Although wearing a mask can help keep you and others safe in the COVID 19 pandemic, wearing a face mask for an extended period of time can lead to irritation of the skin or cause break outs. Face masks can cause irritation because they trap moisture, sweat, oil and other impurities close to the skin. As a result, one’s skin could breakout in acne, inflamed hair follicles, contact dermatitis or rosacea. Masks are also inclined to shift position when worn, resulting in individuals constantly touching their faces to adjust them, leaving behind dirt and other irritants on the skin. Moving a mask to eat or take a sip of a drink, creates friction between the skin and the mask which can also lead to irritation. Talking and breathing in the mask creates a build-up of moisture that can change the skin’s natural pH level. Consequently, there is an overgrowth of

  SPF stands for sun protection factor and is a measure of how long a sunscreen will protect your skin from UVB rays that cause sunburn. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30, for example, means it takes 30 times longer for your skin to get burnt by the sun than when no sunscreen is applied. The higher the SPF, therefore, the longer the sunscreen will protect your skin from the sun. Although SPF is a helpful measure to determine how well a sunscreen will protect your skin, it shouldn’t be the only factor one takes into account. Your skin type, age and how you apply the sunscreen can make a big difference in how well your skin is protected. SPF also only takes into account how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays, so it’s important to purchase one with broad-spectrum protection to account for UVA rays

  Your skin is protected by a barrier, known as the hydrolipidic film, which consists of water, sebum and lipids. The hydrolipidic film protects your skin from external aggressors, like bacteria, and seals in water and electrolytes that keep skin looking dewy and smooth. The skin barrier is essential for protecting the body against external factors that could negatively impact our overall health, so it’s extremely important to look after and protect your skin barrier. The first step in protecting your skin barrier is to assess the strength of your skin barrier by paying careful attention to your skin. If your skin barrier is in poor condition, your skin could be itchy, inflamed, dull and flaky. Not drinking enough water, consuming too much alcohol or caffeine can also damage your skin barrier, as well as environmental factors like being exposed to too much sun or wind. If your skin barrier

Sunlight consists of many different types of rays, with the most harmful being Ultraviolet (UV) rays. When UV light interacts with the skin, it generates highly reactive free radicals that can cause damage to the skin cells. The more damage they cause, the greater the chance of developing wrinkles and other illnesses like skin cancer. There are two types of basic UV rays that reach the earth’s surface: UVA and UVB. UVA is responsible for skin damage and premature aging, and UVB provides the energy your skin needs for vitamin D production but is also responsible for sunburns. The amount of UV light the skin is exposed to, depends on factors like the time of day, the season and your geographical location. The degree of damage from UV rays depends on their intensity and the length of time your skin has been exposed without protection. Although UVA and UVB damage

The key to good skin is knowing your skin type and finding the right products that work for you. There are seven basic skin types, namely: unproblematic, oily, dry/dehydrated, combination, acne-prone, sensitive and mature. I have explained each skin type below to help you identify your own so that you can search for products best suited to you. Unproblematic Typically, unproblematic (also referred to as ’normal’) skin is not prone to breakouts, and is unlikely to react badly to new products or environmental changes. Unproblematic skin is well balanced, meaning that it is neither too oily nor too dry. Your skin is probably supple, soft and fine-pored. If your skin has these characteristics, you will be able to try a variety of products until finding a routine you enjoy without causing irritation to the skin. I would recommend a cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin’s natural moisture, a good moisturiser