How To Care For Your Skin If You Wear PPE
Your skin works hard to protect you. Protect it back.
COVID-19 has been affecting many of our lives in unimaginable ways, especially the brave frontline workers in healthcare. Not only are they potentially exposing themselves to the virus but wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, goggles, and gloves for long periods of time is actually causing damage to their skin.
Healthcare workers and essential workers who work directly with the public wear PPE to minimize exposure to airborne and physical bacteria and illnesses. Unfortunately by wearing this a plethora of skin-related issues start to happen such as hypersensitivity and mechanical caused by the constant friction between skin and the synthetic material skin damage are starting to result in rashes, peeling, bumps, and bruises on the skin. Not good, right.
Here are some ways that you can protect your skin against PPE at work:
Keep it Clean
Credit: BLK+GRN
Cleansing your skin twice a day is a great way to unclog your pores due to the moist environment that develops under masks and goggles can lead to acne flares. When washing your face, you may want to use cleansers with glycolic or salicylic acid if you have sensitive skin. Some good examples include Nolaskinsential’s Glycolic Cleansing Foam ($24 at BLK+GRN) or (CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser ($10 at Amazon). If your skin is generally not sensitive, you can use cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide (between 3-5%), such as Differin Daily Deep Cleanser which contains 5% benzoyl peroxide ($13 at Ulta). Be sure to wash gently -- increased friction is likely to cause more irritation.
Use Treatments
Zit Stick
When treating acne flares, benzoyl peroxide topical products or retinoid creams are recommended. Some recommendations include the Glossier zit stick ($14 at Glossier), which is a 5% benzoyl peroxide cream, or the Differin Retinoid Gel ($29 at Walmart), which contains 0.1% benzoyl peroxide. For darker skin complexions prone to scarring, combining benzoyl peroxide creams and retinoids is a great way to avoid acne marks. Keep in mind that acne treatments can be irritating and harsh on the skin, so it’s best to start with a light amount until your skin develops a higher tolerance. Be sure to treat your skin only after taking off your equipment, never before. You may want to do this as a “before bed” step.
Moisturize & Protect It
Credit: Buttah
Moisturizing your skin is essential to reduce irritation from friction. Note that like cleansing the face you should moisturize your face after taking off the mask and not before. Remember that lotions and creams will affect the way your mask fits your face and decrease its effectiveness, according to Dr. Erum Ilyas, a board-certified dermatologist. Once your mask is off, hydrate it with a facial cream such as Jacq’s Organics Nourishing Face Moisturizer ($28 at BLK+GRN), which your skin will absorb overnight. To protect and seal the moisture, thick and fragrance-free ointments such as Vaseline ($5 at Target) or creams such as Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream ($13 at Amazon) are perfect options that do not clog your pores.
To combat bruising on the cheeks and the eye area, a result of restricted blood flow from tight masks and goggles - vitamin C serums such as Buttah’s ($39 at Buttah.) or vitamin C creams like Clinique’s daily booster ($20 at Clinique) have been found to strengthen skin tissue. Plus, vitamin C is said to be a brightening agent, so it can help reduce the dark appearance of the bruise. Applying the vitamin C cream by gently massaging it around the bruised areas may also help support blood flow.
Don’t Ignore Hand Care
Oye Shea Butter
Hand dermatitis is also known as “hand eczema” is another common issue with prolonged PPE use resulting in extensive hand washing and nitrile glove use. The dryness and irritation are a result of healthcare workers consistently scrubbing their hands with water and antiseptic soaps and then wearing nitrile gloves when caring for patients. An easy way to combat this is by using a hand moisturizer throughout the day. Options to choose from include Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream ($4 at Target), Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hand Gel Cream ($7 at Ulta), or the Shea Butter Mix from Oye ($10 at Oye). If you apply them at night, their magic will work miracles on your hands!
If you are consistently wearing PPE, you do not have to sacrifice your skin. Incorporating these quick steps into your daily/nightly routine can potentially erase some of the discomforts that PPE brings, and that can make a big difference in the way you feel and perform. Give them a try!
