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AS SEEN IN RETAIL PHARMACY MAGAZINE. 43 As seen in the Jan/Feb issue of Retail Pharmacy magazine. UNMASKING MASKNE ABy Margaret Mielczarek. ccording to Brisbane-based dermatologist Dr Leona Yip, mask acne – or ‘maskne’ as it’s come to be known – “is a term that was created to explain the phenomenon of acne formation and clogged pores with long hours of mask wearing during the pandemic”. Professional Compounding Chemists of Australia (PCCA) Education and Training Manager and Retail Pharmacy contributor, Marina Holt adds that maskne is a new Covid-related term, “because it’s not like healthcare workers never wore masks before”. “It really refers to what’s better known as mask acne, or really pimples \\\[that result\\\] from irritation from the mask,” she said. “Basically, it’s just being seen more because frontline healthcare workers are needing to wear their masks all the time, much more purposefully.” Ms Holt says maskne has been increasingly seen in the general population, particularly in some areas during and following periods of mandatory mask wearing. Causes of maskne Dermatologists have a medical term for maskne: ‘acne mechanica’. “It’s the type of acne that’s caused by repetitive physical trauma to the skin, usually by rubbing or scratching,” Ms Holt said. “So, when you wear a mask, it really forms the perfect storm of oil secretions from the skin, sweat – because you’re talking through your mask and increasing that moisture, heat and bacteria – and also friction in all the areas where the mask is in \\\[contact\\\] with the skin.” These contributing factors and the increased use of masks among the general population, secondary to Covid-19 mandates, mean maskne is now “being seen in patients who have never had skin issues before”, Ms Holt says. Considering mask type and fit Although, as Dr Yip points out, “healthcare professionals and those on the frontline ... need to use properly fitted masks – the N95”, such masks, The importance of hygiene According to Ms Holt, one of the best ways to prevent or minimise the chances of developing maskne is through ensuring “a quite simple, daily hygiene routine” that will help to “minimise discomfort”. “You want to make sure that you’re washing your face,” she said. “Not scrubbing it like crazy, but just washing your face with a gentle cleanser ... \\\[or one of the other\\\] really good hypoallergenic cleansers on the market. “Make sure to just pat your skin dry, so it’s not further irritated ... just a light pat to make sure there’s no excess moisture.” Ms Holt adds that it’s also a “good idea to use a moisturiser” after cleansing, to prevent dryness. Treating maskne Ms Holt says pharmacists should be alert to the rise of maskne. “I think it’s really important that if you see someone \\\[with maskne\\\] ... direct them to appropriate sorts of things, like cleansing wipes and gentle cleansers, and ask those key questions about what they’re already doing.” “because they need to be tightly fitted ... can cause more problems” associated with maskne. “Because they \\\[the N95 masks\\\] need to be tightly fitted, there’s a lot more trapping of humidity and heat, and \\\[this\\\] can therefore cause more problems with maskne,” she said. Dr Yip advises that for non-healthcare professionals who may be prone to maskne, when possible and it’s safe to do so, wearing cotton masks is better “because they’re more breathable on the skin”. “If possible, take breaks as well \\\[from wearing a mask\\\] because that will help to reduce the chance of these tightly fitted masks causing maskne problems,” she said. The fit of a mask is important to consider, Ms Holt says, because ill- fitting masks will raise the potential for increased face touching. “It’s really important to make sure that the mask is fitted as comfortably as possible, because we often see people touching their faces constantly as the mask is not flush with the face – is too big, too small – and every time the mask shifts it causes unnecessary friction,” she said. To read the full feature as it appears in the Jan/Feb issue of Retail Pharmacy magazine, visit: retailpharmacymagazine.com.au/magazine RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • FEB 2021