'Maskne' is the New Acne! Here are 6 Expert-Approved Ways to Prevent It

The latest addition to our apparel, as of this year, has been the face mask. And, while it goes a long way in protecting us from contracting the deadly virus, it has unfortunately triggered a bout of breakouts for many.

'Maskne' is the formal term that is being used to denote acne breakouts that people experience from wearing a face mask every day. 'This occurs due to the friction, pressure, increased moisture, and occlusion a mask causes to your face. All these elements establish the perfect environment that spur breakouts,' claims beauty expert, Paula Begoun.

Now, while we can't skip on the face mask for the next many months, one has to figure out a way of working around it! Cosmetics cop, Paula Begoun shares 6 steps you can adopt to prevent suffering from 'maskne':

1. If you are required to wear a mask for long periods of time, avoid applying makeup on your skin. 'Makeup under a mask tends to get rubbed into the skin which can further clog pores,' informs Paula. Plus, it makes the mask dirty when you need to put it back on!

2. Prep your skin with a protective serum over the areas that your skin will come in contact with the mask. Paula's Choice RESIST Ultra-Light Antioxidant Serum is perfect for this purpose, as it protects and replenishes the skin yet feels weightless and avoids clogging pores. A serum will also help keep the mask from rubbing directly against your skin.

Paula's Choice RESIST Ultra-Light Antioxidant Serum

3. If you have been wearing a mask for a prolonged period of time, remove the mask whenever possible and gently dab your face with cool (but not extremely cold) water. This cools down your skin and rinses away the buildup of sweat and salt caused by the occlusive, humid environment of a face mask. Be sure to only dab at your skin, don’t aggressively wipe or rub! Then, reapply the serum mentioned above before masking up again.

4. Once you’re safe at home and unmasked, immediately cleanse your face with a gentle face wash to remove the buildup of sweat and salt. Then, use 2% BHA (the gold standard for reducing breakouts and soothing skin) to gently treat the maskne affected areas.

5. While there's not much you can do beyond a point, you can definitely ensure that the rest of your skincare routine is as gentle as possible. Eliminate products that may aggravate your skin woes, including fragranced skincare products (such as essential oils), harsh scrubs or stiff cleansing brushes, and sensitizing ingredients such as alcohol (SD or denatured), menthol or witch hazel.

6. Last but not least, use a fragrance-free laundry detergent to wash your mask. This is important because fragrance lingers in fabric and as it rubs against the skin it triggers an inflammatory response that aggravates the already compromised skin, giving way to a vicious cycle of maskne.

Besides, try opting for the softest face mask you can find! Scratchy or rough textured masks will irritate your skin and cause unwanted skin concerns.