mask is crucial for maintaining smooth skin. Pay attention to the following tips to avoid maskne:
1. Change and wash masks more frequently
Change your mask regularly – depending on how long you wear it, preferably several times a day. Replace medical masks with new ones as often as possible and wash fabric masks after each use at 60 to 95 degrees using natural cleaning agents like vinegar essence to avoid bacterial buildup on your skin and thus deprive pimples of their breeding ground.
Note: After just under 30 minutes, your mask is already so damp that it can clog your pores due to accumulated sweat and water.
2. Wear classic medical masks
Wear classic medical masks when allowed and appropriate for health reasons: They are often more breathable and gentler on your skin – but should also be changed regularly.
Attention: Please appropriately assess the situations in which you switch to the classic medical mask.
3. Remove mask in safe zones
Let your skin breathe! After at most 2 hours, you should let fresh air reach your skin. If the mask or your skin is moist or the mask rubs, you should take it off if your surroundings allow it.
Tip: Make sure to wear the mask so that it fits well on your face. This way, you avoid unnecessary friction that can damage your skin barrier through irritation and lead to redness and maskne.
4. Meide Make-Up
Use make-up as little as possible: Your pores already have a hard time and lack fresh air. Make-up settles on your pores due to the moist environment and further irritates them.
Tip: If you don't want to give up make-up, use light products under your mask, such as a BB cream.
5. Rich care in the evening
Less is more! Your skin already suffers from wearing a mask, so you shouldn't further irritate it with the wrong care in the evening. Pay special attention to thorough facial cleansing. Care products like the NIGHT night cream, with their skin-soothing ingredients, are perfectly suited to strengthen your skin's protective barrier overnight.
Tip: Hot steam against impurities! Heat and moisture make your skin supple, open the pores, and support the cleansing process. If possible, have your skin professionally cleaned and avoid squeezing or manipulating it yourself, as this can lead to scarring.
