With face masks being worn more than ever amid the ongoing world Coronavirus pandemic, many of us are suffering from spots or struggling to look after our winter skin.
But before you rush out to buy every spot-clearing product on the market like non-comedogenic foundations or even a beauty miracle patch, have you thought about a simple swap of your face mask material?
Well, dermatologist Dr Dendy Engleman has recommended people with acne-prone skin wear a silk face mask rather than cotton or disposable polypropylene surgical ones.
Not only are the regular masks bad for the environment - taking longer to decompose - but they can cause friction to the skin which in turn causes irritation.
Dr Engleman explains how silk, is a material which causes the least friction to the skin.
In an interview with the Guardian, Dr Engelman explains: "[Silk] helps to prevent those minor skin wounds on the cheeks and nose that heal over, clogging pores and causing spots in the process." A term for which she gave "acne mechanica”.
Dr Engleman, who is a consultant dermatologist for Elizabeth Arden, also noted that silk is also cool and breathable, which is said to benefit the chin area, causing less irritation.
And while a silk face mask is better for the skin in the long-term, it also has other benefits like material reusable masks which can be machine washed.
However, silk face masks should not be used as PPE or designed as medically approved but they do give that layer of protection in public.
Also a silk mask doesn't have to be boring - there are a whole host of colors and patterns available. And while they might initially cost more than a regular mask - think of it as an investment, as you will save more money in the long run from not having to buy spot-clearing products.
Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 14 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She currently looks after all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life.
Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand. Having spent the start of her career working on local newspapers and online, Selina spent six years as Acting News Editor and Entertainment Reporter at the Scunthorpe Telegraph where she dug into hard news stories, conducted interviews, covered court reporting, features, and entertainment, whilst going to gigs in her spare time.
Whilst at the paper she was awarded an O2 Media Judges' Special Award for helping a terminally ill cancer sufferer realise his dying wish and marry his childhood sweetheart through a successful newspaper campaign. Things like this are close to her heart when it comes to using journalism to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Selina later branched further into all things celebrity to became a Showbiz Writer at Heat magazine, covering red carpet events, showbiz parties, and various launches before going freelance for two years. One of her biggest celebrity achievements - aside from generating celebrity exclusives - was interviewing Take That (including Robbie Williams) and bumping into Simon Cowell so much at events she told him 'I'm calling you my showbiz dad!'
In 2017 she joined TI Media as a senior reporter on Woman, Woman's Own, Woman&Home, Woman's Weekly celebrity desk before branching online in 2020 when Future gave her the opportunity to focus on digital-first.
When she's not interviewing celebrities you can find her exploring new countryside walking routes, catching up with friends over good food, or making memories.
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