There are few things harder on your skin than air travel. When you combine the stress of flying with the harsh conditions in the cabin and the new protocols required by COVID-19, you end up with the worst possible scenario for keeping your skin clean and healthy.
Still, it is possible to arrive at your destination with glowing skin if you counterbalance the negative effects of air travel with a few proactive measures.
Moisturize before putting on your mask
Whether you are traveling or not, redness, breakouts, and acne can result from wearing the masks that have become a regular part of our lives due to the pandemic. In fact, masks can be so irritating to our skin that the breakouts they cause have come to be known as “maskne.”
Acne is most often the result of clogged pores, and the oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells that are normally on your skin build up even more when you are wearing a mask. The result is blocked pores and acne outbreaks. Acne and redness can also be triggered by the humidity that your mask traps close to your skin. Finally, for those with sensitive skin or eczema, the pressure that a mask brings to your skin can cause irritation.
To fight back against these side effects, I recommend moisturizing with a light, non-oily moisturizer. It is also important to wear a clean, new mask. Cotton masks typically are lighter and more breathable, making them better at preventing acne. Rayon and polyester masks make it easier for humidity to be trapped close to your skin.
