The year 2020 has brought us many problems, and one of them is maskne. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that it’s been such a drag! No matter how perfect my skincare routine is, just wearing masks so often for long periods of time causes pimples to form up where the masks rubs on it. Of course, there’s the extra humidity because of our breath and sweat, so my skin gets irritated easily. Dermatologist Nikki Paderna wrote about maskne in her PV column and her tips have helped me deal with it!

Q: My maskne is out of control! I didn’t have pimples before on my chin and jawline area, but since I started wearing a mask, I’ve started to get these pimples that just won’t seem to go away. What can I do to get rid of these? - Kristina

A: Hi Kristina! That’s a question that’s been frequently asked of me and a big percent of my patients now come in for consult for that reason. What’s being called “maskne” is actually a kind of acne we identify as Acne Mechanica, caused by friction from repetitive rubbing of masks against the skin and obstruction of the pilosebaceous unit, leading to congested pores.