Your Face Mask Could Be Irritating Your Sensitive Skin, Here's What You Can Do

Compared to the other skin types, sensitive skin should be treated with more care. People who have sensitive skin are prone to inflammation as most of the times, their skin reacts negatively to fragrances, dyes, parabens and chemicals. Unfortunate but true, the humble face mask doesn't make life easier either. While the face mask has become an essential commodity for us during the pandemic, it can take a toll on people with sensitive skin types. 

Your Face Mask Could Be Triggering Your Sensitive Skin

First, let's try to understand why your face mask doesn't get along with your sensitive skin type. The most logical answer to that is when one wears a face mask, a combination of friction, moisture, sweat, makeup and heat, is created underneath the mask. This tends to clog the pores, causing inflammation and breakouts.

Wearing a mask may not feel comfortable, but you have to admit that it's a painless way of keeping you and your loved ones protected and safe. Those who have sensitive skin must pay attention to the fabric of the face mask. Avoid face masks made from nylon, rayon and polyester as they tend to trap sweat and cause irritation to the skin. Look for a cotton face mask that has multiple layers as that's a fabric that will agree with your sensitive skin type. Also, pay attention to the elastic bands that hold the mask to your face. If they're too tight or rough, they can cause the skin to flare up. The handles should either be made from cloth or even a silk scarf covering the mouth or nose should be fine. 

Another important point is to avoid wearing too much makeup. Warm and humid temperatures can cause the makeup to melt and that will eventually clog the pores. Stick to wearing minimal makeup. Instead of sporting a full face of makeup, just stick to the basics like a tinted moisturiser, mascara and probably just a lip balm to heal those chapped lips. 

Focus a little more on skincare. You can afford to take a break from makeup if you like, but not from your CTM routine. Cleansing, toning and most importantly, moisturising is important as it prevents friction. Sunscreen is equally important to wear indoors. UV can penetrate through your window and blue light from your laptop screen can damage your skin causing it to age quicker. Hence, prevention here is better than cure. 

Apart from your face mask, stress, skin purging, and extreme temperatures could be responsible for your breakouts and inflammation. Just to be sure, it's always better to take a second opinion from your dermatologist. 

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