How To Keep Your Skin Healthy While Constantly Wearing A Face Mask – CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) If you go out nowadays and you cant social distance, youre supposed to wear a mask. But theyre not always comfortable and they can irritate your skin.

Across the country, front line health care workers are sharing stories about what happens after wearing a mask for hours at a time.

Some get little bumps all around their mouth or they have breakouts on their chins. Theres also the itchiness and redness.

Some nurses have coined the term co-zits and others are calling it maskne.

Dermatologist Dr. Rajani Katta at Baylor College of Medicine says when selecting a mask, its important to choose the right material for your skin type.

If youre prone to acne, you might want to stay away from things like polyester that traps sweat and that might lead to acne outbreaks. On the other hand, if youve got sensitive skin or if you have a tendency to eczema, then you might want to think about softer fabrics, maybe something more like cotton, Dr. Katta said.

Washing those reusable masks regularly is critical because they collect sweat and microbes from your skin.

Im recommending fragrance-free laundry detergent for all of my patients with sensitive skin. And even for some of them that dont have sensitive skin because fragrance could be irritating, said Dr. Katta.

Use hot water to wash and high heat to dry to kill off all those germs. And dont forget, washing your face and using a good moisturizer is key for healthy skin.

If possible, also avoid applying thick makeup under a mask and if youre prone to acne, use a thick lotion to create a barrier between your skin and the mask.

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How To Keep Your Skin Healthy While Constantly Wearing A Face Mask - CBS Boston