Survive the heat with a face mask on

Photo by Bára Buri on Unsplash   Edited by ConSCIENCE

We, generally don’t need any weather forecast to understand that the temperature is going above 30°C and it will surely be going well past of 40°C very soon. A humid, hot summer is now at our doorsteps.

On the other hands, the long term COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t want to end yet. Therefore, still we have to maintain all the protocols to remain safe from the deadly Coronavirus.

One of the protocols that we must have to follow is wearing a mask. Wearing a mask seems very problematic to some persons as the covered portion gets hot and begin sweating. The amount of sweat is high enough in case of many persons including me, that becomes annoying very easily.

I think many of you have suffered a bit. After putting on your favorite summer dress, you have to wear a face mask too, and then you realized that after some time you break out in sweat.

So, after all we want to feel fresh during the hot days, but it is not so easy to remain cool and fresh with the facial mask on. Dr. Matthew Levy, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins University, stated some smart strategies to keep cool during humid condition.

Here I tried to put together some tips and tricks to remain cool all the time during the hot summer days with a mask. Therefore, this article brings you seven scientific and well-established tips to survive the heat with a face mask on your face during coming hot summer days. Just have a look.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

1. Choose the right mask (fabric, colour, fitting)

If you want to survive the heat in spite of wearing a mask for long hours, then at first choose a right mask. During selecting a mask, you should be very careful regarding three steps like the fabric, colour and fitting of the mask [1].

Choosing a right fabric is very much important. So, always choose a light, breathable fabric like cotton, linen or bamboo instead of any synthetic fabric like polyester [2].

Thin blue surgical mask give protection, but actually they are not so comfortable or breathable in summer [3].

Along with fabric, pay attention to its colour also. In summer always choose light color mask as the dark colour absorbs more light and transforms to heat [4].

A normal fitting mask is acceptable in hot days than a tight fitting one. But don’t wear a loose mask because it can’t give you the best protection. Try out a new mask you want to wear for a long day beforehand to check if it’s comfortable or not.

So, always choose the right mask for keep yourself cool during the hot days.

“The mask has to allow for the flow of air through it. It should be lightweight and breathable, and made of multiple layers of material,” -Dr. Levy

    [Read more: Proper clothes for health and wellness]

2. Avoid make-up

If you are a makeup addict then coming days are not for you. You must have to avoid doing makeup underneath your mask. You can’t resist your sweat to come out and once sweat comes out, it can mix with your make up and clog pores, which leads to breakout of acne.

That clogged pore can be a cause of eruption on lower facial skin, it called nowadays as “maskne”, comprised of mask and acne.

So, in these days just wear a sunscreen (because masks can’t give protection from UVA and UVB rays) and a water-based moisturizer that won’t clog your facial pores [5].

Hyaluronic acid serum is another trick to keep your self cool. Refrigerate the serum and apply when needed to moisturize your skin, it can helps to cool down for a while during the hot summer days with a face mask on [6].

“You don't have the ability to have sweat evaporate when you have the mask on. It all sits there and collects,” -Kovarik, the dermatology professor

3. Stay hydrated

Hydration is more important to remain cool from within. Always keep a water bottle with you. If you think you can’t open your mask to drink water for an extended time, then you will face difficulty by getting dehydrated at the end of the day [7].

So, remove your mask safely with a sanitized hand intermittently to give yourself a cool splash of water.

Avoid the hottest time during the day and always use umbrella or hat as possible. You can wash your face with cool water too.

So, keep track of your hydration boost during the summer days.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

4. Facial shield is a big ‘no-no’

On a hot and humid day, a facial shield may give you a negative result, it will worsen your condition [8].

As it blocks your full face from the front, your normal air gets blocked, so, you start sweating. Beside this, it has a plastic band which holds the shield in place, this band is placed just on your forehead. This leads to sweat more.

So, if possible, avoid the face shield to survive the heat with the face mask on during the hot summer days.   

[Read more: Self-care tips to remain active]

5. Avoid a long-term exposure in extreme heat

To survive the heat with a face mask on, at first you should avoid the hottest temperature during the day. If you can adjust your work time or if possible, avoid the exposure in a long-term heat during that period [9].

With the mask on it can be risky for any person who feel dizzy, lightheaded or difficult in breathing. You can face a heat stress by continuous exposure of high heat with a mask on [10].

So, avoid the long-term extreme heat during the sunniest day time to survive the heat with a mask on, try to minimize the time you spent outside in sunlight.

“Try to arrange your schedule so you can be outside in the mornings or the late evenings instead so you’re not exposed to the direct heat and humidity and putting undue heat stress on the body,”-Dr. Levy

Photo by Bára Buri on Unsplash

6. Use a spare

To beat the heat and to get relief from the sweaty, damp environment, always keep a spare mask handy. Cotton mask can absorb a lot of sweat and eventually it will get damp [11].

Damp mask can’t perform its best, i.e. it can’t give you further protection from the virus. So, always be prepared to change the mask with maintaining every protocol. Carry one or two extra mask and keep it in a cool and dry place.

Whenever needed, change the mask and put on a new mask safely [12].

“Once that cloth gets wet, either from the rain, happenstance, or just a lot of sweat, its effectiveness goes down—its ability to slow down the spread of droplets through it decreases,”- Dr. Levy

7. If alone, open the mask and take fresh air

It is ok, to put your mask down on your chin or neck only for some time [13], when no one else physically is there around you. Yes, to survive the heat with face mask on this trick you can follow, if intermittently you get some free space from people.

So, if you found some place alone, then take off your mask and inhale some fresh air, feel the mild breeze in your face. This mask break is very useful in hot days.  

“It’s OK to have your mask around your neck or down at that point.” - Dr. Levy

Photo by Andrea Junqueira on Unsplash

ConScience

Hot summer days are coming, a rising temperature is there to bother us, but staying safe is very necessary as the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. You have to take special care as India has witnessed two new strains possibly having a greater infectivity or higher transmission rate.

So, don’t forget to put on a face mask for your safety, just try to follow the above-mentioned tips to keep yourself cool and fresh during the upcoming hot and humid days.

We all are going to face a discomfort, as the beautiful winter days has just passed and the temperature has started rising. In this case we should take proper care to withstand the heat with a face mask on [14].

So, use those smart strategies to remain cool and comfortable as possible during your work time in the hot, humid condition. Stay safe, stay healthy. Have a happy life..