Jacksonville doctors see an increase in ‘mask rash’ caused by face coverings

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville is requiring people to wear face masks while indoors and in public spaces where they can’t stay six feet away from other people. Health experts say wearing face masks is one of the best tools we have to protect ourselves and others from spreading COVID-19.

But as the summer heat goes up, some Florida doctors are seeing an increase in “mask rashes” caused by wearing face coverings.

Dermatologists are finding two main forms of the rash from face coverings. The first is from the mask itself. If you wear it for a long period of time, the edges can irritate the skin around the nose, cheeks, chin and ears.

“That type of irritation is like a diaper rash, believe it or not. So a lot of these patients, you put a little bit of zinc oxide under and that’ll help the mask not irritate the area as much,” Action News Jax Medical Expert Dr. Michelle Aquino said.

The second form of the rash can cause acne. Dr. Aquino said the mask can trap humidity under the mask, which irritates the skin. It can lead to acne around the nose, cheeks, lips, or chin.

“This you would treat as normal acne, over the counter acne cleaner scrub soap or retinoid cream and that would help with that,” Dr. Aquino said.

Doctors said there are no perfect masks for everyone. So it comes down to how well you take care of your skin.

If it gets worse, call your doctor.

Cox Media Group