Maskné: how to get rid of pimples related to wearing a mask?

55%

According to a study1 conducted during the Covid-19 epidemic, adverse skin effects were observed in 55% of people questioned. The most frequently described symptom is acne (in 40% of the population), followed by rashes (18%) and itching (16%). These inconveniences were observed more in individuals using a surgical mask than in those using a cloth mask.

It is a brand new phenomenon but already baptized: the “maskné”, contraction of the words “mask” (“mask” in French) and “acne”. As there is no question for the moment of living without a mask, let's rather try to understand the mechanism of appearance of these pimples to find suitable solutions.

Heat and humidity

You have probably noticed that when you wear a mask, the covered area becomes more humid and warms up. This is also the sign that the mask plays its occlusive role well and that it therefore limits the diffusion of droplets and aerosols. But on the nose or chin, parts rich in sebaceous glands, heat and humidity can cause a change in the skin flora. It results in the proliferation of yeasts and bacteria on the surface, naturally present on the epidermis, and the appearance of skin problems. Acne (blackheads, white microcysts, pustules or papules) and seborrheic dermatitis (growth of fatty and yellowish plaques due to the presence of excess yeast) are the two main inconveniences observed. According to a large study[1], itching and redness can also result. "Rubbing the mask on the face can also promote or aggravate eczema or other types of disease, for example pemphigus vulgaris", adds Dr Olivier Gaide, assistant doctor in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the Vaudois University Hospital Center ( CHUV).

Few allergies

Allergies specifically due to the mask seem quite rare. “The molecules of disposable cellulose masks – long chains of polymers – are not very mobile and do not penetrate the skin, explains Olivier Gaide. However, we can ask the question for colored masks that use other potentially allergenic substances.

Some cases of allergies have been noted among professionals using masks made of neoprene, a synthetic latex, formaldehyde or even thiuram, a product found in the ear loops of certain models. “A few cases of contact dermatitis have also been noted on the bridge of the nose in people using N95 or FFP2 masks, adds the dermatologist. This is linked to the composition of the sponge positioned on the metal part of the mask.

Vulnerable land

If skin problems or allergies related to prolonged wearing of the mask remain very rare, on the other hand, in the event of a pre-existing skin disease, occlusion or friction can play an aggravating role. For example, in people affected by seborrheic dermatitis or in adolescents, particularly affected by acne. But be careful not to put everything on the back of the mask. In the appearance of acne, several factors come into play, some of which are still poorly understood. Stress and diet seem to play a role in aggravating the phenomenon. The health crisis has proved particularly stressful for many young people and has sometimes led to a change in diet. "The context as a whole may be partly responsible for the aggravation of acne in people already affected at the base," concludes Dr. Gaide.

How to cure it

To minimize the risk of skin reaction, two main principles must be respected. The first: take good care of your masks. Worn for several hours, they get dirty and take on moisture. It is therefore imperative to replace them frequently or to wash them daily and then let them dry for several days. “It is also not recommended to fold a mask after use and leave it in a plastic bag, warns the CHUV specialist. Instead, put it in a cotton bag through which the moisture can escape.”

Second advice: cleanse the face daily with a product adapted to the type of skin. “For people who already have skin problems, avoid wearing makeup that covers too much, recommends the dermatologist. Because after a few days, the mask will be clogged by some of the products applied to the skin, which accentuates the clogging of the pores.

If despite all these tips, your skin does not regain its radiant beauty, we can only advise you to consult a dermatologist who will be able to offer you personalized solutions.

Finally, keep in mind that even if there is a good chance that your little pimples will disappear as soon as the pandemic is over (as quickly as possible, we hope), other factors will not fail to come and put a stick in your the wheels of your dermatological health. “Pollution, tobacco, poor diet, sun, are all harmful factors for the skin, notes Olivier Gaide. The mask ultimately has only a minimal role in the aggravation of acne. It is absolutely not a public health problem.”

Abuse of certificates of convenience?

Can a person with a dermatological pathology be exempt from a mask? For Dr Olivier Gaide, assistant doctor in the Dermatology and Venereology Department of the Vaudois University Hospital Center (CHUV), this reason is only rarely justified: “In the event of a skin disease or wound on the face requiring a healing time, for example , you should avoid wearing the mask for a long time, but this is not a sufficient reason to expose yourself to the risk of catching the virus responsible for Covid.

With the appearance of barrier measures, some doctors were able to issue their patients a derogation in the form of a “certificate of exemption from wearing a mask”. However, this document cannot be given to anyone and is subject to strict conditions (motor disability, autism, hearing impaired, etc.).

The question also arises in people with respiratory failure (COPD, pneumopathy, asthma, etc.). The studies carried out so far do not highlight pulmonary disorders or insufficient oxygen supply linked to the wearing of a surgical mask. “In the majority of cases, the patient has an intolerance, or even a relative difficulty with ventilation, specifies Dr. Alain Bigin Younossian, chief physician at the Pneumology Department of the Hôpital de La Tour. But this cannot justify a systematic exemption from wearing a mask. The benefit/risk balance in these vulnerable patients, for whom the Covid could have extremely serious repercussions, therefore clearly leans in favor of wearing a mask.

However, certain doctors are today criticized for the unjustified delivery of certificates “of convenience”. In a recent press release, the FOPH therefore wished to remind everyone – patients as well as doctors – that “the exemption from the obligation to wear a mask does not result from a personal assessment, but from medical reasons” and recalls that “the falsification or improper issuance of such a document is punishable by law”.

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Published in Le Matin Dimanche on 06/20/2021.

[1] Leelawadee Techasatian, et al. The effects of the face mask on the skin underneath: A prospective survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Primary care and community health, 2020.