How to Take Care of Your Face When Wearing a Mask
Katie Hovda, RN

Daily mask wearing is hard on the sensitive skin on our faces. Many of us are
experiencing acne, dry skin, and in some cases, contact dermatitis, from the constant rubbing of
material on our faces. Here are a couple of tips to help take care of our faces when wearing
masks:

1) Follow a daily skin care routine. Use a gentle non-abrasive alcohol-free cleaner no more
than twice per day. Do not scrub your face…be gentle. Apply a non-comedogenic (i.e.
does not clog pores) moisturizer.

2) Treat your skin issues. If you experience acne, follow your daily skin care routine. If it is
severe, contact your dermatologist. Apply petroleum jelly at night to areas of irritation.
If you develop sores behind your ears, try wearing a different type of mask each day or
investing in a head band with a button that you can hook the ear loops of your mask to.

3) Skip the make-up and acne treatments when possible. Make-up can clog your pores
causing increased acne and both can irritate your already sensitive skin.

4) Wash your cloth mask every day. Your mask traps moisture, bacteria, viruses, and can
develop mold over time. Keep it clean and dry.

For more tips on how to care for your face while wearing a mask, visit:
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/face-mask-skin-problems-
treatment