As we all adjust to life with masks, we must also adjust to the realities that come with it. One of the common side effects of wearing masks is the development of acne around the mouth and nose. It is so common, it even has a nick-name: “Maskne”. While these flareups can be frustrating, there are some simple things you can do to greatly reduce the problem.
Intense Light Therapy is one of the most effective remedies for treating maskne, or any form of acne no matter the cause.
Let’s look at the science behind acne so we can understand why the mask is such a problem, and why Intense Light Therapy is so effective.
Acne is caused by clogged pores; this clog begins with dead skin cells mixing with sebum oil. Sebum oil is a naturally occurring oil that keeps the skin from drying out. When the dead skin cells shed, instead of rising to the surface, the sebum oil keeps the cells trapped in the pore, which leads to bacteria, thus leading to what we call acne. Inside the pore, the bacteria have the perfect opportunity to multiply quickly leading to inflammation. Wearing a mask all day keeps the oils and dead skin trapped, and the chafe from the mask inflames the skin and further narrows the pores.
Nobody likes having a breakout, especially on the face. In the COVID-19 era, however, acne can feel unavoidable. Make sure you look and feel your best for your next Zoom conference or socially distanced coffee date.
Enter Intense Light Therapy!
Letting the acne run its course may seem like the best solution, but in reality, this can lead to dark spots and permanent scars once the blemish clears.
Intense Light Therapy utilizes light that penetrates the outer layers of the skin, stimulating porphyrins to reduce acne growth.
Let’s look deeper.
During Intense Light Therapy, we use special wavelengths of blue and red light. Blue light wavelengths have an antimicrobial effect, making Intense Light Therapy an effective bacteria-killing treatment that eliminates buildup in your pores and oil glands that cause breakouts. The treatment also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which decreases other symptoms of acne, like redness.
While red light wavelengths don’t have the same antibacterial effects as blue light, red light therapy helps promote healing and may work to decrease the visibility of acne scarring.
(Don’t worry, we’ll go over all of this with you during your appointment to ensure that you understand what’s happening.)
The treatment itself only takes thirty minutes per session, so it’s the perfect procedure to build into your work week. Without downtime or pain following your session, you’re free to resume normal activities immediately — just be sure to apply sunscreen, as your skin will be extra sensitive following Intense Light Therapy.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that Intense Light Therapy doesn’t work immediately, but you will see results within one to three weeks after your treatment.
Embrace your face, whether you’re wearing a mask or not! Give us a call to book your Intense Light Therapy session today: 256-355-5585.
