{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T17:31:32Z","timestamp":1773423092826,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]],"date-time":"2022-05-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1652918400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Acne vulgaris is a skin disorder that affects males and females with significant impact on quality of life. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a series of non-pharmaceutical interventions globally to reduce the spread of the virus particularly since there have been no known cures or definitive treatment for the disease. One key non-pharmaceutical intervention was recommendation on wearing of face masks. There are reports of discomfort associated with wearing face mask including complaints of various skin rashes, acne and headaches which could hinder appropriate use of face masks. While the dermatological problems associated with face mask use have been comprehensively explored in high income countries, the data is sparse in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to determine the association between face mask use and development of acne vulgaris in our developing country setting. We subsequently determined risk factors for development of acne vulgaris such as duration of wearing face masks, type of face mask, and prior dermatological skin condition history. We aimed to also determine the potential of acne development secondary to face mask use to reducing predisposition to wearing face masks.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in within two local government areas of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Trained interviewers administered pre-tested questionnaires to 1316 consecutive consenting adult participants randomly approached for informed consent at various public locations. Information was inputted into MS Excel and analyzed using Epi-info.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A total number of 1316 persons participated in this study with mean age 34.4 \u00b112.3 years and median age 35.5years. Male: female ratio was 1:1.41. New onset acne or worsening of acne following consistent wearing of face masks was reported by 323 (24.5%) of the 1316 participants in this study. The surgical face mask was the least likely to predispose to acne p&lt;0.05. Compared with the surgical mask, persons using N95 face mask and cloth mask were 1.89 and 1.41 times more likely to have acne respectively. Persons with prior history of acne were more likely to develop new acne or experience worsening of acne following wearing of face mask OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.85, 5.33; p &lt;0.05). The length of time of daily mask wearing was not significantly associated with occurrence of new onset acne or worsening of acne. Persons reporting prior histories of allergy were more likely to develop acne in this study (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.50, 2.88; p&lt;0.05). In this study, 192 (59.4%) of those who reported having acne following face masks use responded they have a negative predisposition to wearing masks.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Our finding of greater predisposition to development or worsening of acne following consistent use of face masks could have implications for the control strategy of COVID-19. The finding that the N95 face mask was more significantly associated with acne is of concern as this is the preferred face mask in healthcare settings. It is important for the medical community to investigate feasible and safe recommendations to help alleviate this condition.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0268224","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]],"date-time":"2022-05-19T17:41:53Z","timestamp":1652982113000},"page":"e0268224","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["An epidemiological study on face masks and acne in a Nigerian population"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8116-6739","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Olanrewaju","family":"Falodun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nubwa","family":"Medugu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Laila","family":"Sabir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6694-5678","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Ihsan","family":"Jibril","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nnebuogo","family":"Oyakhire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Adeola","family":"Adekeye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0268224.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijsu.2020.02.034","article-title":"World Health Organization declares global emergency: A review of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).","volume":"76","author":"C. Sohrabi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Surg."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102433","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaut.2020.102433","article-title":"The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.","volume":"109","author":"H. A. Rothan","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Autoimmun"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105642","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmpb.2020.105642","article-title":"Non Pharmaceutical Interventions for Optimal Control of COVID-19.","volume":"196","author":"M. Zamir","year":"2020","journal-title":"Comput. Methods Programs Biomed"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.4103\/npmj.npmj_208_20","article-title":"COVID-19: A review of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions.","volume":"27","author":"O. O. Odusanya","year":"2020","journal-title":"Niger. Postgrad. Med. J"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1385","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591-021-01454-y","article-title":"COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low- and middle-income countries","volume":"27","author":"J. S. Sol\u00eds Arce","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Med"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines9080905","article-title":"Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination among Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries: The Mediating Role of Vaccination Policy.","volume":"9","author":"Y. Duan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vaccines"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref007","first-page":"1","article-title":"Rates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and vaccination impact the fate of vaccine-resistant strains.","volume":"11","author":"S. A. Rella","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Reports"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmi.2021.10.005","article-title":"Comparing COVID-19 vaccines for their characteristics, efficacy and effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern: a narrative review","volume":"28","author":"T. Fiolet","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Infect"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1111\/dth.14848","article-title":"COVID\u201019 related masks increase severity of both acne (maskne) and rosacea (mask rosacea): Multi\u2010center, real\u2010life, telemedical, and observational prospective study.","volume":"34","author":"G. Damiani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Dermatol. Ther."