Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

From a dermatologist: How to beat “maskne,” dry hands, and other safety-related skin problems

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Conditions
September 26, 2020
35 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

You are doing all the right things: washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when out in public, getting the requisite sunlight needed to reduce stress and maintain your health. And the reward you’re getting for all your diligence?

Dry skin, damaged nails, acne, and sunburns.

As we continue to live with the threat of COVID-19, more people find themselves wrestling with skin issues they never anticipated. Fortunately, there are easy and inexpensive ways to protect your skin from harm while you protect yourself and your community from the spread of disease.

How to tame “maskne”

Talk to surgeons, construction workers, or anyone else whose day job requires masks, and they’ll tell you the issue of mask acne, or “maskne,” is extremely common.

Maskne happens for two reasons. The first is the friction of your mask rubbing against your face and irritating your skin. The second comes from the hot, germ-filled air emanating from your nose and mouth that gets trapped under your mask. This creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast to grow and cause acne.

To keep maskne at bay, wash your face twice daily. In the morning, use a gentle face wash; at night, opt for a cleanser containing salicylic acid, which helps keep your pores clean. Washing more than twice a day can damage your skin, so for in-between cleansing, carry low-strength glycolic acid pads with you. When you are able to remove your mask safely, use the pads to wipe your face and open up your pores.

If you still find yourself battling breakouts, talk to a dermatologist about treatment with benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin. For some people, twice-weekly face washing with a dandruff shampoo that contains ketoconazole or selenium sulfide can also remove excess yeast buildup and help control acne.

In addition to washing your face, it is important to regularly wash your mask. Dirt, oil, and bacteria can gather on your mask, clogging pores. Choose a gentle detergent and stay away from fabric softeners, which can irritate your skin.

After you’ve washed your face – and before you pop on a clean mask – don’t forget to moisturize. A light, non-comedogenic moisturizer should protect your skin from friction, without clogging your pores.

Another often-overlooked source of maskne is your mouth. Try to brush your teeth and use a mouthwash before donning your mask. This will not only feel (and smell) better, it will help kill some of the bacteria that causes under-mask breakouts.

Staying hydrated is also important for skin health. In my practice, I’ve seen people who aren’t drinking enough water because their mask either makes them forget to drink, or they don’t think they safely can. It is important to find a safe place to take breaks and hydrate.

How to wash your hands of dry skin

We are all washing our hands more than ever, which is good for infection control, but hard on skin health. The key to keeping your hands clean while keeping your skin healthy is choosing a gentle soap and applying moisturizer immediately after washing. The difference in soaps is so profound, I advise my patients to bring their own soap to work with them, if their office soap is too harsh and drying.

I also advise against using hand dryers, as these can chap skin. If you have a choice between washing your hands and using a hand sanitizer, opt for the soap. It will usually be more forgiving to your skin than alcohol-based sanitizers. Regularly using a fragrance-free hand lotion that contains glycerin or coco butter can also help.

At home, try to wear gloves whenever doing housework, especially if you are using strong cleaning agents that can damage skin. And, as a treat for your skin, try a weekly “sock treatment.” Once a week, I put a layer of Vaseline on my hands and sleep with old pair of socks or gloves on my hands. This helps to trap moisture and rehydrate skin.

Don’t forget the sunscreen

People tend to associate sunscreen with a day at the beach. But if you conduct business meetings all day on Zoom in your backyard, the sun doesn’t know the difference. Before you step outside to hike, bike, walk, or work, don’t forget the sunscreen.

COVID-19 will likely be with us for a while, as will the precautions we need to minimize the threat of the disease. The good news is there are simple solutions to keep our community healthy without harming our skin.

Bita Bagheri is a dermatologist, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, CA.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

So you want to be a doctor? Here are 10 truths.

September 26, 2020 Kevin 2
…
Next

Death is personal for this physician

September 26, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Dermatology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
So you want to be a doctor? Here are 10 truths.
Next Post >
Death is personal for this physician

More by Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

  • Take steps (literally) to prevent dementia

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • How the mind-gut connection affects total health

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • When should you consider surgery for scoliosis?

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Related Posts

  • Skin-in-the-game doesn’t have to be scary

    Ronald Dixon, MD
  • Going skin deep: Is a tattoo ethically binding?

    Cody Mullens
  • What does curiosity have to do with patient safety?

    Elizabeth Lerner Papautsky, PhD
  • A medical student learns to listen with her hands

    Simone Phillips
  • We have an obligation to keep firearms out of the hands of children

    Shayla A. Sullivant, MD
  • A skin-lightening cream put a woman into a coma. How can that happen?

    Anna Almendrala

More in Conditions

  • The endless waves of chronic illness

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Surviving and thriving after life’s most difficult moments

    Rebecca Fogg, MBA
  • The surprising power of Play-Doh in pediatric care: How it’s bringing families together

    Alexander Rakowsky, MD
  • Lazarus: the dead man brought back to life

    William Lynes, MD
  • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

    Greg Smith, MD
  • 5 essential tips to help men prevent prostate cancer

    Kevin Jones, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

      Montreh Tavakkoli, MD | Physician
    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

      Maryanna Barrett, MD | Physician
    • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Drug Shortage Leads to Firing Squads; FTC Non-compete Backlash; Illegal Laughing Gas
  • Abortion Is Not Murder in the Eyes of the Law
  • Introducing Allergenic Foods Early Tied to a Reduction in Later Allergies
  • Isotretinoin REMS Still Needed, But Its Burden Could Be Reduced, FDA Staff Says
  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery

Meeting Coverage

  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery
  • Advances in Diagnosis and Management of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions
  • Orismilast Clears Skin in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
  • New Combinations Promising in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma
  • No Survival Benefit With CRT Versus Chemo for Locally Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • The Titanic sinking: a metaphor for the impending collapse of medicine

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD & Shreekant Vasudhev, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

      Montreh Tavakkoli, MD | Physician
    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

      Maryanna Barrett, MD | Physician
    • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

      Wendy Schofer, MD | Physician
    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...