While wearing a mask is essential to protect yourself and others, it is also crucial to protect the skin underneath it - discover the maskne solution you need.
What does maskne mean?
Mask-related acne, or maskne as it is known, refers to the occurrence of facial acne or skin irritation, or inflammation caused by face coverings such as masks or face shields. As Marion Nielsen, Scientific Director at Vichy Laboratories explains: “Wearing a mask is essential but it can exacerbate or cause acne breakouts”. Maskne can cause skin dryness, irritation of flares of inflammatory facial skin conditions such as rosacea, and acne. But also, dilated pores around the mouth, cheeks, and jawline.
What causes maskne?
Noticed an increase of acne or irritation in these areas? Your mask is likely the cause, for one of two reasons. The first is damage to your skin barrier, caused by the material rubbing against your skin. Repeated friction due to our mask-wearing affects the skin renewal and can inflame and irritate the sebaceous gland orifices resulting in maskne forming. The second is the accumulation of sebum, and hydrolipidic film (sweat, sebum, and water) being trapped by your mask. This humid environment is unwelcomed by your skin, encouraging the proliferation of bacteria and causing clogged pores and subsequent breakouts. On top of wearing masks, COVID-19 has had real repercussions on our daily lives. Stress peaks, habit changes, your skin has had to deal with these exposomes on top of the common factors such as air pollution, UV exposure, diet, stress, and city living, all of which have been associated with acne.
How do you prevent maskne?
In need of advice on how to prevent maskne? Refer to AAD recommendation! While keeping in mind that the right skincare routine helps your epidermis staying healthy but also that some masks do favor the apparition of acne: opt for one-use only masks and change them regularly. To help your skin breathe during this time, opt for our Normaderm range. It is ideal to reinforce the barrier function of the skin and therefore prevent the consequences of your mask’s friction by reducing pimple outbreaks.
Start your treatment routine with Vichy Phytosolution Purifying Gel, enriched with minerals and probiotics, to eliminate impurities and excess sebum. After use, the skin is cleansed of impurities and accumulated pollution particles. Additionally, the skin is mattified and becomes oily less rapidly, while pores and blackheads are reduced. The skin texture is refined, and mask-related imperfections are reduced. Follow up with Vichy Phytosolution Soin Double Correction for clinically proven efficacy on oily acne-prone skin. This daily double correction care for acne-prone skin contains natural dermatological active ingredients to purify and correct imperfections but also reduce blackheads and acne marks. Furthermore, its action also involves hydrating the skin for 24 hours, visibly tightening pores while reinforcing the barrier function of the epidermis against external aggressions. Finally, make sure you are incorporating Vichy Sulfure Paste into your skincare routine too to prevent the forming of pimples. This targeted anti-blemish care dries, soothes, and reduces their appearance. It provides clinically proven efficacy on the diameter, size, and redness of lesions. After use, the skin is softer, with fewer imperfections and redness.