Mask-acne: Tips and Tricks for Managing Facial Acne
Acne is often thought of a a skin concern of young adults, but in reality it can effect anyone well into adulthood. Many things including diet, lifestyle, and hormone changes can cause acne to reappear in people post-puberty, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) adds stress and emotions to the list of contributing factors in acne. And now mask wearing has become a big trigger for acne and breakouts even in folks who don’t typically suffer from acne.
Let’s take a little deeper dive into what acne is and why wearing masks can cause breakouts. Acne can be both inflammatory and non-inflammatory causing different manifestations of acne. Non-inflammatory acne refers to whiteheads and blackheads due to sebum blocking the sebaceous glands around hair follicles. You don’t typically see the kind of redness, swelling, and irritation in this type of acne as compared to inflammatory acne. Inflammatory acne can range from angry, red, and raised fluid-filled lesions to deep, painful, cystic lesions and are caused by increased levels of bacteria and infection. From a TCM perspective, heat is a primary factor in acne; particularly heat in lungs or stomach. Dampness (poor digestion), qi stagnation and blood stagnation (emotional upset or hormonal disruption) also play a role in varying degrees as well depending on the specific presentation seen in each individual.
How does wearing a face mask effect acne and lead to breakouts?
We have all become accustomed to wearing face masks for extended periods, and the result for some has been many more breakouts and skin irritation, but why? Our skin is covered with a multitude of bacteria in addition to our skin’s natural oils. We are also excreting wastes from our system through our sweat that ends up on the skin, and our skin catches debris from our environment through the course of the day. Wearing a mask over your face and mouth for an extended period has the effect of trapping all of these substances on the surface of your skin in a lower oxygen environment than is normal. This environment is ideal for bacteria proliferation, and that bacteria feeds on the oil causing inflammation and breakouts. Another reason you may be seeing more breakouts is because of the microbiome of your mouth. When we breath into our masks all day, all that bacteria from our mouth and gut can migrate onto the skin surrounding the mouth. This bacteria can similarly lead to more inflammatory reactions on the skin. In general, more bacteria on the skin = more breakouts.
So what can you do to lessen the chance of breakouts?
Wash your mask every day! Yes, if you are wearing a cloth mask you should wash it after every use.
Replace your N95/KN95 masks regularly as well. If the inside of your mask looks dirty, it is dirty!
Wash your face immediately after removing your mask. A good quality toner or hydrolat can also work in a pinch when washing your face isn’t an option.
Up your dental hygiene! In addition to regular brushing and flossing, rinsing with mouthwash a couple times during the day or brushing after meals can help keep your gums and mouth extra clean! If you’re noticing bad breath this is a good indication that there may be a bigger gut imbalance happening as well.
Streamline your skincare routine. Fewer products on your face means fewer chemicals and debris building up on the skin under and around your mask and less to wash off later. My favorite low-maintenance combination is a gentle cleansing scrub, a hydrating toner, and a chemical-free face oil.
Eat well. Acne is notoriously made worse by diets heavy in sugar, dairy, and greasy foods. If your mask acne is really bothering you, it may be time to clean up your diet.
Exercise. Exercise helps the skin remove toxins from the body through sweat, and it also helps increase microcirculation in the body which helps the skin look young and vital.
Hydrate. Especially in the winter months when the air can be very dry make sure you’re staying hydrated. I like to measure my water intake for a few days to see how much I’m really consuming and then try to increase my daily intake from there.
If your acne continues to be a concern, it may be worth exploring more focused treatment to resolve any underlying imbalances in your system and more strongly clear the acne that is showing up. If you’d like to find out more about how Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture can help you heal from acne, contact Allison to schedule a free consultation today.
Allison is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in the treatment of chronic skin disease. She works with clients all over the country to help resolve stubborn skin issues with a completely natural approach. For more information on Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology contact Allison at allison@nineflowersacupuncture.com or visit our website.