Concern

Mask-ne

With the increased use of face masks in all aspects of our daily life, Mask-ne has become a very common concern for many of our patients. Mask-ne is the appearance of acne and congested skin around the mouth, nose and lower face where masks are worn and is largely caused by increased occlusion of the pores in this area due to the wearing of masks for long periods of the day. Pores and hair follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells, creating blackheads and whiteheads; this produces an environment where usually harmless bacteria can thrive and cause papules, pustules, nodules or cysts.

An added complication, especially for Fitzpatrick skin type III and above, is that prolonged mask wearing, especially for healthcare and other key workers required to wear tight FFP3 masks, means a harsh material being pressed against the skin for very long peroids of the day. This pressure can cause an inflammatory response in these areas of the skin, which can develop into post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) marks on the skin of the cheeks and under the eyes. Mask-ne in these skin types can also develop PIH in other areas of the face covered by masks. If you are struggling with both of these issues together, then a combined approach is needed to effectively treat your concerns, addressing both the acne, and the pigmentation in a curated treatment plan.