Doctors and nurses on the Covid-19 frontline are spending many hours a day wearing face masks, and many members of the general public are doing the same. But although the devices offer invaluable protection, they can be the cause of significant skin damage through sweating and the rubbing of the masks against the nose.
Skin care experts at the University of Huddersfield are warning of the risks and suggesting remedies.
Professor Karen Ousey is Director at the Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention at the University and she was part of a team that conducted detailed research into the pressure damage that can be caused by a wide range of medical devices, including face masks. The findings and recommendations were published in February.
Now, the current emergency emphasises the problems that can arise with face masks being worn for long periods of time by healthcare professionals.
Read more at University of Huddersfield
Image: Suffering from skin damage from face masks? An award-winning UK skin infection expert offers remedies to health staff and the general public (Credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.com)