Face Mask & Troubled Skin

More and more of us are wearing masks in our everyday lives. We're wearing them at the grocery stores, work, exercising, and even while in the car. Who else's skin is starting to show the effects of all this mask wearing? I've been receiving a lot of emails from clients regarding breakouts and skin irritation. I can relate. I personally have been experiencing breakouts, specifically along the outline of my mask. 

If you’re prone to acne, wearing a mask may cause a breakout. The acne is likely occurring as a result of the blockage of the hair follicles. Our natural reaction is usually to go overboard on acne fighting products. But this may exacerbate the problem, and cause more irritation. This is not to say we won't benefit from some anti-acne products, but you'll want to balance your acne regimen with gentle, skin loving products. Try using a gentle, non-irritating cleanser, such as my favorite,Tranquil Milk Cleanser, and follow up with a skin-identical cream, such as a Dermaviduals Base Cream. Remember, this can be custom blended to target whatever is going on with your skin. 

Maybe you're experiencing an itchy rash from the mask, which will be something called an irritant, or contact dermatitis. After wearing a mask for an extended period of time, wash your face with your gentle cleanser. You would also follow with that skin identical cream. If you're not seeing improvement after a couple weeks of caring for it, it may be time to contact your dermatologist.  

Are you seeing a theme here? :)

Now, If your skin becomes swollen from the pressure of the mask or from wearing the mask for long hours, apply a cold compress. Make a cold compress by putting a washcloth in icy cold water then wringing it out and laying it on clean skin. This can be repeated as many times as needed to help reduce the swelling.

Protect your skin:

• Wear a clean mask whenever possible. If a clean face mask is not possible, spray the inside of the mask with alcohol after every use, and let it dry before putting it back on.

• Before wearing any mask, apply a skin-identical cream to create a barrier between your skin and the mask. Of course, you'll still want to wear sunscreen over your moisturizer during the day. 

• If you're experiencing any sort of irritation, make sure your skin care regimen is gentle. Avoid any irritants, and fragrance-free is ideal. Added fragrance provides zero benefit to any skin care product. 

• Remove your mask as soon as you're home and proceed with your skin caring regimen. Your skin will thank you for it. <3