If I had a dollar for every friend who's frantically texted me about their "maskne" over the last couple months, I'd be writing this from a remote tropical island instead of my sweaty, cockroach-infested apartment. In all seriousness, though, mask acne (aka the inevitable zits, bumps, and breakouts that can pop up after wearing a cloth face mask) is very real—and even though wearing a face mask is a small, nonnegotiable step towards helping protect you and those around you from the spread of COVID-19, it's still frustrating as hell to feel like your skin is out of control.

The good news? I've basically perfected my maskne-fighting routine, and it's shockingly simple. Like, sure, I still get a couple breakouts every now and then, but I've noticed a major difference in my skin 

ever since I picked up this quick, very easy, 30-second trick: actually washing my face. *Cue shock and awe.*

Yes, it sound's a little extremely obvious, but I've found that quickly rinsing my face with a creamy cleanser right after I get home from running errands has completely cleared up my breakouts. That means no scrolling on IG for a couple hours or watching a quick episode of The Office while all that sweat and oil marinates on my face—I legit unlock my door, de-mask, clean my hands, and wash my face. Allow me walk you through it.

But, first: a little background on maskne

A quick history lesson on mask acne—or, as dermatologist Joyce I. Imahiyerobo-Ip, MD, owner of Vibrant Dermatology and Skin Bar MD in Boston, calls it: acne mechanica. "The main cause of mask acne is mechanical friction, which, before COVID, we'd typically see in people who wear a lot of gear on their face—like hockey or lacrosse players," she says. While face masks obviously aren't as heavy or bulky as sports equipment, they still allow for a decent amount of friction when they rub up against your skin.

"Face masks also create a little bit of humidity, which can irritate your skin even more," Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip says. The result is basically a breeding ground for zits (cute) especially if your skin is already sensitive, oily, and/or prone to acne. (which, uh, hello, have we met). According to Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip, one of the easiest ways you can treat maskne is by washing your face (and moisturizing!) twice a day—once in the morning, and once in the evening. Or, if you're like me, right when you get home from the outside world.

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