Should you Dry out Maskne or Moisturize it

"The occlusive nature of a mask creates a humid and warm environment under the mask, which can lead to increased sebum and sweat. In turn, this leads to irritation, inflammation, and breakouts," says Dr. King.

In short, maskne is a contradicting matter of the skin being dry and oily and getting rid of it also requires drying out the pimples and also keeping them moisturized.

How?

First, support the skin barrier with a non-comedogenic moisturizer that contains the trifecta of these soothing ingredients: humectants to moisturize the skin, emollients to seal in hydration and occlusives to reduce friction.

Most pimple treatments decrease your skin's natural oil production, so it's important that a moisturizer be there as a buffer for your skin to tolerate the harsh acne regimen. 

2. Once you have your hydrating base, use a good spot treatment to dry out the zit. Why spot treat? The goal is to dry out the pimples, not your whole face.

1. Salicylic acid- exfoliates the upper layer of the skin) and penetrates deep into pores to remove sebum. 

2. Benzoyl peroxide - kills P. acnes and Staph. Aureus bacteria that contributes to acne and helps prevent and clear clogged pores. Opt for micronized formulations; they cause less irritation to the skin and the molecules are stabilized for longer shelf life.

Also try adding a topical retinoid into your routine at least 2-3 times a week (every day if your skin is already well adjusted) to help clear gunk from pores, leaving them less swollen.

Moisturize maskne because it is inflammation—and inflammation needs hydration. But you should—layer it with targeted treatments like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids, to unclog pores and boost skin cell turnover.

See a dermatologist about starting a stronger prescription medication if these methods don't work.