Post-Covid skin issues: All your questions answered

Even though people have been highly cautious of their surroundings, new difficulties have arisen. Here you’ll find the answers to all of your skin-related questions.
This article by Dr. Archit Agarwal, the great skin specialist in Faridabad, will provide you with all the required information on the many types of acne produced by masks and how to treat them.

Introduction:
The macabre waves of Covid and the quarantine that accompanied them have caused strange changes to people’s lives during the last year. Even though people have been highly cautious of their surroundings, new difficulties have arisen. The uppermost layer of a person’s body, skin is exposed to various items daily. The pandemic’s changes have made it possible for people to wear masks and go through stressful situations.
Even though hair loss has nothing to do with Covid symptoms, the physical and emotional stress that comes with a case of Covid-19 could be the cause. Telogen Effluvium (TE) is a reversible stress-related disease that develops after a few months following an initial stressor. Emotional anguish, painful surgery, a high fever, an acute illness (such as Covid-19), or even stress due to quarantining are all potential triggers.
When a person’s body is stressed emotionally or physically, it switches to survival mode. The body only concentrates on the portions that are required for survival. Hair, as a non-essential element of the body, receives less nutrition, resulting in hair loss. The best treatment for this condition is to address the underlying cause by focusing on stress management and living a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re a smoker, giving up the cigarette is a terrific approach to start living a healthier lifestyle. When a person experiences hair loss that occurs suddenly, causes hair to fall out in clumps, results in bald patches, and is accompanied by scalp irritation or pain, they should see a dermatologist determine the cause of their hair loss.

What is Maskne?

Maskne is a regular occurrence with Covid, according to Faridabad‘s skin specialist, and it stays put afterward. Maskne is acne that is induced or worsened by applying masks. The most prevalent type of Maskne is ‘acne mechanica,’ produced by friction and precipitation trapped beneath the mask, resulting in pore plugging and bacterial proliferation, culminating in pimples. Regular acne treatments aid in this; nevertheless, acne creams dry out the skin, necessitating the application of a moisturizer to maintain the skin barrier.

Rosacea is a skin condition that the use of masks can aggravate. To reduce extra friction, it’s usually a good idea to use a cotton mask underneath the standard mask. To avoid irritation caused by the presence of alcohol, use fragrance-free moisturizers and sunscreen. The mask’s material is significant for persons with sensitive skin because an allergy to it can cause dermatitis. While dermatologists typically recommend a steroid cream to reduce inflammation, using a cotton mask underneath a regular mask may be beneficial. Antibiotic creams perform well in the event of folliculitis when the mask disrupts facial hair follicles.
How to take care of your skin during this situation?
When dealing with these problems, the face should be cleaned three times a day with lukewarm water and patted dry. To avoid pore-clogging, go with a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Individuals with oily to mixed skin should use an oil-free, water-based gel moisturizer. Use a cream moisturizer containing elements like ceramides if you have dry skin.
Those with normal skin can use a lotion-based moisturizer. The final step in morning skincare is to apply sunscreen. It’s important to choose sunscreens wisely because masks only provide SPF 7, whereas Indian skin requires at least SPF 30 during the day. Use a matte finish sunscreen with gel or silicone-based ingredients if you have oily to mixed skin. A lotion-based sunscreen works well for normal skin, while for dry skin, moisturizing sunscreens that are lotion or cream-based are recommended.
If avoiding makeup is not possible, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic makeup should be recommended. After each usage, wash the mask with a moderate detergent or throw it away if it’s disposable. It is vital to wear a comfortable face mask, but not too tight, and has three layers of cloth; if the mask is not correct, touching the face more frequently to fix the mask increases the risk of contamination.
Masks made of synthetic textiles like nylon or rayon should be avoided since they irritate the skin. Masks made of natural, soft fabric (such as cotton) should be used under a standard mask for those with sensitive skin.

Even though quarantine is the best route out of such a crisis, masks and sanitizers play a critical role in helping to flatten the curve and stay protected. According to the Faridabad-based reputed skin specialist, a 15-minute break for the skin while keeping a social distance is beneficial after every four hours of continuous mask usage. It is, nevertheless, necessary to wash hands before removing the mask. Keeping one’s mouth and nose covered is the most excellent approach to protect oneself and others against Covid-19.