Many factors can lead to the emergence of impurities on the skin: tobacco, pollution, prolonged wearing of masks, heat... Purifying masks serve to eliminate these blemishes by absorbing excess sebum. However, these treatments have contraindications. Focus on the dangers of purifying masks.
What are the dangers of the purifying mask?
Summary
Published on February 16, 2024, by Manon, Scientific Editor — 5 min of reading
Themes:
Purifying mask: who is it for?
An ally for combination to oily skin types, the purifying mask works to absorb the excess sebum that causes shiny skin, the appearance of blackheads and enlarged pores. This type of treatment smooths the skin, mattifies it and eliminates all impurities on its surface.This allows for a deep cleanse of the skin, improving its appearance and preventing the emergence of blemishes.
For certain skin types, the T-zone requires specific purification. This is due to the fact that this area exhibits higher sebum levels. In order to care for this specific area, it is important to choose suitable purifying products to eliminate excess sebum and impurities, whilst maintaining the skin's balance.
Purifying Mask: What are the dangers of this treatment?
Purifying masks are not recommended for sensitive and dry skin types. Indeed, these treatments can have side effects on this type of skin:
Feelings of discomfort;
Redness;
Allergic reactions;
Tightness.
Purifying masks are specifically designed to remove excess sebum, which forms the protective hydrolipidic film of the stratum corneum, preventing dehydration. However, if the mask is too potent or applied too frequently, it can not only remove excess sebum, but also strip away the skin and scalp's natural moisture. As a result, this can leave the skin, hair, and scalp dehydrated and dry. Particularly, dry skin types have a reduced sebum production. Overuse of a purifying mask can remove all the sebum, leading to increased skin dryness.
Furthermore, the application of a mask entirely composed of clay requires a cautious approach: it is crucial that the mask maintains a constant level of moisture and does not dry out completely on the skin, as this could severely dehydrate it. In addition, some purifying masks may include essential oils that possess antibacterial properties useful in combating certain bacteria responsible for the onset of blemishes.
However, they are also known to be irritating for sensitive or reactive skin types. The peppermint oils, oftea tree, cinnamon, eucalyptus and lemon are often present in this type of care and can provoke allergic reactions in some individuals. Similarly, certain fragrances added to purifying masks may contain potentially allergenic substances. For this reason, it is recommended to perform a patch test of the mask on a small area of the body before the first use.
What precautions should be taken?
Before using a purifying mask, certain precautions need to be taken.
Maintain the frequency of application.
A purifying mask can be used once to twice a week at most to avoid absorbing too much sebum, which risks drying out the skin.
Perform a patch test before the first use.
It is crucial to carefully read the list of ingredients on the packaging of the purifying mask and avoid products containing ingredients to which you are allergic. Before using a new purifying mask, it is recommended to perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check if it triggers an allergic reaction.
Avoid the area around the lips and eyes.
These areas of skin are particularly sensitive and dry, as they contain few sebaceous glands. Using a purifying mask on these areas may risk further drying out your skin.
Keep the mask moisturised.
When a mask is primarily composed of clay, it can absorb the skin's natural moisture, leading to excessive dryness. This is why it is recommended to keep it moist on the skin or to opt for masks that contain hydrating agents in their formulation (such as aloe vera, glycerine, etc.).
Consider the pause time.
An appropriate application time ensures that the active ingredients work sufficiently to provide skin benefits. Leaving a mask on longer than recommended can potentially cause irritations or allergic reactions.
Examine the composition of the mask.
There are certain active ingredients in the composition of face masks that should be avoided. This is the case with PVA glue, which can be found in many blackhead masks. Although this ingredient may "pull out" blackheads, it also has the potential to irritate the skin and cause subsequent skin dryness.
