10 ways to prevent face mask skin problems

Wearing a mask can be hard on your skin

Gentle skin care can prevent your mask from causing skin problems.

Wearing a face mask lowers your exposure to viruses like COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which spread when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Masks can also be hard on your skin, causing problems that range from acne and peeling skin to rashes and itchiness.

To help prevent skin problems from developing under your mask, board-certified dermatologists recommend these 10 tips.

1. Cleanse and moisturize your face daily. Gentle skin care can prevent skin problems. When washing your face, use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and follow the steps in Face washing 101.

After washing, apply a moisturizer that is both fragrance-free and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores). Dry skin is a common condition that can develop when you wear a face mask. Applying moisturizer adds a protective layer that can reduce dryness.

You want to apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face. To get the most benefit from a moisturizer, board-certified dermatologist Carrie L. Kovarik, MD, FAAD, recommends using a moisturizer with one of the following ingredients:

   • Ceramides
   • Hyaluronic acid
   • Dimethicone (which can also create a barrier that helps reduce irritated skin)

   By using a moisturizer formulated for your skin type, you can prevent breakouts. When selecting moisturizer, follow this guide:

   • Oily skin (or when weather is hot, humid): Gel moisturizer
   • Normal or combination skin: Lotion
   • Dry to very dry skin: Cream

   If you have acne or tend to break out, you can still use a gel moisturizer.

   Apply moisturizer before and after wearing a mask

   Moisturizer can prevent problems, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin.

   Tip courtesy of board-certified dermatologist Carrie L. Kovarik, MD, FAAD

   

2. Protect your lips by applying petroleum jelly. Wearing a face mask can dry your lips, leading tochapped lips. You can prevent chapped lips by applying petroleum jelly to your lips:

   • After washing your face
   • Before you put on your mask
   • Before bed
   To prevent breakouts, take care to apply the petroleum jelly only to your lips.

3. Skip the makeup when wearing a mask. Beneath a mask, makeup is more likely to clog your pores and lead to breakouts. If makeup is necessary, only use products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won't clog pores.”

4. Avoid trying new skin care products that can irritate your skin. Wearing a mask for even a short time can make your skin more sensitive. To reduce skin problems, avoid trying harsh products, such as a chemical peel, exfoliant, or retinoid, for the first time, says board-certified dermatologist Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH, FAAD.

   Retinoids can irritate your skin

   “If you’ve been using a retinoid (or retinol), apply it at bedtime and don’t increase the amount that you apply.”

   Tip courtesy of board-certified dermatologist Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH, FAAD

   

5. Use less of certain skin care products if your face becomes irritated. When you cover your face with a mask, some skin care products that you’ve used in the past may irritate your skin. If this happens, Dr. Kroshinsky recommends cutting back on products that can irritate your skin, such as:

   • Leave-on salicylic acid
   • Retinoid you apply to your face
   • Aftershave

6. Wear a mask that fits properly. To reduce skin problems, look for masks that offer the following:

   • A snug, but comfortable fit. You want a snug fit across your nose, on the sides, and under your chin. You shouldn’t see gaps.
     
     If the mask feels too tight or slides around on your face, it can irritate your skin. You’re also more likely to adjust a poorly fitting mask. When you touch your mask, you can transfer germs from your hands to your mask and face.
   • Soft, natural, and breathable fabric, such as cotton, on the inside layer that rests against your skin (cloth masks only). Avoid synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, and rayon on the layer that rests against your skin. These are more likely to irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
   
Wearing a mask that offers a snug but comfortable fit and at least two layers also helps to protect you from respiratory viruses.

For more information about how to get a snug but comfortable fit from a disposable (surgical) mask, cloth mask, or N95 respirator, go to this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Types of masks and respirators.
   How to choose the right face mask for your skin

   Choosing the right face mask can help prevent skin problems. Board-certified dermatologists recommend looking for these things when choosing a face mask.

7. Take a 15-minute mask break every 4 hours. Health care workers have found that this helps save their skin.

   Stop behind-the-ear soreness

   Find masks with different types of ties and ear loops and wear a different type each day.

   Tip courtesy of board-certified dermatologist Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH, FAAD

   

8. Wash a cloth mask and throw away a surgical (disposable) mask after wearing it once. Many health care organizations recommend that you throw away a surgical (disposable) mask and wash a cloth. This helps reduce your risk of getting sick.
   
   Throwing away or washing your mask also helps protect your skin. Makeup, oil, and other particles can build up on the mask. If you wear the mask a second time, it can irritate your skin and lead to skin problems.
   
   You can wash a cloth mask in a washing machine or by hand. Both ways remove oil, makeup, and other particles. Just be sure to:

   • Follow the washing instructions on each mask.
   • Wash the masks in hot water unless the instructions say otherwise.
   • Use a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic laundry detergent.
   
After washing your mask, check its shape. If a mask no longer fits snugly (and comfortably), it is less protective.
   
   If you use an N95 or KN95 respirator, the CDC recommends that you “check the manufacturer’s instructions to learn how long they can be worn before they should be thrown away.” You also want to replace a respirator when the straps are stretched out and the respirator no longer fits snugly against your face.

9. Stop wearing a wet or dirty mask or respirator. When a mask or respirator becomes wet or dirty, it loses its ability to protect you. Using a wet or dirty mask can also irritate your skin, leading to skin problems.
   
   If your surgical (disposable) mask, N95 respirator, or KN95 respirator becomes wet or dirty, immediately replace it with a clean one and throw away the wet or dirty one.
   
   If your cloth mask becomes wet or dirty, put on a clean mask. To prevent your cloth mask form getting moldy, the CDC recommends that you “put it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it.”

10. Continue treating a skin condition. If you have a skin condition that affects the skin covered by a mask, such as acne or rosacea, it’s especially important to follow the treatment plan that your dermatologist created for you. This can help keep the condition under control.
    
    If you notice that your skin becomes irritated or the condition worsens while wearing a mask, tell your dermatologist.

If you develop a face mask skin problem

Life gets busy. Sometimes, it’s hard to care for your skin as planned. If a skin problem develops under your mask, you may be able to treat it yourself. See what dermatologists recommend at, Face mask skin problems: DIY treatment.

Images
Getty Images

Reference
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• How to use your N95 respirator.” Page last updated 5/16/2023. Page last accessed 2/5/2024.

• “Use and care of masks.” Page last updated 5/11/2023. Page last accessed 2/5/2024.

Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS

Reviewed by:
Carrie L. Kovarik, MD, FAAD
Natalie Matthews, MD, FAAD
Sanna Ronkainen, MD, FAAD

Last updated: 8/7/24