Top 5 Simple Tips from Japan for Treating "Maskne" with Affordable Beauty Products!
What is "Maskne"?
Maskne is Acne Problems Caused by Mask Irritation.
Mask-Acne or "MASKNE" is a common skin condition that happens when the hair follicles under the skin are blocked with dead skin, oil, or even bacteria. This skin condition is worsened by wearing masks because of the warm moist air trapped in the masks that aid bacteria growth. Plus, constant wearing of masks causes skin irritation and sensitivity.
Skin irritation from long periods of mask wearing can cause blackheads, whiteheads and even painful cysts. Maskne looks unsightly, makes us feel self-conscious, might lower our self-confidence, and could be uncomfortable or painful.
Solve your Maskne problems! Here are the Top 5 Simple Tips for Treating Maskne for beautiful clear skin!
Cleanse the skin without stripping the skin of its moisture barrier as this moisture barrier is important to prevent friction caused by mask wearing and helps to avoid inflammation of the skin.
Here is a list of gentle cleansers from Japan which are affordable and effective to cleanse and moisturise skin at the same time. These are 2 popular cleanser recommendations for sensitive skin that are prone to acne:
2. Don't use harsh toners that will strip the skin
Gentle toners with light ingredients that have low concentrations of acids like lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid that will help to gently unclog pores without stripping the skin's moisture and drying the skin. Avoid harsh toners with strong ingredients like witch hazel which is very harsh on the skin.
Click here for a list of gentle toners that gently moisturize the skin while unclogging pores and locking in moisture. Here are 2 great gentle toner recommendations for acne prone skin:
3. Use a gentle moisturizer that won't clog pores
A critical step to preventing Maskne problems is using a good gentle moisturizer that will create a good moisture barrier to protect the skin against friction that causes irritation and inflammation. Choose a moisturizer with great ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramide which help to waterproof the skin to keep bad elements out of the skin and keep the great elements inside to make the skin stronger.
Those who have more serious acne skin problems can consider using acne moisturizer formulas which are specially formulated to control and prevent acne issues. The following are 2 recommendations of gentle moisturizers for acne prone skin.
4. Use sunscreen (for sensitive skin) to limit inflammation
Never forgot your sunscreen (for sensitive skin)! Always protect your skin against damaging UV sun rays and prevent skin cancer because masks alone do not provide the skin with adequate sun protection. Applying sunscreen onto your face will also create an even skin tone without unsightly mask tan and dark spots. In addition, sun burnt skin will worsen acne problems as inflammation is increased.
Choose sunscreen for sensitive skin as they are specially formulated to be light and will not clog pores to worsen skin inflammation or acne. Many of these sunscreen for sensitive skin are made without UV absorbers, alcohol, parabens, fragrances, coloring agents, and mineral oils which are extra gentle on the skin.
Here are some recommendations for extra gentle additive-free sunscreens:
The above 4 tips are great steps for a good daily skin care routine for healthy beautiful skin.
However, there are times when Maskne is persistent and it is really annoying to be faced with spots in certain areas of your skin which are usually in contact with the mask.
For quick relief of acne, it would be helpful for you to try Tip No. 5 below:
5. Use topical acne spot treatments
Select reputable brands of topical acne spot treatment creams which are trusted and known to be effective but not harsh on the skin. It would be recommended to use acne spot treatments with low concentrations of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide which are great products at reasonable prices.
