With the pandemic gripping the whole world, every small step we take towards prevention is an essential one. Wearing a mask is one such effective way of halting the pandemic. When a healthy person wears a mask, it acts as a wall of defence against the virus that is floating in the air. On the other hand, it’s not very comfortable and gives some people rashes too. In the hot summer weather, due to wearing a mask, moisture gets built up under a mask, which irritates the skin. However, it may be less common for people who are wearing cloth masks compared to healthcare workers wearing less-breathable surgical or N95 masks. Just to help in this extreme weather, I am sharing some ways to survive the heat with a mask on. 

Surviving the Heat With a Mask On 

1. Choose the right fabric: Masks are made out of using a lot of different material, so If you want to be comfortable wearing a mask during summer, make sure it’s something that feels soft against your skin. Always go for lighter, soft, breathable cotton material, which can help you to avoid chafing, heat rashes, keep your face cooler and absorb sweat when you wear them.
2. Try a mask made with Bamboo material: As it absorbs 3 times the amount of water as cotton, ideal for people who sweat often on the face. Secondly, while engaging in physical activity, a face-covering made of bamboo fabric may be a smart choice. Although, they are slightly more costly as compared to cotton masks. 
3. Masking up without makeup: Makeup is very irritating under some kind of covering. It clogs the pores and contributes to acne breakouts and rashes on the face. As per skin experts, a bit of moisturizer is fine (preferably with some SPF), if you plan to go out in the daytime.
4. Keep a spare mask: On increasingly hot and humid days, pack multiple masks because when you’re outside with the mask on, that mask has a limited lifespan. Changing masks is the better remedy if you feel your mask is getting icky and sticky. Just make sure that you follow all safety guidelines when changing outside, avoid the crowded areas, prefer changing inside and sanitize the hands before swapping your mask.
5. Time management: It’s better to avoid going out during the hottest parts of the day. Try to stay at home if possible but If you feel it’s necessary to go out for some important errand then stay well hydrated, carry an umbrella to safeguard your face from the heat and direct sunlight, take frequent breaks in the shade.
6. Check the fit always: Your mask should be somewhat snug on your face but shouldn’t be so tight that it’s uncomfortable or difficult to breathe through. So, use the mask which always has adjustable ties, which would be probably much better as every face shape is different. Adjustable ties have the potential for a more comfortable fit.
7. Avoid dark colour masks: To avoid overheating in the hot sun, lighter coloured masks are also a better choice. This is because ultraviolet rays from the sun are easily absorbed by materials made using darker colours, which will cause them to heat up faster.
8. Use clean masks: The best way to prevent germs from lingering between uses is to wash the mask after each use in hot water and dry it on high heat. If needed, masks can also be ironed as an additional way to kill germs.

We hope this article helps you survive this ungodly heatwave with a mask on. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Ensure that you stay safe. Your best bet to beat the pandemic is to follow the WHO guidelines. 

For more summer health tips and tricks, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play. 

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