To ask for your tips to stop Maskne

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I wear a mask at work for 11ish hours a day with very little opportunity to take it off. I also use it to go out in any space it's necessary on my days off/before/after work.

My chin and jawline are horrific with acne right now. I've never had the best skin but nothing a small amount of concealer wouldn't fix.

But this is something else. Large under the skin bumps, several smaller yellow spots, painful red large spots, acne marks and basically my face is just a mess. I'm at the point where I wear the mask even when it's not legally needed because I look SO bad.

Nothing seems to be working. Started off using a strong acne medicine and now using Cerave moisturizer

It is really getting me down mentally on top of everything else. Has anyone else suffered similar and have any tips on how to prevent it and get rid?

No advice but I'm in the same situation and I only wear surgical masks for work 2 days on/off during the day. My skin is awful and I have no idea where to start!

Do you have to wear a mask? Could you wear a visor instead?

If you google Dr Sandra Lee (Dr pimple popper) and maskne, she explains a simple remedy to help keep it under control.

Do you have to wear a mask? Could you wear a visor instead?

Visor does not prevent you posing a hazard (your exhalations go right round it), not does it protect you (inhalations come right around it), but it does protect your eyes, and also your face in general from big splatter.

It's a far from adequate choice, unless in conjunction with a mask

Might something drying and soothing - like camomile lotion - for a while in the evening (or overnight) np be helpful?

I had the same problem using cloth masks. I have changed to the single use ones which I throw away after 4 hours and it has helped massively.

Anecdotally, aspirin/salicylic acid-based treatments helped a GP colleague who've struggled over the last few months and found most products weren't effective. I don't recall the formulation and I think some other tried this and developed soreness. Horses for courses, I think.

Good luck.

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That actually sounds like hormonal acne, it may just be coincidence that it started after you began to wear a mask.
I would see a GP because anything over the counter that you use is unlikely to make much difference on spots like that. The only thing you could perhaps try is some benzoyl peroxide.

You need to try products with salicylic acid in which helps draw gunk out and things containing niacinamide and zinc to help balance the oil production. Avoid anything you might have used as a teenager like Clerasil with loads of alcohol in. Look at websites like beauty bay or cult beauty.

Steer clear of make up where your mask is. I get really oily and sweaty under my mask and use bloating papers to soak up the oily greasy slick sitting under my mask.

Go to an online pharmacy and order epiduo on prescription

I’ve just written about this! The key things are to make sure you’re cleansing and washing your face morning and night (and a freshen up after wearing a mask). Don’t wear makeup anywhere that will end up under a mask. And make sure your mask is made from natural fibres and washed after every use. The masks cause lots of little micro abrasions, and the damp environment of the mask just encourages oils that will block pores. That’s essentially what you need to try and counter.