What is “Maskne”: Face Mask Breakouts and how to treat them ?

Have you heard about “Maskne” ? This new term is the contraction of mask and acne: a type of breakout that results from wearing a face mask.

Wearing face masks help to slow and prevent the spread of the pandemic COVID_19, which is obviously the most important, but unfortunately it also have unintentional side effects on our skin. As if virus-related stress breakouts were not enough!

“Maskne”, otherwise known as acne mechanica, is a physical type of breakout that results from excessive friction, and rubbing. You’ll notice these breakouts where the mask sits — the bridge of the nose, chin, and cheeks.

Masks tend to trap moisture, sweat, oil and dirt close to our skin.
The friction of the mask blocks and clogs pores, leading to the formation of acne breakouts or blackheads.
We’re also continually touching our faces to adjust them, leaving behind even more dirt on our skin.
Adding to this the humidity created by our continuous breathing and current Hong Kong weather… our skin is definitely having a hard time that even new skin care routine can’t beat.

The good news is, EstheClinic’s new Intensive Acne Removal Treatment, combines Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) technologies to target different dermal layers and reduce the inflammation and redness of acne-ridden skin. This effective acne removal treatment also kills residual bacteria that causes pimples to surface on the skin.

Painless and fast acne removal:

One session takes approximately 60 minutes to complete, and it is divided into two parts:

1. IPL treatment
The first part involves IPL, where a friendly therapist will carefully move a device that resembles a flashgun, over your face and neck to stimulate collagen production and improve the appearance of the skin’s texture by fading out acne scars and reducing enlarged pores. The procedure is surprisingly painless and relaxing.

2. LED treatment
The second part of the treatment involves the use of a LED photomodulation machine, a device that utilises non-thermal red-and-blue light pulses to kill existing acne-causing bacteria deep within the skin, and to stimulate the skin to start healing on its own. By purifying your skin from acne-causing bacteria, you can enjoy a healthier and smoother complexion.

The results? Goodbye acne breakouts!

You’ll be able to see an improvement in your skin tone after just one session. Over the course of a series of 6 to 10 sessions, blemish-prone and acne-scarred skin appears smoother, more balanced and more even-toned.

The number of sessions required for each patient will vary depending on the individual’s skin condition.