During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks was a common practice to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, and was widely suggested. However, mask-wearing is still prevalent, even in the post-COVID-19 era. While mask-wearing may help in disease prevention, a study published in Scientific Reports says the habit is a concern for sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin is characterized by increased reactivity to environmental stimuli which often leads to discomfort. The study has noticed that compromised skin barriers increase transepidermal water loss and sensitivity to external stimuli, which could lead to inflammation, hindrance in hydration, and an increase in vulnerability to pathogens.
Prolonged use of masks has been shown to disrupt the normal physiological profile by significantly reducing beta diversity. This balance between bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms is vital in protecting against pathogens. This could potentially deepen the skin issues in individuals with sensitive skin, who already have a compromised barrier function.
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The study found function changes in sensitive skin and microbiome changes
Researchers studied 30 female volunteers with sensitive facial skin to external stimuli. After wearing a mask for three hours, results show a significant increase in water loss and the temperature underneath the mask. The study also showed a negative impact on the adjacent unmasked skin (although the rates of increase were still lower as compared).
Scientists collected microbial samples collected before and after wearing a mask. Alpha diversity test revealed no significant change in species richness after three hours of mask-wearing. Also, bacterial diversity decreased after masking.
“Our findings demonstrate that a moderate duration of mask-wearing could pose an extra burden to the skin barrier function in individuals with SS. Three hours of mask use, representing a general duration of wear, resulted in significant increases in TEWL, EI, and SCH, indicating barrier disruption, which aligns with previous findings on post-masking physiological profiles,” says the study.
“These observations suggest that although the airtight microenvironment is effective for respiratory virus prevention, mask-wearing could still impair the skin barrier function and also hinder its repair process, leading to cumulative skin damage for the sensitive population.”
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Journal Reference:
Zhong, S., Lai, Y., Na, J., & Wu, Y. (2024). Mask wearing impacts skin barrier function and microbiome profile in sensitive skin. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-9. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-75072-2