The skin damage done by the excessive use of masks by hospital workers – sanitation, nurses, doctors and so on – is heartbreaking.
Many are wearing tightly-fitted N95 masks, goggles and face shields for the bulk of the day, causing soreness, chaffing and burning.
My only contribution on this topic is to:
- Highlight what a real-life wound specialist recommends in relation to such injuries
- Suggest skin barrier repair creams for use when you are not wearing a mask
1) The Real Life Wound Specialist recommends…
The author is a wound care nurse practitioner at a trauma center in Washington DC, so I believe she knows what she is talking about.
Please see this LINK, (Face Protection Protocol and Visuals for COVID-19 Frontline Staff), which is her blog on this subject.
If the hospital you are working at does not have such protocols in place, I would encourage you to read her post and follow the wound care instructions in the attached pdf. If you are unable to access them, please write to me and I can forward you copies (email@happyskindays.com)
Lotion before PPE?
This particular paragraph on lotion application caught my attention. Said author, categorically writes:
Do not apply lotion to the face right before you are placing a dressing on your face as this could also impact the seal.
The face should be clean and dry before placing any of these products on the face.
Moisture and hydration are very important, and I urge you to continue to moisturize your face after you remove your masks and no longer need to wear them for that day.
Which product?
I have multiple suggestions for skin barrier repair creams and quite frankly, all of them will work including nappy rash creams. Admittedly, some of them have better ingredients.
If you can afford to be picky (how? lockdown?!) then my number one suggestion is La-Roche Posay’s Cicaplast, which comes with Panthenol, which is critical for barrier repair and Zinc Gluconate, that is an anti-acne ingredient.
(Acne also appears to be a common complaint amongst daily mask wearers).
I’ve listed out products in descending order of preference – but just reach out for whatever is available at a budget friendly price.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume (US$ 14.99/40ml)
Ingredients: Aqua/Water • Hydrogenated Polyisobutene • Dimethicone • Glycerin • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter • Panthenol • Butylene Glycol • Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate • Propanediol • Cetyl Pef/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone • Tristearin • Zinc Gluconate • Madecassoside • Manganese Gluconate • Magnesium Sulfate • Disodium Edta • Copper Gluconate • Acetylated Glycol Stearate • Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate • Sodium Benzonate • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorhexidine Digluconate • Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide
Available at Walmart too.
Weleda Skin Food, Original Ultra-Rich Cream (US$ 17.53 For 75g)
This has lots of anti-inflammatory ingredients – Calendula, Chamomile and Rosemary
Aqua Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Lanolin Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil Cera Alba Alcohol Fatty Acid Ester Glycerin Limonene 1 Viola Tricolor Extract Hydrolyzed Beeswax Sorbitan Olivate Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract Arginine Zinc Sulfate Parfum Linalool Geraniol Citral Coumarin
Available at Walmart too.
Avene Xeracalm A.D (Us$ 26.18 For 200ml)
Avène Thermal Spring Water Avene Thermal Spring Water (Avene Aqua).Glycerin.Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum).Cetearyl Alcohol.Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil (Oenothera Biennis Oil).Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.Cetearyl Glucoside.Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract.Arginine.Carbomer.Evening Primrose Oil/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters.Glycine.Sodium Hydroxide.Tocopherol
Available at Walmart too.
Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream (US$ 18.79 For 400g)
Contains Zinc Oxide, A Dermatological Agent With Astringent, Soothing And Protective Properties.
Available at Walmart too.
E45 cream for dry skin
White Soft Paraffin 14.5% W/W, Light Liquid Paraffin 12.6% W/W And Anhydrous Lanolin (Medilan™) 1% W/W As Active Ingredients And Also Empilan Glyceryl Monostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Cetostearyl Sulphate, Carbomer, Methyl Hydroxybenzoate, Propyl Hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid Monohydrate, Purified Water
Available at Walmart too.
Egyptian Magic (US$ 32.65 For 4 Oz)
Olive Oil, Bees Wax, Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Bee Propolis
Available at Walmart too.
Ren Mineral Barrier Cream (GBP 28 for 50ml)
Aqua (Water), Squalane, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Sucrose Distearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea (Lingonberry) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Rosa Damascena Extract, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol
Photo by EVG photos from Pexels