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Brennans Pharmacies continue their new column series here on Donegal Daily with professional pharmacist advice on health and wellness. This week, PharmacistFergus Brennan takes a look at how to treat skin breakouts under your face mask.
When talking about face masks in today’s world, sadly it’s no longer our favourite ‘pampering’ face masks that come to mind. We are wearing face masks on an almost daily basis to play our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
While mask wearing helps us protect each other from Covid, it has brought new challenges for many, especially those with sensitive skin. From fogged up glasses (I know from experience as a spectacle wearer, this struggle is real!), to feeling slightly ‘claustrophobic’ – mask wearing has provided new difficulties that we’ve never encountered before the start of the pandemic, just one short year ago. One of the biggest hassles of daily mask wearing has to be the risk of developing MASKNE.
What is MASKNE?
‘Maskne’ in the official term for mask related acne, or maskne for short. It describes the occurrence of spots or breakouts that are happening as a result of prolonged mask wearing. Maskne can occur in people who have never had a skin complaint before, or it can be the worsening of a pre-existing skin complaint in an individual
Why does it happen?
When we wear masks for long periods of time, our skin is unable to ‘breathe’ and so our pores can become congested with oils, bacteria or sweat. This in addition to the irritation that can occur from the rubbing of the mask on our skin surface makes for perfect breakout conditions.
What can I do to help my MASKNE?
If you are using a reusable mask, make sure to wash it often or in the case of medical masks – try to change them often throughout the day. This will help to minimise the amount of bacteria building up in your mask and so lessen your risk of skin breakouts.
Also, try to reduce the amount of product you use on your face, this includes makeup and thick moisturising creams. It is best to keep your skincare light under your mask to reduce the risk of clogging your pores. Instead of using thick moisturisers if you have dry skin, try to use hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid – which helps to bring hydration out to the surface of the skin. (TOP TIP – hyaluronic sheet face masks are a quick and easy way to give your skin that hydration hit it deserves.)
Shop our Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask here: https://brennanspharmacy.com/product/garnier-moisture-bomb-tissue-mask-pink/
GARNIER MOISTURE BOMB TISSUE MASK €2.50 brennanspharmacy.com
If your skin is irritated and chaffed from wearing a mask, try to use a barrier product to help prevent further irritation, and products with anti-irritation ingredients such as oat extract can help the skin to heal. Barrier products such as AVEENO® Baby Dermexa Good Night Emollient Balm can help. Shop here: https://brennanspharmacy.com/product/aveeno-baby-dermexa-goodnight-emollient-balm/
AVEENO BABY DERMEXA GOODNIGHT EMOLLIENT BALM 75
€7.95 www.brennanspharmacy.com
General tips for great skin
Hydration – drinking plenty of water everyday will not only help give your skin that radiant glow – but it also helps to keep all our other organs work at their best.
Stress management – stress is a major trigger for breakouts. If you are feeling stressed, simple things like daily exercise, ensuring you are getting adequate amounts of sleep and even talking to someone about what is stressing you can help.
A healthy diet goes a long way in supporting your skin health – after all, if you are healthy on the inside, it shows on the outside!
Here are a few key vitamins that also support skin health, if you feel you may need supplements to support your diet – why not talk to your local Brennans pharmacist today. We’re always happy to advise you on this or any other skincare issues you need help with.
Omega 3 and Omega 6 – Known as essential fatty acids, the omegas are the building blocks of healthy skin membranes and keep your skin plump and hydrated. Shop Seven Seas Pure Cod Liver Oil with Orange Juice here: https://brennanspharmacy.com/product/seven-seas-cod-liver-oil-caps-one-a-day-60s/
- Vitamin C – our skin contains naturally high levels of vitamin C which aids in the production of collagen and helps to protect our skin from UV damage. However, as we get older the levels of vitamin C in our skin reduces and so it is important we have adequate vitamin C intake in our diets to maintain these processes. https://brennanspharmacy.com/product/valupak-effervescent-vitamin-c/
- Zinc – zinc is highly important for skin damage repair and also works as a UV protector, which helps to keep our skin looking young. https://brennanspharmacy.com/product/kelkin-effervescent-zinc-and-vit-c-tabs-20s/
- Vitamin B Complex – vitamin B complex refers to 8 different B vitamins, all of which help to support skin health and even improve blood flow to the skin.
Hopefully we will not be wearing these masks forever! In the meantime, these tips can help you to manage your Maskne. If you have any questions about skincare or any health query, do not hesitate to ask advice from your local Brennans pharmacist today. We’re here for you.
Get in touch
All Brennan’s pharmacists, technicians, front of shop supervisors and pharmacy assistants are always happy to look after you and your family’s healthcare needs.. whether you call instore or visit Brennans online
Brennans also have a handy pharmacy app for easy prescription ordering which can be found by searching for ‘Brennans Pharmacy’ on the App store or Google Play.
Brennans offer online pharmacy shopping for delivery or ‘click and collect’ from their website brennanspharmacy.com. Delivery is free nationwide when you spend over €40 online, or alternatively you can choose convenient free collection of your order at one of the 4 pharmacies (Donegal – Buncrana, Clonmany or Creeslough or Dublin – Glenageary).
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