HOW TO REDUCE MASKNE: 7 FREE TIPS FROM TMB - Toronto Functional Medicine

Have you been noticing more breakouts than usual lately? You’re not alone. Many of our patients are reporting an increase in skin concerns. As if an increase in stress levels these days weren’t enough to target our skin, masks are also exacerbating our skin issues. Luckily, here at TMB we have some advice for how to reduce maskne.

HOW TO REDUCE MASKNE:
7 TMB TIPS YOU CAN START TODAY FOR HEALTHIER SKIN

Hopefully we won’t have to wear masks for ever (fingers crossed), but in the meantime there are things you can do to prevent those nasty breakouts from happening. We’ve broken it down for you below!

MASKNE TMB TIP #1:
Decrease the time you wear your mask

We all want to do our part to keep ourselves and others safe, but it’s important to take breaks when it comes to wearing your mask. If you’re outside a clear distance away from others, for example, take off your mask and breathe in that fresh air! Should you be required to wear one, such as in a public building or for work, take breaks when you can. If you have the choice between socially distancing yourself or wearing your mask, opt to stay 6ft away from others.

MASKNE TMB TIP #2:
Breathe freely when exercising

Movement can increase the moisture and friction building up in your mask. Cue, breakouts. Contrary to some of the noise out there – we should not, for example, wear a mask while exercising – Not only can the sweat, heat and friction cause acne, but it also affects other areas of our health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “people should NOT wear masks when exercising as masks can reduce the ability to breathe comfortably. Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly, which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms.”

MASKNE TMB TIP #3:
Breathe through your nose

This one is tough because when we cover our mouth and nose, we’re more likely to breathe through mouth (which is the wrong way to breathe and has many further downstream complications – but that’s a whole newsletter itself! We sent one out on July 11th if you want to check it out). When we mouth breathe into the mask, the bacteria we have in our mouth (that were trying to get out with our exhalation) end up in the inside of it, which can then touch our skin and contribute to the colonizing of the bacteria on the skin.

MASKNE TMB TIP #4:
Switch up your oral hygiene practices

Oral hygiene is KEY here. It’s important that our mouth has GOOD bacteria in it to help with the bad – Unfortunately using conventional toothpastes and mouthwashes take out the good guys with the bad guys. You can switch these products to natural alternatives, avoid things like Listerine that are loaded with chemicals and flush all bacteria good and bad away. Floss daily and can even look into Ayurvedic practices like oil pulling.

MASKNE TMB TIP #5:
Testing the gut

Speaking of oral hygiene… Our mouth has it’s own microbiome, just like the gut. If you have nasty microbes in the mouth we can pick them up in a functional stool test. From here, we can create a custom strategy to help get rid of them. Let’s talk – Set up a free virtual consultation to learn more.

MASKNE TMB TIP #6:
Natural skincare

Now more than ever we need to be taking good care of our skin. Make sure you’re washing your face when you get home from wearing a mask. The actual products you are using on your face matter too. Many conventional personal care products contain harsh chemicals, so switching to natural versions here can be helpful. You want to cleanse, gently exfoliate, tone and moisturize daily.

TMB TIP

Next time you’re at TMB check out our DHE mask and our brand new single sheet masks that will plump your face full of hydration! To say we’re obsessed is an understatement.

MASKNE TMB TIP #7:
Stay hydrated

You might find that you are drinking less water because of wearing a mask over your mouth more often. The fact is that less bad bacteria means less acne. The more we hydrate, the more saliva we have, creating an optimal environment for our good oral microbes to thrive and the more we are flushing out the bad oral bacteria, which means better outcomes for our skin. Bonus points if you’re drinking filtered versus tap water!

HOW TO REDUCE MASKNE? COME VISIT TMB

Have you ever had a facial rejuvenation acupuncture treatment?
This natural skin treatment can also help when it comes to preventing and treating acne at a cellular level. Book yourself in for an appointment today for incredible results related to how to reduce maskne!

BOOK A TMB FACIAL REJUVENATION ACUPUNCTURE APPOINTMENT TODAY

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This article is excerpted from our weekly TMB Magazine — an exclusive subscriber only publication that is packed with all sorts of in-depth latest study breakdowns, functional medicine insights and wisdom from Dr. Bhat and her team.