Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What is ‘Maskne?’: How To Prevent Breakouts and Acne From Wearing A Face Mask

Take a prolonged cultural moment of extreme stress and anxiety, and combine it with a summer heatwave that is breaking all records and busting all norms across the country. What do you have? A can’t-miss recipe for skin problems, among other things. But even if you’re fortunate enough to have the kind of skin that remains dewily impervious to harsh climatic conditions, stress-related hormonal fluctuations, and a diet that largely consists of takeout, your enviable complexion is still likely to be taken down by — what else? — the ubiquitous safety mask.

RoMiEg/Shutterstock

Masks are a non-negotiable safety measure for curbing the spread of COVID-19. They’re also just the bitter cherry on top of the dumpster fire that is 2020. If you like the metallic taste of masochistic rage, there’s some real Murphy’s Law-style irony to savor in navigating our increasingly uncertain world during the dead of summer with half your face smothered in a thick layer of cloth. But even that self-flagellating joy subsides when you remove said mask to find the cheeks, mouth and chin you thought you’d left behind in your middle school yearbook.

Related Videos

But take heart, complexion-conscious readers. While most of 2020 feels beyond repair, maskne doesn’t have to be on that list. We spoke with board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Dr. Eva Simmon O’Brien to get all the intel on maskne that will allow us to defeat it once and for all. It may sound like a small thing, but it’s small victories such as these that will give us the confidence to tackle the other maladies of 2020.

What Exactly Causes Maskne?

Depending on your particular skin proclivities, maskne might present in numerous ways. Along with the whitehead pimples you may have battled as a teenager, Dr. Eva has also seen stinging acne papules, as well as barely raised skin cysts that are nearly invisible to the observer, but are painful to the touch. Unsurprisingly, these issues tend to cluster mainly within the outline of the mask, known as the perioral area — on or around the nose, chin, around the outline of the mouth, or even on the lips. (This is known as epithelial mucosa and, yes, it feels as gross as it sounds.)

But wait, there’s more. According to Dr. Eva, your face mask can also worsen ongoing conditions like facial eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. “These conditions can become secondarily infected with bacteria as a result,” she says, adding that men who suffer from “turned-in hair bumps” (also known as pseudo folliculitis barbae) might see this condition get worse, as well.

While the main culprit of all these afflictions is increased heat and moisture trapped under the mask, the chafing friction of the mask against your face can also cause inflammation that exacerbates your skin’s existing issues. The mask is also likely to cause increased oil production that leads to bacteria and yeast formation. And yes, she adds, stress can upregulate all these effects.

Fortunately, there are a few skin care ingredients that can really help combat mask-related skin issues. Dr. Eva recommends looking for products with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids that loosen dead skin cells so your pores can finally take a breath. “For some, benzoyl peroxides are effective on bacteria and yeast,” she adds, but cautions, “guys with sensitive skin need gentle cleansers that remove debris but won’t strip the skin barrier.”

Along with the right products, Dr. Eva advises stepping up your daily skin care routine. If you’re not already cleansing twice a day, now is the time to start. Add in an extra cleaning after a workout or a long day in the sun. If you’re really serious about fighting maskne, she also recommends keeping a travel-friendly cleansing product on hand wherever you go, so you can remove oil, perspiration, and saliva at regular intervals throughout the day.

While skin care is foundational in combating maskne, your mask-wearing habits play just as significant a role.

“Change masks as often as needed,” Dr. Eva advises, “especially after they have become damp/wet, or after sneezing or coughing.” She adds that reusing the same mask day after day is a big red flag — it’s basically applying day-old dirt, bacteria and oil to your face. Instead, if you’re using paper masks, throw them away at the end of the day. For fabric masks, hand-wash them every day, just like you would your underwear. Ideally, use castile soap or a sulfate-free detergent to minimize inflammation and abrasion on your skin. And definitely don’t leave masks in a bag or car for “next time.” The heat, trapped moisture, and lack of air circulation turns that mask into a petri dish for breakout-inducing bacteria.

The fabric of your mask matters, as well. “Look for breathable fabrics that wick away moisture and are gentle on the skin,” says Dr. Eva. She recommends Tencel fabrics with lyocell and modal fibers, or else silk or lightweight cotton knits.

A third consideration is wearing the right sized mask for your facial shape and size. (Whether you’re purchasing a mask or making one from a pattern, the first place to look is whether it’s labeled as being for women or children. You’d be surprised how many guys make this mistake.) Wearing an ill-fitting mask all but guarantees extra friction and skin irritation.

Finally, intermittently removing your mask is a key step in relieving the potential for mask-ne. “When you can safely take off your mask, definitely do that to release the built-up moisture,” says Dr. Eva. “Otherwise, try to find a safe area to wash your hands, then wipe your face down and/or change your mask.”

