Long‐term effects of face masks on skin characteristics during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Background Nowadays, face masks are a crucial part of our daily life. Previous studies on their impact on the skin usually focused on the adverse effects of face masks. Few studies have assessed their influence on skin characteristics. In a previous study, we identified the short‐term effects of wearing face masks. Herein, we describe the long‐term skin effects of face masks, for a period of 6 months. Materials and methods Healthy volunteers (19 men and women), who wore face masks, participated in the study from June 2020 to December 2020. In all participants, skin characteristics such as trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration, skin elasticity, skin pore area, skin keratin amount, skin temperature, skin redness, skin temperature, skin redness, and skin color were measured three times. Results TEWL, skin hydration, skin elasticity, skin pore area, skin keratin amount, and skin color changed significantly after 6 months. TEWL, skin hydration, skin pore area, skin keratin amount, and skin color were significantly different between the mask‐wearing and non‐mask‐wearing areas. Conclusion Long‐term daily use of face masks can alter skin characteristics. Special care should be focused on the mask‐wearing regions.

Season‐ and facial site‐specific skin changes due to long‐term mask wearing during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Consistent with the previous findings, 9 we showed that skin hydration on the mask‐covered perioral area is significantly lower than that on the mask‐covered cheek area in the summer and winter and tends to be reduced in the winter. Because the skin barrier function in the perioral area tended to be negatively correlated with SC CER level and was significantly negatively correlated with a CER [NP]/[NS] ratio, a decline of water retention capacity may be related to the development of mask‐wear‐related dry skin.…”

“… 8 More recently, from June 2020 (3 months after the declaration of the COVID‐19 pandemic) to December 2020, effects of wearing facial masks (KF94, KF80, KF‐anti‐droplet and surgical masks) for a period of 6 months on the skin were examined in healthy Korean subjects, and it was reported that TEWL, skin pore area and skin redness on the cheek and/or perioral areas were increased, and skin hydration and elasticity on the cheek and perioral areas were decreased. 9 Collectively, various physiological side effects caused by short‐ and long‐term wearing of facial masks have been identified so far. However, it should be noted that KN94 masks mainly used in those studies are recommended only to healthcare workers, and thus no studies, to our knowledge, have examined skin changes in the general population caused by more commonly used masks.…”

Effects of wearing FFP2 masks on SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in classrooms

“…33,34 To the best of our knowledge, the long-term effects of continued mask wearing have been investigated in only a few studies to date. [35][36][37][38] These suggest that the continued wearing of face masks may also have negative consequences, and these must be carefully balanced against the advantage of reduced infection rates. In this context, the question arises of whether the consequent routine use of face masks is able to reduce long-term infection rates or merely postpones numerous infections.…”

Effects of one year of daily face mask wearing on the skin during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

“…The grades and characteristics of each mask were the same as those summarized in our previous study. 11 Table 1 shows the type of mask worn during the measurement periods and the seasonal temperature and humidity. 12 With changing seasons and external environments observed throughout the year, the type of mask that is worn may change.…”

“…In a short‐term study, 6 skin was compared before and after wearing a mask for 1 day. A long‐term study 11 involved general office workers and compared skin changes for 6 months. In the current study, we compared the skin measured at 3‐month intervals from June 2020 to June 2021 and examined the effect and changes imposed on the skin by 1 year of mask wearing.…”