Skin Health & COVID-19

Hand washing and mask wearing are more necessary and common during this time. However, many people are reporting that these actions are having an effect on their skin. 

Is your mask causing breakouts on your face? Have your hands become dry with all of the extra hand washing and sanitizing? MMC Dermatology’s Ruchi Patel, PA-C answers these common skincare questions and more.

How can we take care of our skin and prevent breakouts when wearing masks?

To help reduce breakouts, I recommend continuing your daily skin care routine including washing your face with gentle cleansers twice daily. Wash your cloth masks often and change out disposable ones as well to decrease dirt and oil that can clog your pores. If you continue to have breakouts, we would be happy to see you in dermatology to determine if prescription treatment is needed.

With increased hand washing & sanitizing, how can we protect our hands from dry/cracked skin?

After washing your hands, apply a gentle hand cream. We typically recommend CeraVe, Cetaphil, or Aquaphor based on how dry your hands feel. The same can be done after hand sanitizing. Try to avoid hand lotions with fragrances or dyes as this can cause more irritation on your skin. 

Do we still need to wear facial sunscreen when wearing a mask and why?

YES! I recommend applying sunscreen with SPF 30+ to your whole face before putting on a mask since the mask can move throughout the day. We still need to protect our skin from harmful UV rays.