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1111\/cod.13601","article-title":"Short\u2010term Skin Reactions Following Use of N95 Respirators and Medical Masks.","volume":"83","author":"W. Hua","year":"2020","journal-title":"Contact Dermatitis"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2020.00450","article-title":"A Review of Advancement on Influencing Factors of Acne: An Emphasis on Environment Characteristics.","volume":"8","author":"J. Yang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Public Heal."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2020.09.063","article-title":"Diagnostic and management considerations for \u201cmaskne\u201d in the era of COVID-19.","volume":"84","author":"W. L. Teo","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"618","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11030618","article-title":"Maskne: The Epidemic within the Pandemic: From Diagnosis to Therapy.","volume":"11","author":"C. B. Spigariolo","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Clin. Med."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref014","article-title":"Mask related acne (\u2018maskne\u2019) and other facial dermatoses.","volume":"373","author":"E. Rudd","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref015","article-title":"Occupational facial dermatoses related to mask use in healthcare professionals.","author":"E. Altun","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Cosmet. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.18203\/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20205594","article-title":"Clinico-epidemiological study of mask induced acne due to increased mask use among health care workers during COVID pandemic in a tertiary care institute.","volume":"7","author":"R. Aravamuthan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Res. Dermatology"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17134624","article-title":"Facial Skin Temperature and Discomfort When Wearing Protective Face Masks: Thermal Infrared Imaging Evaluation and Hands Moving the Mask.","volume":"17","author":"A. Scarano","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref018","unstructured":"Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria)\u2014Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location. at <https:\/\/www.citypopulation.de\/php\/nigeria-admin.php?adm1id=NGA015>"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1177\/2150132720966167","article-title":"The Effects of the Face Mask on the Skin Underneath: A Prospective Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","volume":"11","author":"L. Techasatian","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Prim. Care Community Health"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1427","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S333221","article-title":"Association of Acne with Face Mask in Healthcare Workers Amidst the COVID-19 Outbreak in Karachi, Pakistan.","volume":"14","author":"S. Yaqoob","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. Cosmet. Investig. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0536.2006.00953.x","article-title":"Adverse skin reactions to personal protective equipment against severe acute respiratory syndrome\u2014A descriptive study in Singapore.","volume":"55","author":"C. C. I. Foo","year":"2006","journal-title":"Contact Dermatitis"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref022","first-page":"32","article-title":"Facial Mask-related Acne and Acneiform Eruption During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Case Series.","volume":"14","author":"S. Kaul","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clin. Aesthet. Dermatol."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"799","DOI":"10.1111\/ijd.15425","article-title":"The \u201cMaskne\u201d microbiome\u2013pathophysiology and therapeutics.","volume":"60","author":"W. L. Teo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1098","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.12777","article-title":"Seasonal aggravation of acne in summers and the effect of temperature and humidity in a study in a tropical setting.","volume":"18","author":"I. Narang","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Cosmet. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2340\/00015555-3536","article-title":"Face Mask-induced Itch: A Self-questionnaire Study of 2,315 Responders During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","volume":"100","author":"J. C. Szepietowski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Derm. Venereol."},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1111\/cod.13601","article-title":"Short\u2010term Skin Reactions Following Use of N95 Respirators and Medical Masks.","volume":"83","author":"W. Hua","year":"2020","journal-title":"Contact Dermatitis"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"522","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4632.2004.02338.x","article-title":"N95 acne.","volume":"43","author":"K. T. Tan","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int. J. Dermatol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.2340\/00015555-3536","article-title":"Face mask-induced itch: A self-questionnaire study of 2,315 responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.","volume":"100","author":"J. C. Szepietowski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Derm. Venereol"},{"key":"pone.0268224.ref029","article-title":"Increased Flare of Acne Caused by Long\u2010Time Mask Wearing During COVID\u201019 Pandemic among General Population.","volume":"33","author":"C. Han","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dermatol. Ther."}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0268224","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]],"date-time":"2022-05-19T17:42:32Z","timestamp":1652982152000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0268224"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Khin","family":"Thet Wai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0268224","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,5,19]]}}}