"Maskne"

"Maskne" It's a real thing these days. The daily use of PPE, particularly protective face masks, is causing people to experience skin irritations, such as rashes and acne. It seems to be just another irritating fact of life these days, in our "new normal". The good thing is, there are some things that you can do to prevent it!

Cleanse your face daily, with a gentle, fragrance-free, cleanser.

Apply moisturizer daily. Make sure that it is appropriate for your skin type so that it doesn't cause further problems. For example, gel-based is best for oily skin. Look for ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone (creates a barrier to protect your skin).

Apply an ointment to areas that tend to get irritated, like behind your ears. Certain areas tend to experience friction, and get irritated easily. Applying ointment to these areas, can help reduce the friction that causes the skin irritation.

Protect your lips by applying a moisturizing lip balm. I absolutely love @Laneige's Lip Mask!

Skip the makeup under that mask. Makeup is much more likely to clog pores and cause breakouts. With the nose down being covered, us ladies have lost the ability to express ourselves with our lipstick color, but eyeliner and mascara to accentuate your eyes is completely acceptable. ;)

Avoid trying new products right now. I know its tempting because you need a little "pick me up" and you feel like your skin looks dull and lifeless, BUT now is not the time to try new products! Masks are making your skin more sensitive and products that contain retinol, salicylic acid, or other active ingredients can cause further skin irritations. Skip new products for now.

Wear the right mask. You want a snug, but comfortable fit. I love the silicone masks made by @GIR . They are breathable, and can be sanitized in the dishwasher, microwave, or simply wiping off with a lysol wipe.

Take a 15 minute mask break every 4 hours. Of course, only remove your mask when it is safe to do so, and after washing your hands.

@PCASkin Protection Kits and Skin Recovery Kits are available @Felicitedayspa. These kits were specifically designed to help prevent and treat skin damage due to daily use of protective face masks. Absolutely amazing!