Doctor Reisa Broto Asmoro Shares Tips to Prevent Acne due to Face Masks

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Wearing a face mask is mandatory when doing outdoor activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it protects from the new coronavirus infection, wearing a mask too long can cause skin problems for some, especially those with oily skin.

The use of face masks can make heat, moisture, and sweat in facial areas which can be a hotbed of germs and acne, or many now call it 'maskne'.

Doctor Reisa Broto Asmoro said one should not blame face masks as the cause of skin problems. But the cleanliness of the mask should be first checked. “The most important thing is to make sure your skin is clean before wearing a mask,” said Reisa in her Spotify channel Beautypods on Monday, Sept. 7.

Reisa outlined several things to be addressed before wearing a mask. First, the material of the mask. She suggested people not to use sweat-resistant material which could trigger germs causing acne.

The second tip, check the skin condition. Make sure to have a clean face before wearing a mask. Then, do not forget to frequently change the mask once every four hours at maximum. So people are suggested to bring spare masks.

“Do not wear a loose mask. Imagine if we touch face skin with a dirty hand [every time the mask loosens],” she said.

She further underlined that people must not fret that wearing a mask can cause skin problems. This can be helped by routine skincare, such as washing the face before and after wearing a mask.

The last tip given by Reisa Broto Asmoro is to regularly wash the face to eliminate dirt. “Make sure to keep the skin moist, apply a moisturizer that can control oil on the face,” she said.

Read also: COVID-19 Task Force Reisa Broto Talks About Face Masks

EKA WAHYU PRAMITA