The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced a new thing in our dress code and in the way we appear in public places. Since the virus can persist in the air for some time, and it can easily find its way through the nostrils as we breathe or through our mouths opening, one of the most logical things to do is to cover up these openings in order to protect ourselves and limit the spread of the virus. This is where wearing a face mask comes to play. But even as useful as a face mask may be, it may also pose its health issue if not properly used. It is, thus, essential that you protect your face while wearing a face mask. So how do we protect ourselves?
Below are ten tips that will help:
Use the right fabric
Using the right fabric is one of the things you need to pay attention to when choosing the kind of face mask to use. For instance, if you’re prone to acne, you should avoid using a face mask made of fabrics that can trap sweat underneath. This can increase your risk of having more acne in the areas covered by the mask. You should instead go for an absorbent material like cotton that can absorb sweat and not trap them underneath like polyester materials. Also, you want to be gentle on yourself. You shouldn’t use a mask with a rough texture. You should instead go for a mask with a softer inner layer. Masks with a rough surface can cause skin irritation, so you should avoid using them.
Change your masks or wash them
You should change your face mask often. This is because masks collect and store the dirt and microbes from your skin and even from the environment. Reusing such a mask can be unhealthy for your face. If, on the other hand, you still want to use the mask, you should ensure to get it washed in warm water and then sun dry it properly before further use. You should note that not all face masks can be washed and reused. You can only do that for reusable fabric masks.
Cleaning your face is essential
One important hygiene you need to practice in order to protect your face is to wash your face before and after using a face mask. You should abstain from using strong face soap and exfoliators. You should only go for a simple, gentle formula that will be calm on your skin. You can also apply moisturizer after washing.
Wash your hand after removing the mask
Apart from washing your face before and after wearing the mask, you also need to wash your hand properly with soap and water after removing the mask. This will help you avoid transferring the virus from one part of your face to the other.
Be cautious of products
The finest thing to do if you have dry or sensitive skin is to apply a moisturizer on your face before wearing the mask. This will help you fight skin irritation and help protect your face. If you have acne, you should stay away from using certain makeup types that are greasy and thick. Such makeup includes a foundation. This kind of product can be trapped under your mask resulting in more skin problems.
Make sure your mask is not too tight
You must ensure that the face mask you’re putting on properly covers your nose and your mouth. But even with that, you must ensure that the mask doesn’t get too tight that it prevents you from breathing correctly or even bruising your skin. If properly worn, face masks will cover the necessary part of your face, which is the nose and mouth, in this case, avoiding microbes from coming into those openings. This doesn’t mean that it has to be too tight before you can achieve this purpose. Just wear it properly, and it won’t bruise your face, and you won’t struggle to breathe.
Apply a light sunscreen lotion or cream
You may want to apply sunscreen lotion or cream on your face before wearing a face mask. Such lotion or cream should contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Avoid your glasses from fogging up
If you notice that your goggles get fogged from the breath passing through your face mask, what you have to do is to use paper tape or a micropore tape to rap the mask through the bridge of your nose. You should also tape the part of the mask covering your cheeks. This will help protect your glasses from being fogged by your breathing through the mask. You must make sure that these types of tapes are unlikely to cause any damage to your facial skin.
Avoid Touching the mask
Since the purpose of the face mask is to prevent the Coronavirus from getting into the openings of your mouth and nostrils, you can’t tell if the masks have collected the virus or not. In this case, touching the mask may mean collecting the viruses on them on your palm. Wherever you then touch with such a hand, you’ll be inadvertently transferring the virus. This is why you should try as much as possible to avoid touching your face mask unnecessarily, especially the frontal area of it. If you accidentally touch the mask, you shouldn’t touch your face with the same hand unless you sanitize the hand first.
You should see your dermatologist when necessary
If you begin to notice any form of rashes or change in your facial skin while using a face mask, then it will be advisable to seek the attention of your dermatologist immediately. Since you can’t get rid of the mask because you will only be exposing yourself to viruses around, your dermatologist is in the best position to prescribe what you need to do to prevent your facial skin from being damaged. In some cases, it may just be that you need a moisturizer; in another case, it may be that you need a proper examination by a professional.
In conclusion, if you find any irregularity in your facial skin caused by the face mask, you should immediately call the attention of your dermatologist.
I hope these tips will help you protect your face while wearing a mask. But the best way to protect yourself from the virus is to wear a mask wherever you go. Stay safe!