There is an increasing number of women who claim their skin has become sensitive and prone to develop acne due to wearing a mask all the time.

It’s called mask acne – ‘Maskne’ or ‘Mascne’.

It is real.

Many of us have developed acne-prone skin.

But you don’t have to suffer from pimples if you take care of the skin the J-Beauty way. 

I’m also getting some pimples lately and turned to J-Beauty skincare tips for treating maskne. (Yeah, J-Beauty because I’m Japanese and I follow Japanese skincare routine to keep my skin glow!)

In this post, I’m going to share J-Beauty skincare tips on how to treat and prevent maskne.

The tips are from major Japanese beauty magazines, websites and the giant J-Beauty brand Shiseido.

Let’s dive in!

J-Beauty Tips on How To Treat and Prevent Maskne

What Causes Maskne?

First, it helps to understand why we are getting maskne and what is causing it so we can prevent going forward.

There are 3 primary causes.

Friction

When you’re wearing a mask, inevitably it rubs against the skin. The friction caused by this can lead to skin troubles.

The skin on your face is very thin, so even little friction can irritate the skin and cause skin problems.

High humidity

When you keep breathing with a mask on, inside the mask becomes extremely humid, and its temperature gets higher than the outside air.

It makes a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. As the bacteria gets fed on skin’s sebum, you might get acne as a result.

Dirt

The fact is that masks can quickly get dirty – the oil from the skin, makeup, sweat, exhaled breath (which may contain saliva).

It is very unhygienic if you keep wearing a mask with all those dirt on.

How To Treat and Prevent Maskne

Let’s go over what you can do to prevent getting maskne in the first place.

If you already, unfortunately, got maskne, below would also help heal and speed up the recovery process.

1. Change the Mask Material

Change the fabric of your mask to something soft on the skin.

Natural materials like cotton, gauze and silk are perfect options, and they are also hygroscopic. They can absorb humid air in the mask.

If you can get a mask made from natural fabrics, put a sheet of cotton or gauze between the mask and your mouth.

It helps reduce the amount of friction you get in a day.

2. Lift the Mask & Wipe Off Sweat Regularly

Take off the mask and wipe off sweat and dirt wherever possible to avoid bacteria growing in the mask.

Carry some cotton pads soaked with a face toner or lotion and clean the area with them.

After cleansing, make sure to moisturise a little before putting a mask back on.

3. Change a Mask Daily

To help keep the skin clear of bacteria, change your mask daily.

The area covered by a mask gets very humid and creates an environment for bacteria to grow.

If you keep wearing the same mask for days on end, you will most likely be exposing the skin to dirt and bacteria that have been stuck to the mask.

If you wear a washable one, make sure no detergent is left on the mask.

4. Use Skincare Products for Sensitive Skin

Use some skincare products for sensitive skin to not stimulate maskne and the skin.

Stay away from powerful ingredients like retinol and benzoyl peroxide.

I personally recommend a J-Beauty sensitive skincare brand Curél Japan.

It’s the most popular J-Beauty drugstore brand for sensitive skin and their products are very gentle on the skin.

Curél Japan – Sensitive Skin Moisturiser

courtesy of brand

Curél Japan – Sensitive Skin Face Toner

courtesy of brand

Curél Japan – Sensitive Skin Face Wash

courtesy of brand

I’ve been a fan of their products for nearly two decades –  they are really good!

5. Moisturise with Non-Comedogenic Moisturiser

courtesy of brand

The skin can lose moisture when wearing a mask.

Make sure to moisturise the skin but with a non-comedogenic moisturiser to help prevent and treat maskne.

Shiseido WASO Clear Mega-Hydrating Cream is perfect for this!

(WASO is focused on natural ingredients inspired by the Japanese food tradition)

The skin’s barrier can become weaker as you repeat putting a mask on and taking it off every day for a long period of time.

6. Wear No or Little Makeup

The best thing you can do when the skin is sensitive is to do little.

Wear no makeup!

If you wear makeup, wear eye makeup only.

It helps the skin to breathe naturally and become less prone to maskne.

7. Eat a Balanced Diet

Having a balanced diet is crucial to prevent and treat maskne on top of adopting hygiene practices to keep bacteria away from the face.

Avoid those foods, especially if you suffer from maskne:

• Soft drinks
• Alcohol
• Fried food
• Processed food
• Ready meals
• Sugary foods

Add more those nutrients to help heal maskne:

Vitamin C   – aid skin’s natural turnover

• Vitamin B   – control sebum secretion
• Vitamin E   – reduce inflammation
• Vitamin A   – speed up the healing process
• Zinc  – reduce redness, acne scars

It’s always best to take those nutrients from food.

But don’t we all get tired of cooking every day sometimes?

No worries. There’s an easy way to ensure you include them in your diet!

Supplements for Treating and Preventing Maskne

Some multivitamin supplements can provide you with all the vitamins and zinc listed above.

You can find good multivitamin supplements easily online like one below.

NATURELO makes premium multivitamin supplements. They are all made with clean, natural ingredients – highly recommended!

NATURELO One Daily Multivitamin for Women

courtesy of brand

Once you get your diet right, make sure you secure a good night’s sleep.

Sticking to a regular sleeping schedule and getting proper sleep is vital to maintaining healthy skin.
During sleep, the skin repairs and regenerates itself.

To help speed up the healing process of maskne, make sure you become serious about quality sleep!

Summary of Maskne Treatment

You can have clear and beautiful skin while wearing a mask.

So, don’t to worry – now you know how to prevent and treat maskne ;).

Here is a summary of the simple 7 tricks:

1. Change the mask material (cotton, gauze, silk)
2. Lift the mask & wipe off sweat regularly
3. Change a mask daily
4. Use skincare products for sensitive skin ➝ Curél JAPAN
5. Moisturise with a non-comedogenic moisturiser ➝ Shiseido WASO
6. Wear no or little makeup
7. Eat a balanced diet & sleep well

They may be small changes, but they do make a huge difference.

Additionally, rely on the power of multivitamin supplements! (➝ NATURELO premium supplements)

Follow the little 7 tricks and take multivitamin supplements so you can keep clear and healthy skin – stay beautiful even during the pandemic ❤️️.