CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Local dermatologists want folks to keep in mind that having a clean mask or face covering can go a long way. If not, that can leave your skin with some negative effects. Wearing a mask in pubic has become the new norm for many people especially for those who want to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“You don’t want to have a COVID virus on your hands and then you bring it up to your mouth,” said Dermatologist Dr. Beverly Held.
Held says wearing a mask during the coronavirus global pandemic has its benefits. However, when wearing a mask, dermatologists have found a new concept in treating patients called mask acne.
“It has become more of a problem we never saw mask acne before everyone started wearing a mask for an extended time period,” said Held.
Held says when a mask is constantly rubbing against the skin, that can cause inflammation, and skin professionals say they see many cases with nurses and doctors.
“Health care professionals that have to keep masks on tight masks for long periods of time, are the ones most at risk most of everyone else can take the mask off when they are in private so their skin kinda has a chance to recover and the mask is not constantly there welding,” said Held.
Skin experts say if you notice changes in your skin while wearing a face-covering to see professional treatments that are available to patients.
“We can actually treat their acne and sometimes we use even some special moisturizers and barrier creams to protect the skin a little bit from the masks and unfortunately nothing works great but the acne treatments still work even if you have a mask,” says Held.
Skin experts also say folks need to wash their hands before and after you take your mask off and if you have a cloth mask, wash them daily.
