Sunburn and face masks

[LetTheCatIn]

I was travelling most of the day yesterday, mainly in environments where mask wearing was obligatory, but it also included a 30 minute walk in sunshine. I woke today with a sunburnt nose and cheeks, exactly where my mask had been. It's been puzzling me all morning as I wear SPF 50. Suddenly realised that the friction of the mask must have removed all the sun cream and the top surface of skin hence the mask shaped sunburn!

Just wanted to warn people about this if you haven't already thought of it, and to suggest reapplying your cream if you've had a mask on. Might save you from looking as ridiculous as I do right now.

Obligatory?

I don’t wear a mask and it’s not obligatory to wear one. I do have an exemption lanyard but I do not have to wear it.

Gosh this will be the new 'tan line' can you imagine!! Glad you've made me think of this especially when visiting zoos etc save me looking like a laughing stock lol

@Chatanooga1

Obligatory?

I don’t wear a mask and it’s not obligatory to wear one. I do have an exemption lanyard but I do not have to wear it.

Oh jog on.

It’s also important to let suncream sink in for about 15-20 minutes (there will be brand-specific instructions on the packaging) before you go out - by the same token, putting a mask on before your skin’s had time to absorb it is going to mess with its ability to do its job. I suspect the protective film it leaves is indeed unlikely to stand up very well to a mask that’s wriggling about on your face; so reapplying more frequently than the usual every couple of hours would indeed be wise. Investing in masks that fit as well as possible to minimise any rubbing might also be a plan?

I hope you’re not too sore today OP

How are people getting tan lines from face masks when you don't have to wear them outside? I'm not an anti masker I wear one inside when required but I've never ever worn one outside, where would you need to wear one outside?

@smithyca the mask rubbed the sun cream off when she was inside, so she got burnt when she went outside.

@P0gM0Th0in oh I understand now! I thought I was missing some new rule regarding masks and the thought of wearing them outside made me panic.

No worries! It’s a really good point about the sun cream getting rubbed off. I wouldn’t have thought of that; I’d end up with some odd tan lines!

@LetTheCatIn

I was travelling most of the day yesterday, mainly in environments where mask wearing was obligatory, but it also included a 30 minute walk in sunshine. I woke today with a sunburnt nose and cheeks, exactly where my mask had been. It's been puzzling me all morning as I wear SPF 50. Suddenly realised that the friction of the mask must have removed all the sun cream and the top surface of skin hence the mask shaped sunburn!

Just wanted to warn people about this if you haven't already thought of it, and to suggest reapplying your cream if you've had a mask on. Might save you from looking as ridiculous as I do right now.

What do you mean the mask removed the top surface of your skin? That seems unlikely?

The top layer of your skin is coming off all the time, moreso with the friction of fabric rubbing against it, don't think that's unlikely at all The mask also rubbed off the suncream.

It's a really good point about letting sun cream sink in, thank you. Slightly less red this evening

Good point about the mask wiping the suncreen off. You do need to reapply sunscreen throughout the day though if out- not just apply once in the morning.

Did this not happen during last year's very hot Summer OP?

If not, have you changed your sun cream at all?

@LetTheCatIn

The top layer of your skin is coming off all the time, moreso with the friction of fabric rubbing against it, don't think that's unlikely at all The mask also rubbed off the suncream.

It's a really good point about letting sun cream sink in, thank you. Slightly less red this evening

I'm not sure it's the top layer of your skin as such. Dead skin cells are dripping off all the time. But anyway I think your point is that it rubbed the sun cream off and you got burnt. A mask would, similar to towelling after swimming or wear straps on clothing rub suncream off too.

Important for people to be aware of.

I have no melanin (lol) so am super aware if this already and already reapply after mask wearing. But others may not realise.

Worra that's an interesting point. It didn't happen last year, but we weren't in the UK and apart from going to the shop from time to time, there was hardly any need to wear a mask. I'm using one of the Korean sun screens this year as opposed to LRP, but the redness is so definitely mask shaped, I don't think it's dodgy cream.

It all goes to show how strong the sun is even in April, and just how important reapplying cream is, and waiting before going out in the sun.

I misread you and thought you were under the impression you had to wear a mask outdoors and got sunburn as a result of the mask being permeated by the suns rays.

I wear this all year round and it’s fab -

www.gruum.com/product/skyda-50spf/?v=79cba1185463

😂😂

That’s so funny! But now I know I’ll make sure I reapply sun cream again after wearing a mask if I’m going out in the sun.

I misread you and thought you were under the impression you had to wear a mask outdoors and got sunburn as a result of the mask being permeated by the suns rays.

Sorry if I wasnt very clear.