ABILENE, TX — Wearing a mask plays an important part in reducing the spread of the coronavirus, but masks can also be harsh on your skin.
Dr. Paras Ramolia with Abilene Dermatology & Skin Care Center said some skin problems on your face can come from your mask not fitting properly.
If its too loose, you get chafing issues, if its too tight sometimes it can clog the pores and cause acne issues and can get back heads, pimples, and too tight for a long period of time,” Dr. Ramolia said.
He also suggests to wash cloth masks daily.
“If you don’t have a good fitting mask you tend to touch your face more and that’s where a lot of germs from hands to your mask area and you could introduce virus or bacteria to that area,” said Dr. Ramolia.
Dr. Ramolia also encourages people who are going to be wearing a mask for a long period of time to take it off for 10-15 minutes to let your face take a break.
“If you have dryness issues I would gently wash your face with a gentle cleanser and then moisturize after,” Dr. Ramolia said. “If you struggle with acne you do need to take mask off and do a good cleaning”
He adds if you have questions about your skin to contact your primary care doctor first.
