ArticleClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2021
Association of Acne with Face Mask in Healthcare Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan.
Article in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.
- Facial dermatoses induced by face masks: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.Contact dermatitis · 2022Pooled it
- Effects of Mask Reuse on the Oropharyngeal, Skin, and Mask Microbiome.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2023Trial
- Exploring the Risk Factors of Rosacea Exacerbation Associated with COVID-19 Infection or Vaccination: A Cross-sectional Study.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2025Article
- Skin Lesions and Personal Protective Equipment in Health Care Workers From Lima, Peru, During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.Open forum infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Exploration of the Changes in Facial Microbiota of Maskne Patients and Healthy Controls Before and After Wearing Masks Using 16 S rRNA Analysis.Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2024Article
- Article
- Facial Dermatoses Associated With Mask-Wearing in the COVID-19 Era: A Nationwide, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter, Questionnaire-based Study.Annals of dermatology · 2024Article
- Facial Papulopustular Eruption during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients Treated with EGFR Inhibitors.Dermatology research and practice · 2024Article
- Face mask-induced skin changes: a new common phenomenon during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.Dermatology reports · 2023Article
- Effect of COVID-19 and Face Masks on the Condition of Rosacea - A Retrospective Analysis of 87 Patients.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2023Article
- Health care workers' experience of personal protective equipment use and associated adverse effects during the COVID-19 pandemic response in Singapore.Journal of advanced nursing · 2022Article
- Review
- Adverse Reactions to Facemasks in Health-Care Workers: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2022Article
- Observational
- Article
- Utilization of a Mobile Multifunctional Workstation for Coronavirus Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal Specimen Collection.Frontiers in public health · 2021Article
- Maskne: A New Acne Variant in Covid-19 Era.Indian journal of dermatologyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) global alert, people have begun to practice safety measures in order to reduce the exposure to life-threatening disease. The largest at risk population is undoubtedly the frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) who are using personal protective equipment (PPE), essentially face masks, to battle against this deadly virus. This study was conducted with the prime intention to reveal an association between face mask and acne and measure the prevalence of acne amongst HCWs amidst COVID-19 outbreak in Karachi. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify the type of mask generating acne, locate the common sites, assess the severity and establish an association of mask use with the skin type.
methodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out at Medicare Cardiac and General Hospital, Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Jamal Noor Hospital located in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 348 HCWs were interviewed, of which only 193 met the inclusion criteria. All information was recorded on a predesigned proforma and analyzed using SPSS 25.0.
resultsAmong 193 participants, acne was prevalent in 103 (53.4%) participants with maximum cases reported in female HCWs, and in doctors (p<0.05). Out of 73 HCWs using N-95 masks, 46 (44.7%) developed acne, with a p-value of 0.036. Skin type and past history of acne also yielded statistically significant results. Among all the skin types, HCWs with oily skin (64, 62.1%) were prone to face resurgence of acne or new-onset acne. The most common sites of eruption of acne were along the cheeks (45.1%) followed by the nose (40.9%). Majority of the population suffered from mild acne. Moderate and severe acne eruption was particularly observed in those wearing N-95 and surgical masks.
conclusionThe use of face masks is associated with high rates of acne eruption. Disseminating the guidelines and indications of World Health Organization (WHO) regarding proper use of mask, encouraging awareness among HCWs and following proper doffing and donning protocol as endorsed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will possibly minimize the adverse reactions.
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