The other day, I saw an Instagram survey posted by another micro-influencer asking followers about their most trivial COVID annoyances. As in, with serious reverence, of course, toward the true and utter health and economic devastation brought upon our world by the COVID-19 pandemic, what are the little things that are just really driving us crazy at this point?
I agree with this influencer that, even though harder things are happening right now, it’s ok to also give the simply pesky stuff some space to air out too.
So I read through the responses and big-time LOL’d. Because, dang, if I didn’t relate to every single one.
There were responses about how much damage to your budget those food delivery convenience fees actually inflict. And how, until 2020, you hadn’t taken detailed notice of exactly how your roommate, family member, or significant other cuts their food, chews an apple, or literally breathes. Hahaha so true.
And so many responses were about maskne. You know, acne developed beneath our protective face masks. And, I have to admit, I was relieved to know that I haven’t been alone in my struggle against maskne.
Has maskne been an issue for you too?
I guess by wearing a mask, at least, you can easily cover up the acne you got from wearing a mask… And if you need to pop on a fast-acting pimple patch during the day, nobody will see it. Always a plus.
But, truly, maskne is the worst. And since it’s plaguing so many people, I explored some strategic remedies for keeping it at bay.
Some are pretty obvious.
Like skipping the makeup on areas of your face that are covered by your mask. And washing your mask often to keep from holding skin-irritating bacteria directly to your face.
But some things I hadn’t thought of before.
Like how, even if you’re keeping your mask clean, you might be washing it with chemical additives that are irritating your skin. If you think that might be the case, try a detergent that’s either fragrance-free or specifically formulated for sensitive skin. And consider forgoing fabric softener and dryer sheets for the time being.
It was helpful, as well, to look deeper into what exactly is the root cause of maskne, so that I could examine my current skincare routine and consider whether any portion of it might be contributing to the problem.
I learned that, in most cases, maskne results from clogged pores.
When we wear masks, substances like oil, bacteria, and dead skin tend to gather with increased density on the surface of our skin and to block our pores.
Plus, masks trap a level of humidity from breath and sweat that your skin isn’t used to. That further contributes to clogged pores.
I know, yuck. Just reporting the facts, people!
So we need to be diligently cleansing our skin to relieve it of all that extra junk.
But, contrary to what you might think, the best way to do that isn’t just by washing our faces more. We shouldn’t overcompensate and completely strip our skin of the natural oils that keep it supple, hydrated, and healthy. Especially during the cold seasons, when it’s already prone to dryness.
What we need isn’t more cleansing, but a more naturally effective cleansing routine.
Did you catch my previous blog post about double cleansing with, first, either a pure oil or oil-based liquid cleanser?
While exploring that subject, I learned that like substances attract like substances. Meaning oil absorbs oil! This means that literal oil does a better job at removing yucky oil and grime from your skin than cleansers containing harsh anti-acne ingredients. And it does so gently and without stripping your skin of the oil that’s actually good for it. That’s exactly what we need right now!
And one more contributing factor is friction from the mask rubbing up against your skin, which can cause chafing and further irritation.
So it’s important, if double cleansing, that we follow the oil cleanser with a gentle water-soluble, gel, or lotion cleanser without harsh additives so we don’t exacerbate any irritation from the mask.
If you’ve got any particularly sensitive spots, try applying CeraVe Healing Ointment or Vaseline beneath your mask to keep the afflicted areas lubricated and protected.
And when we’ve got maskne handled, we can start the important work of teaching our roommates, family members, and significant others how to chew apples like normal people.
For more insider tips about how to keep your skin happy and healthy, even in the face of challenges like maskne, click to subscribe to my newsletter!
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