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

BACKGROUND: As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues, the long-term daily use of masks is increasing. A full year includes the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Skin may have been affected by the seasons and further affected by the use of masks. In a previous study, we confirmed the short-term and 6-month effects of wearing face masks. In this study, we investigated how certain characteristics of the skin change when wearing a mask for 1 year. Furthermore, we compared skin covered by the mask (mask-skin zone) to skin that was not covered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were 18 healthy adults (8 men; 10 women) who were asked to wear masks in their daily lives from June 2020 to June 2021. During this period, participants' skin characteristics, such as trans-epidermal water loss, skin hydration, skin elasticity, skin keratin amount, skin pore area, skin temperature, skin redness, and skin color, were measured five times. RESULTS: Trans-epidermal water loss, skin keratin amount, skin pore area, skin color, and skin elasticity changed significantly during the year. Furthermore, trans-epidermal water loss, skin hydration, skin keratin amount, skin pore area, and skin color were significantly different between the mask-wearing and non-mask-wearing areas of the face. CONCLUSION: The skin characteristics of the mask-skin zone can be affected by long-term wearing of a face mask under lifestyle and environmental conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, skin care for the mask-skin zone is also necessary for people who do not wear masks on a daily basis.

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

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.

Effect of face mask on skin characteristics changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated the possibility of adverse effects of prolonged wearing of personal protective equipment in healthcare workers. However, there are a few studies about the effects on skin characteristics after wearing a mask for non-healthcare workers. In this study, we evaluated the dermatologic effects of wearing a mask on the skin over time. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty-one healthy men and women participated in the study. All participants wore masks for 6 hours consecutively. Three measurements were taken (a) before wearing the mask, (b) after wearing the mask for 1 hour, and (c) after wearing the mask for 6 hours. Skin temperature, skin redness, sebum secretion, skin hydration, trans-epidermal water loss, and skin elasticity were measured. RESULTS: The skin temperature, redness, hydration, and sebum secretion were changed significantly after 1 and 6 hours of wearing a mask. Skin temperature, redness, and hydration showed significant differences between the mask-wearing area and the non-mask-wearing area. CONCLUSION: Mask-wearing conditions and time can change several skin characteristics. In particular, it is revealed that the perioral area could be most affected.