Is ‘Maskne’ a real thing?

As we’ve been subject to wearing a mask in public places for the best part of a year, I’ve seen a lot of articles and posts popping up around ‘Maskne’. If you’re not familiar with the term, ‘Maskne’ refers to breakouts/acne on and around your chin caused by wearing a mask. 

The definition of ‘Maskne’  

According to the content I’ve come across, ‘maskne’ is caused by constant friction on your skin from your mask. Other posts have said that ‘maskne’ is trigged by our pores being blocked by sweat, makeup, bacterial and oil that sits under our mask. 

My opinion on ‘maskne’

Although I can see sense behind the idea of ‘maskne’, I don’t think the information is 100% accurate. If you look at medical professionals that wear masks day in, day out, they don’t all suffer from ‘maskne’, in fact many that I know have flawless skin. 

If you’ve noticed your skin is red, inflamed or prone to outbreaks since you’ve been wearing a mask, it’s not necessarily your mask causing this. It may be the fact your touching your face much more than you usually would, or even the fact that stress shows itself on our skin. 

If you’re concerned about ‘maskne’, you should ensure that your mask fits properly to avoid any unnecessary friction or irritation to your skin, as well as being mindful of how often you’re touching your face. 

Taking care of your skin 

Whether you’ve noticed it or not, the stress of the current situation we’re in will likely show itself in your skin. It sounds cliché, but to be kind to your skin, you should be kind to your mind too. 

So, if your skin needs a little TLC, here’s what you can do to help in the comfort of your own home – no clinic treatments necessary.  

• Relax – when you’re feeling tense and stressed about your skin, merely taking the time to breathe can make more of a difference than you might think. Trust me, try it. 
• Try a soothing home remedy – whether you reach for cool cucumber for your puffy eyes or mix up a yoghurt and turmeric mask for your face, mother nature is powerful! Use the power of plants. 
• Be mindful of your diet – ‘eating pretty’ is a real thing. You are what you eat is certainly true when it comes to skincare. So, check out my winter shopping list and stock up on the goodness your skin needs. 

If you’re looking for more top tips on soothing sensitive and irritated skin, check out my blog post here. Lastly, if you have any burning questions, I’m always here to help. You can book in for a free online consultation with me here and follow my Instagram here. No matter how big or small your skincare concerns might be, I’m here to help you achieve your goals. 

Take care of yourself, until next time – Inga D