People are being encouraged to wear surgical masks to reduce their chance of infection with COVID-19. However, for some people, wearing a mask for extended periods can lead to skin problems.
A young man in Kaohsiung takes off his surgical mask to reveal a skin infection. With many workers in the service sector now required to wear masks on the job, cases like his are on the rise.
A dermatologist from Kaohsiung’s Cishan Hospital says that heat and humidity that accumulate under masks irritate the skin.
The doctor says he has seen a 20%- 30% jump in the number of facial skin infections since the COVID-19 outbreak began. He advises those who wear masks to remove them for five to ten minutes every one to two hours in order to reduce irritation. The doctor also says that people can place soft tissue paper or gauze beneath their surgical masks to avoid skin chafing.