The world has faced a lot of changes in this past year.
We all must wear a face covering in public places to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
However, prolonged mask-wearing causes irritation and breakout on the skin. Ugh….
Maskne has become a real thing. The actual name for “Maskne” is acne mechanica. It is caused by the mechanical friction of fabric against the skin. Acne of any kind has always been a painful topic for many men and women. Now, Maskne added up even more stress to the already existing one.
Acne related to face masks typically occurs around lips, on the chin, lower part of the cheeks.
Always covering the lower part of your face, the mask creates the breeding ground for bacteria and fungus that cause acne lesions.
You can read more about “Why is my face mask giving me pimples?” in my other article.
In this post, I would like to list the best professional skincare treatments as well as home remedies that can help to heal and prevent your Maskne from happening.
Now, most spas and skincare clinics reopened after the lockdown, and you can enjoy and benefit from the professional spa treatment.
1. Detox facial with extractions. Whether you experience a couple of pimples or a full face of inflamed acne, keeping your pores clean and free from infection and bacteria is essential.
You know that it is vital not to pick on your zits yourself because you can spread the bacteria and cause scarring. That is why it is essential to trust your face to a professional and get your pores cleaned up properly.
When your skin is freshly extracted and free from clogs, all the products put on after that are more effective. Moreover, skin texture is smoother, and there are fewer chances of more breakouts in the future.
2. Hight frequency facial. It is a fantastic treatment, especially for those who are dealing with bacterial types of acne.
Hight frequency can go as an addition to your facial or be already included in the service. Either way, it is a fantastic tool that helps alleviate acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and help skin healing.
3. Professional chemical peel.
I can not say enough good things about chemical peels and their absolute importance in successful facial treatments.
Chemical peels can rapidly exfoliate the skin, reduce fatty acid content of the skin, and kill bacteria and fungus that cause acne.
There are many different chemical peels, formulations, and ingredients.
My absolute favorite acid used in chemical peels is Azelaic acid. It has anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, it can kill both bacteria and fungus on the skin and reduce the oil content in the skin to prevent acne from happening.
Azelaic acid can also even out post-acne inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Another great acid used in chemical peels is Salicylic acid.
As an oil-soluble acid, it can penetrate deep into your skin and break the excess oil and dead skin cells. It breaks the bonds that hold skin cells together. Therefore it is a fantastic comedolytic, which means it unclogs pores and prevents new clogs from happening.
And, of course, Glycolic acid. Having the smallest molecular size of all AHA (Alpha-hydroxy acid), can get down the hair follicle and loosen up any build up that clog pores and cause acne.
At Sculptiko Beauty, we offer a wide range of customized professional skin care treatments that suits your skin type and concern.
Please note that it is crucial to get a consultation before any professional in-spa treatments. Every skin type and condition is different, and the treatment plan will vary depending on many factors!
To enhance and prolong the effect of your professionally done facial treatment, it is essential to stick to a good home care regimen!
Best home remedies for mask-caused acne!
1. Use a gentle cleanser. Keeping your skin clean daily is an absolute MUST in maintaining it healthy and acne-free.
I know that it might be very tempting to use harsh products that give that illusion of flawless skin. But not so fast.
Aggressive cleansers strip the protective barrier of your skin, making it sensitive and difficult to heal. Moreover, the fungal type of acne ( Malassezia) gets exacerbated by a dysfunctional skin barrier.
Stick with a gel non-foaming cleanser. I personally love Rejuvi k cleanser. If you wear make-up, perform double-cleansing. Apply your cleaner on dry skin, massage for 30 seconds, and remove it with a damp washcloth or a towel. Follow with a second cleanse and remove with water.
2. Use treatment ingredients.
When dealing with Maskne it is essential to make sure that your skincare products help clear up the pimples and not make them worse.
The best active ingredients for fungal and bacterial acne are Salysilic acid, Retinoids, Azelaic acid, Propolis, Sulfur, Benzoyl peroxide. With the last one, you want to be careful as it is very dehydrating for the skin. You can apply it directly on the lesion and wash off in 10-15 min or apply it over your moisturizer to make it less aggressive.
Azelaic acid products, I recommend Ecological Formulas Melazepam Cream. Besides getting a professional Azelaic acid chemical peel, you can use Azelaic acid cream at home as a treatment product.
Please note that it can be very drying for the skin. If you have susceptible skin, you want to apply it no more than a couple of times a week and see how your skin reacts to it. Remember that using this ingredient will make your skin photosensitive. Using a good SPF is a must!
Retinoids.
If you have tried treating your acne with some acne creams and retinol creams that did not help, I recommend Differin gel (Adapalene). It is a Vitamin A derivative, a third-generation retinoid designed to be stable in the presence of light and oxygen. It has anti-inflammatory properties and prevents comedones (pimple) formation.
Apply Differin gel in a thin layer over the entire face at bedtime. Do not mix Differine gel with other treatment products like Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, Azelaic acid, etc. Combining these potent acne-treating ingredients can cause severe skin irritation.
If your skin feels dry, I recommend applying aloe vera gel before Differin. My favorite is skin healing gel from Rejuvi.
If you are dealing with Malassezia (fungal acne, see the picture below), then aloe gel with propolis would be a great choice. Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing gel.
Sulfur.
It has been known for its strong smell and endless skin benefits. You can find sulfur in various acne spot treatments, masks, and soaps. Sulfur works best with mild-to-moderate acne (blackheads, whiteheads, papules). It has antibacterial properties and can kill fungi and various parasites. Sulfur works to exfoliate dead skin cells, remove impurities, and prevent clogged pores.
I recommend using a face mask that has sulfur in it twice a week. My favorite face mask is the Purifying mask from Rejuvi.
Please note that you do not want to let the mask dry out on your face unless you have very oily skin. Apply the product in a circular motion and massage it into the skin for a couple of minutes. As soon as the mask starts to dry out, remove it with warm water, and apply Aloe gel or a moisturizer.
Salicylic acid.
It is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Salicylic acid creams or serums can be used at home to treat and prevent acne lesions. Neutralize renewal complex acne moisturizer is a good option.
If you choose to use Differin cream and Melazepam cream (Azelaic acid), do not mix them with this moisturizer. All of them are intense acne treatments and can cause a severe skin reaction.
The only product that I would mix with any treatment product would be the Aloe gel. Apply Aloe gel first following a treatment product to add hydration to your skin and lessen the irritation.
To summarize!
Acne is a frustrating skin condition. However, knowing its causes and triggers can lead to successful treatment and prevention.
Detecting the type of acne you are dealing with and deciding on the right professional treatment and home care products can be tricky. That is why a licensed professional should perform a consultation and thorough skin analysis to pick the best treatment plan that suits your unique condition and skincare need.