Wearing a face covering has become a necessary way of life as we continue to combat COVID-19. Unfortunately, this risk reducing measure can result in ‘maskne’—acne, breakouts, and skin irritation caused by prolonged wearing of a face covering.

‍Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology; Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside; and Director of the Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai, explains what you can do to prevent breakouts while staying safe.

I think my face mask is irritating my skin. What can I do to prevent this?

‍Wearing a mask can inflame or irritate the skin in a number of ways. First, the pressure and friction on the bridge of the nose and behind the ears can lead to redness, soreness, bruising, and even erosions—erosions are particularly prevalent when N95 masks are worn for long hours...

Originally published on Mount Sinai Today. Read the rest of this post.

‍