Calling All Maskne Sufferers!

I want to create a safe place to validate your skin frustrations, and learn how to combat these concerns while still upholding your mask wearing civil duty to the province.

Acne mechanica, a.k.a. the type of acne a football player may get where the helmet rubs — is also enough of a thing that the Covid-19 task force of the American Academy of Dermatology (A.A.D.) felt compelled to release advice on the subject. It is a real issue.

When you breathe or talk, your mask traps in a lot of the hot, humid air accompanied by various yeast, bacteria, and other flora, such as demodex (types of skin mites that naturally live on our skin).

Bacterial imbalances and friction from your mask can promote acne, as well as rosacea flare ups and perioral dermatitis. This is when fine pimples and pustules appear around the nose and mouth.

The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported that at least 83 percent of health care workers in Hubei, China, suffered skin problems on the face.

You are not alone.

If acne is new to you, there are ways to combat this flare-up.

If acne is something you have had prior to the mask wearing days, we still can combat the exacerbation topically, but internal, root cause investigation is needed. If you need further guidance and support please send me an email at info@michellelenawellness.com or book a free discovery call at: https://naturopathicglowmethod.as.me/ .

Treatment options to consider:

1. Consider the TYPE of mask you wear.

For some of you, non-reusable masks are your only option. Skip down to step number two.

For those of you that can utilize reusable options, I would highly recommend:

Washing your mask daily with a fragrance-free detergent & buying an anti-microbial copper infused Envy mask which were created by two RN’s.

– Lab Results on Methicillin Resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) show:

✓ 50% kill on contact ✓ 85% kill within 1 hour ✓ 99.9% kill in 24 hours to help create microbes at bay.

2. UNDER the mask.

 This is the time to simplify your routine. Less is more. The mask will intensify product delivery to your skin, and we want to especially be careful with acids or retinols, which can be irritating. Use products with actives only at night.

Breakup with makeup. Do NOT wear makeup under the mask if you don’t have to. To get rid of sweat – suggests using micellar water or a gentle cleanser to do a quick wash halfway through the day if you are able.

I highly suggest only using the following products under the mask:

Broccofusion Ointment  (Newco)- Protects the moisture barrier, lessens friction, and contains very supportive, healing, antimicrobial ingredients. Found at Bodyfuel Organics in Regina.

Colloidal silver gel (Nature’s Sunshine)- Very strong antimicrobial successfully used to even treat MRSA and Candida, and is still used in 70% of burn centers in America to heal burns and kill invasive bacteria. Product quality matters! The Silver Shield Gel at Prairie Sky Integrative Health is a great option.

If you’ve tried all of the above and your acne persists, you may want to look at other causes of acne.

If I see a tender cyst on the chin, there’s no way to say whether it popped up because of the mask, stress from your midterm exams, because of that sleepless night or because of those comfort foods they reached for over the weekend.

If you need some extra help, let me know!

We are all in this together.

**Make sure to join the “Glowing Skin Community” on Facebook for more acne info/support.