Should Your Skin Care Change When You Wear A Mask?

According to NYC-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, the issue lies in the deliberate occlusive nature of a protective mask. It's something that impacts everyone who wears one, but especially the doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the pandemic who have posted selfies of their skin covered in hives, red marks, and even bruises. "Protecting your face with a mask creates a moist, hot environment for your skin, as your breathing is being trapped," Dr. Zeichner explains. "This can lead to a build up of sweat and oil on the skin under the mask, which can lead to inflammation, rashes, and even acne breakouts."

Ahead, Dr. Zeichner and a few other trusted derms break down their step-by-step advice for keeping your skin clear while following the CDC's guidelines for wearing a face cover.

After washing your hands, you want to make sure you also wash your face thoroughly before and after wearing a mask. Dr. Zeichner recommends using a foaming cleanser. "Foaming cleansers remove oil more effectively than hydrating oils or balms will," he explains. "For people with very oily skin, look for a face wash that contains salicylic acid. This will help remove excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the skin, which will prevent potential flareups and clogged pores."

Next, it's important to apply a lightweight moisturizer, even if your skin tends to be oily. "Skin hydration and skin oil production are separate issues," explains Dr. Zeichner. "Even acne-prone people may need a moisturizer. Especially if you're wearing a mask, you want to make sure you skin barrier is in the best shape possible, which means it's both balanced and hydrated."

It might seem obvious, but if you're used to wearing makeup on your entire face, it's time to shift your application to only what's above eye level. "Any potentially irritating or pore-clogging ingredients should be avoided under the mask-covered skin," explains Manhattan-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD. "I would recommend minimizing makeup — particularly foundations and concealer with heavy formulations — because the increased humidity under the mask could affect your skin's sebum production and potentially lead to an increase in clogged pores and breakouts."

According to the CDC, the American public should be wearing cloth face coverings — not surgical masks or N-95 respirators, as those are critical supplies that must be reserved for frontline healthcare workers. When it comes to fashioning your own mask, you want to make sure the fabric that touches your face is comfortable. "Cotton is a breathable fabric and will therefore be relatively non-irritating for the skin," says Dr. King. It's also recommended by the CDC, which advises slipping another filter (like a coffee filter) in between the fabric for added protection.

Director of Pigmented Lesions and Skin Cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Orit Markowitz, adds that you want your mask to be secure, but no tighter than necessary to achieve a skin-to-mask seal. "The best idea is to wear a cover that sits close to the skin and that doesn't wave away," explains Dr. Markowitz. "It's important to remember to touch the mask as little as possible, so you certainly want to wear something that is comfortable, especially if you have sensitive skin."

If you've already experienced a bit of irritation or redness from mask-to-skin friction, Dr. King recommends treating it with good, old-fashioned Aquaphor. "If you notice this kind of irritation after removing the mask, wash the area with water and a gentle cleanser, then apply an ointment, like Aquaphor Healing Ointment, to help the skin heal," Dr. King says.

Dr. Markowitz adds that the same care should be taken with breakouts. If you can clearly recognize your condition as acne (whiteheads, blackheads, or pustules), you can treat those areas with a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment or salicylic acid. But if this is a first-time occurrence or it looks unusual in any way, you might need a teledermatology appointment to assess what's going on and potentially get a prescription for an antibiotic or anti-fungal cream.

When you wash your face at the end of the day, don't forget to give your face covering a similar scrub-down. "Wash your mask daily to avoid a buildup of bacteria on the cloth," says dermatologist Elizabeth Mullans, MD, adding that the detergent or soap you use is important. "Since a mask rests on your face, harsh chemicals and fragrances in your detergent can cause a skin reaction. I recommend using a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free option, and you can also add a splash of white vinegar, which is a natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agent."

At the end of the day, protecting yourself and others is the number one priority — and maintaining a strong skin barrier (which helps prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and infection) is just as much a part of that as wearing a mask.