Taking care of your skin despite wearing a mask

The current situation brings its share of upheavals to our lifestyle habits. To limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), wearing a mask in public places, shops and public transport is recommended, or even compulsory in certain geographic areas. For healthcare personnel who ensure the health of the population, this is a reality with which they normally have to deal on a daily basis, but which is even more necessary at present.

Wearing a mask for a prolonged period can, however, have harmful effects on the skin, particularly on the area covered by the mask. The skin care experts at Omy Laboratoires were consulted to determine the possible consequences of wearing a mask on your skin. This article first presents the common skin problems linked to frequent or occasional wearing of masks over a short or prolonged period, and offers recommendations to reduce the inconvenience caused by their use.

Three adverse effects on the skin associated with wearing a mask

According to experts, chemists and cosmetologists, wearing a mask can have several harmful effects on the skin: allergic reaction, irritation and dryness of the skin on contact areas, increased production of sebum and sweat, more dehydrated facial skin, more humid environment, disrupted microbiota, increased imperfections, etc. These issues can be grouped into three categories.

Irritation and dryness of the skin in the areas of contact with the mask

With movement, heat, friction, moisture and stress, the mask and its attachments can cause damage to the skin and underlying tissues with repeated or prolonged wear. These consequences may manifest as irritation, tingling, redness, itching or dry areas of skin.

Skin problems caused or aggravated by wearing a mask

Two phenomena occur when wearing a mask : the skin produces more sebum, because it comes into contact more frequently with the hands, but also with an unusual foreign body, and the secretion of sweat is increased due to the heat. A more humid environment than usual is therefore created under the masked area, where sweat and sebum are blocked by the mask, thus blocking the pores of the skin. Heat can also accentuate certain skin problems linked to blood microcirculation. All of these conditions are conducive to the development or accentuation of some of your skin concerns: rosacea, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, acne, blackheads, etc.

Risk of allergy to the material used in the manufacture of the mask

As the facial skin is not accustomed to the presence of a foreign body on its surface for a more or less long period of time, a reaction to the material used in the manufacture of the mask is possible. Wearing surgical, medical or neoprene masks can cause more inconvenience than fabric ones. Masks made of fabric actually present a lower risk of allergic reaction, irritation or redness. The Omy face covering , made in Quebec and made of 100% polyester, would therefore be an ideal solution. If wearing a surgical or medical mask is unavoidable, adding a fabric liner will act as a barrier between the mask and the skin to minimize these consequences.

Adapting your skin care routine to limit damage

To mitigate or minimize the consequences of these problems associated with wearing a mask on the skin, we have some easy-to-implement recommendations to offer you.

Keep the masked area as clean as possible.

When wearing the mask for a long time, if possible, it is recommended to remove it every two hours to allow the skin to breathe for a few minutes. On this occasion, take the opportunity to clean the skin of the face in order to eliminate sweat, sebum or bacteria which could have accumulated there. Délicate mineral micellar water , applied with a cotton round, allows for quick and gentle cleansing, in addition to leaving the skin soothed. Before putting on a mask, a few sprays of mineral aquifer water will bring an extra dose of soothing and hydration to your skin.

Allow the skin to breathe during the day.

Due to the wearing a mask and its barrier effect, in addition to the often poorly breathable nature of the materials used in the manufacture of masks, the skin on the face breathes less well than usual. It is therefore recommended to use a cream with a lighter, non-greasy texture during the day to minimize pore clogging and thus allow the skin to air out. There custom day cream Omy, formulated with texture 1, would therefore be ideal. Additionally, salicylic acid that it contains will contribute to the fight against imperfections.

When wearing a mask, no makeup.

In the same vein, it is also desirable to not wearing makeup to avoid “suffocating” the facial skin even more. If you still wish to apply it, it is recommended to use products with the lightest texture possible, to limit clogging of the skin's pores. THE custom foundation Omy, whose first ingredient is aloe juice, is non-comedogenic and has a lightweight finish on the skin.

Increased sweating = SOS dehydrated skin!

Since the skin loses more water through sweating when wearing a mask , it is important to restore its hydration using suitable products. Omy Custom Serum could be a nice addition to your facial care routine as it helps retain water in the skin. In fact, it has a high content of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which tends to capture and retain water in the skin. If you're already using it and your skin is still showing signs of dehydration, adding the active ingredient Hy to your formula might help. With its strong hydrating power, this polysaccharide will ensure that it captures and redistributes water to the skin.

When irritation and dry skin occur.

The repeated rubbing associated with prolonged mask wearing can make certain areas of the facial skin drier or irritated. Using a night cream with a richer texture than usual is recommended. With its higher oil content, it will soothe the skin, in addition to providing additional comfort. If your Omy custom night cream is currently formulated with texture 1, opt for 2, and if it has texture 2, opt for 3. With mineral aquifer water as the first ingredient, your irritated skin will will be grateful.

Acne breakout? Ac and Se to the rescue!

The increase in sebum production combined with the accumulation of impurities under the mask can cause a resurgence or the appearance of skin problems associated with acne. In addition to adopting good hygiene practices, it may be wise to adapt the combination of active ingredients contained in your personalized Omy products . The active ingredient Ac , with its purifying effect, fights acne by limiting the proliferation of the bacteria responsible for it. The ingredient has a sebum-regulating action, that is to say it controls the production of sebum and mattifies the skin. These two active ingredients are therefore valuable allies in the event of acne-related concerns.

We hope that these few recommendations will prove to be an opportunity for you to adopt new reflexes and adapt your skin care routine, in these times when wearing a mask is omnipresent. If you have specific issues or would like advice, do not hesitate to contact us . We will be happy to guide you in adapting your tailor-made care routine!