Stages of wearing a mask:

1. “Oh, this is not so bad.”
2. “I can smell my own breath. Is it hot in here? Why am I so oily?”
3. “Oh shoot! Is that a pimple?!

Maskne: Acne produced by wearing face masks. Urbandictionary.com

Why it’s happening:

When we breathe or talk, we create moisture that causes pores to open up potentially trapping in dirt, debris, oils and changing the pH of our skin. When we speak there are small molecules containing mouth flora that can be trapped on the surface of your skin. Combine these factors and this equals the perfect recipe for breakouts. Masks often do not fit properly leading us to constantly adjust them increasing chances of friction and movement of debris.

These irritations can cause blackheads, whiteheads, or acne pimples. Blackheads appear dark because it is an open pore and the skin pigment melanin reacts with oxygen in the air. Whiteheads are closed pores that have a white or yellowish head. The more oil that builds up, the more likely bacteria will multiply leading to inflammatory acne. Acne are inflamed papules, or small bumps that can be painful, red and/or filled with pus.

Systemic Rx:

• • Reduce:
    • Alcohol & Caffeine- Dehydration also triggers an excess of sebum which creates oily skin.
    • High glycemic foods: A high sugar load can trigger an increase of oil production and promote skin inflammation.
    • Dairy: Milk derived amino acids promote insulin secretion and induce an increase in IGF-1 which stimulates sebum production.
  • Incorporate:
    • More B-vitamins to aid in the redox reaction, improve energy, and and improve resiliency to stress factors.
    • Electrolytes- to optimize your cellular up-take of the water you are drinking.
    • Healthy fats: Omega-3’s help regulate your body’s inflammatory process, and promote healthy cell walls.
    • Fiber: Increase the fiber in your diets to allow for regular bowel movements. This includes a rainbow of fruits and vegetables.
  • Check in:
    • We are in a pandemic! The reality is nobody knows what is happening. We are all playing it day by day. Stress causes your body to increase its cortisol response and sends your skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive. If a breakout occurs use it as a reminder to check in with yourself.

Skin is composed of 3 layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat. Within these layers are keratin, proteins and stem cells. Breakouts mean a disturbance or imbalance is occurring at any of these layers. Tackling skin issues naturally means working from the inside out, creating a stable and sustainable foundation for optimal skin.

We want to stress the importance of wearing masks, especially in public places. Use this time as an excuse to bump up your self care routine! For more personalized details about how to optimize your skin contact our office for an appointment with me.

REFERENCES:

• InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Acne: Overview. 2013 Jan 16 [Updated 2019 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279211/
• Juhl CR, Bergholdt HKM, Miller IM, Jemec GBE, Kanters JK, Ellervik C. Dairy Intake and Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 78,529 Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1049. Published 2018 Aug 9. doi:10.3390/nu10081049