Our Recommended Maskne-Fighting Products

Disco Facial Cleanser Stick

Disco Facial Cleanser Stick

The deep-cleansing activity is enhanced with phytic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid that will loosen up dead skin cells, and charcoal to unclog pores and remove excess sebum and surface bacteria. The addition of coconut oil as an emollient ensures your skin doesn’t get overly dry, leaving it supple and hydrated.

Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser

Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser

If you’re done messing around with mask-ne, it’s time to spring for the Kiehl’s cleanse. This no-nonsense cleanser leaves out harsh ingredients usually found in strong acne treatments (such as parabens and sulfates), but delivers with a strong dose of salicylic acid, as well as oil-absorbing ginger extract and sebum-reducing frankincense, all without smelling strongly or drying your skin out.

ZitSticka Killa Patch

When mask-ne strikes, strike back as soon as you see the telltale raised bump. The ZitSticka patch uses tiny microdarts that self-dissolve over a blemish, flooding it with targeted ingredients that nip it in the bud. 91% of users reported that the zit was gone before it even fully arrived, and 82% cited a “significant” improvement in the appearance of their skin within eight hours of using.

Alder New York Clarifying Face Mask

Alder New York Clarifying Face Mask

Charcoal and bentonite clay in this face mask detoxify pores, while willow bark and rosemary extract reduce inflammation and sulfur mud calms skin and controls oil. The only thing better than the light tingly sensation of putting it on is the smooth, balanced texture of your skin after wiping it off.

Osea Malibu Cleansing Mudd

The deep-cleaning action of this perfectly pH-balanced cleanser feels as gentle as a day at the spa. Natural toxin-absorbing clay is combined with three types of seaweed extract that nourish skin’s vitality, as well as peppermint and tea tree oils for an uplifting scent and a toner-like effect.

Editors' Recommendations

Grooming Journals: How Moti Ankari Stays Instagram-Ready
Moti Ankari

Welcome to Grooming Journals, where we talk to men across the country about one of their most intimate daily investments: Grooming.

This week, Moti Ankari opens up about his personal care regimen with our Style and Grooming Editor, Christian Gollayan. As a fashion influencer and co-founder of footwear line Ankari Floruss, looking camera-ready consistently has become second nature to Ankari, thanks to his full-proof grooming routine. And with more than 190 thousand followers on Instagram, he knows a thing or two about curating an attractive presentation, which is why he will serve as a panelist for our annual Grooming Awards. Read on to learn more about his grooming routine. 

Read more
The Manual Grooming Awards 2022: The Absolute Best Grooming Products for Men
The Manual Grooming Awards

Anyone who thinks skincare is light work hasn't been inside The Manual when approaching our fourth annual Grooming Awards. For the 2022 edition, we tapped four of our most experienced writers and six grooming influencers. For more than six months, they squeezed, daubed, and scrubbed their way through a cornucopia of more than 700 products. Any wobble in quality or mediocr e results when tested? Into the rubbish bin of editorial excess. With picks in hand, these grooming experts entered into a March Madness-like playoff bracket, wheedling their picks against others in a no-holds-barred, winner-take-all struggle for inclusion. But in the end, just 18 products survived, rounding out this year's list of what editors and contributors feel are the best-of-the-best skincare, hair care, and body care products that got us through a long, hard year.

All of our Grooming Award-winning products are effective, of course, but they also share a certain economy (because if 13 months of coronavirus lockdown taught us anything, it's that money sure doesn't grow inside the house). They're also relatively accessible through Nordstrom and elsewhere, and none of them require you to charter a jet to Paris. So, if you've neglected your appearance over the last year and need a reset, or just want to see what's latest and greatest in grooming, The Manual's got you covered. With Covid-19 restrictions loosening, vaccinations rolling out, and both domestic and international travel already looking promising, it's time to get out there and shine. Our carefully selected products will help you do it brighter.
The Winners

Read more
Grooming Journals: Luke DiTella’s World-Inspired Skincare Routine
luke ditella grooming journals 0

Welcome to Grooming Journals, where we talk to men across the country about one of their most intimate daily investments: Grooming.

This week, we sit down with professional surfer turned model and overall modern-day Renaissance man, Luke DiTella. DiTella is an actor, model, brand ambassador and a motorcycle enthusiast with an extensive (and impressive) resume. From sun gazing to using all natural deodorants, we take a look at what goes into DiTella's skin care routine to keep him dapper and looking his best. DiTella will serve as a panelist for our annual Grooming Awards, which will launch on April 27. Read on to learn more about his grooming routine. 

Read more