Maskne – Let’s Talk Treatment and Prevention - Image

Understanding & Preventing Mask-Related Acne

What Is Maskne? – Let’s Talk Treatment And Prevention

2020 Has Been A Crazy Year For All Of Us. One Of The Most Common Changes To Our Daily Lives Is Wearing A Mask Over Our Nose And Mouth, And While Masks Are Great For Protecting The Community From The Spread Of COVID-19, They Can Play Havoc With Your Skin. You May Have Found That Since Wearing A Mask You’ve Experienced Redness, Dryness, Irritation, Congestion And Breakouts. This Is What Is Now Referred To As Maskne.


SINCE WEARING A MASK YOU’VE EXPERIENCED REDNESS, DRYNESS, IRRITATION OR BREAKOUTS.


What Is Maskne?

Maskne Is Basically Acne Breakouts, Inflammation And Irritation Of The Skin That Occurs From Wearing A Mask.

Balense What Causes Maskne 1

This is caused by a combination of the humidity from your hot breath, your mask trapping dirt & oil in the pores and the friction caused from wearing a mask. Wearing a mask can also cause existing skin conditions like heat rash and Rosacea to flare up.


How Do I Combat Maskne?

Masks Might Be Around For A While Yet. As They Are So Important To Keeping Us Safe, Many Of Us Will Need To Adapt Our Routine To Accommodate For This New Normal.
We need to find ways to combat maskne so that we look and feeling great while ensuring we stay safe out in our community. Here at Balense we have developed these recommendations for combatting Maskne, that are easily added to your daily routine.

  • Go Easy On Your Makeup

Many foundations are comedogenic so having makeup under your mask, mixed with the increased humidity, can clog your pores and worsen breakouts. Try giving the lower area of your face a break from make-up products and use the extra time to perfect a smoky eye or winged liner!

  • Cleanse And Exfoliate

A daily cleansing routine is important to make sure you remove the build-up of dirt and excess oils in the skin. Giving your skin a gentle cleanse in the morning before putting your mask on for the day will reduce the amount of impurities trapped against your skin by the mask. Another gentle cleanse at night as part of your bed-time routine will ensure your skin is clean, balanced and prepped for night-time treatment products. Balense’s Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is pH balanced and gentle enough to use twice daily.

Adding an exfoliator 2-3 times per week will assist with reducing congestion that can lead to breakouts, but be gentle with your skin, which may be irritated and dry from mask wearing. For more mature, sensitive skin we recommend the Balense Skin Resurfacing Cleanser, and for more oily skin, the Balense Jojoba Exfoliating Cleanser. A gentle exfoliation will have the added benefit of allowing your hydrating products to penetrate deeper.

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  • Mix Up Your Routine To Help Fight Breakouts

Breakouts are bound to happen in the environment created by wearing a mask. The good moisture and the bad bacteria are trapped in there together creating a breeding ground and if not treated they may get worse and spread as they are contained by the mask.

To control breakouts, you can apply Balense Blemish Control Serum Concentrate to the affected area morning and night. The combination of active ingredients deep cleans pores, provides anti-bacterial benefits and reduces redness, without drying the skin.

We also recommend avoiding occlusive skin care, such as rich moisturisers, when wearing your mask during the day, and instead saving those rich and nourishing products for your night-time routine. Balense’s Enzymatic Sleep Masque, applied after your serum before bed, can calm the appearance of redness while providing exceptional hydration to revitalise and rejuvenate the skin while you sleep.

  • Change Your Disposable Mask Regularly And Wash Your Reusable Mask Daily!

Disposable Masks Are Only Recommended To Be Worn For 4 Hours At A Time, So Ensure You Change As Often As Advised On The Box And Don’t Reuse Your Old Disposable Mask.

If you are using a reusable mask, it is important to keep it clean. DHS recommends you wash your mask daily at the hottest possible temperature appropriate for the fabric to remove dirt and bacteria. Using a mild skin-friendly detergent free from irritating fragrances can help to reduce further potential skin flare-ups.

It’s also important to be aware of where you are putting your mask once you take it off. You don’t want it gathering more dirt and grime. A good tip is to hang your mask up in the sun once you have washed it as the UV light will help to kill bacteria. And always ensure your mask is completely dry before wearing it again.

Masks Are Going To Be An Important Part Of Keeping Safe For The Foreseeable Future, But By Following Some Simple Tips, They Don’t Have To Impact The Health Of Your Skin. Balense Skin Products Are Gentle, Effective And Can Be Added To Your Mask Wearing Routine. Find Us Online Or In Your Closest Australian Skin Clinic.


November 13th, 2020 | Skincare