A Questionnaire Survey to Study on the Use of Wearing Surgical Face Masks During COVID-19 Pandemic

A Questionnaire Survey to Study on the Use of Wearing Surgical Face Masks During COVID-19 Pandemic

Globally, the coronavirus disease of 2019, better known as COVID-19, has had devastating effects over the past two and a half years. Many governments throughout the world have declared surgical face masks (SFMs) to be necessary for the protection of citizens from the rapidly spreading Covid-19. Since wearing SFMs became mandatory, many people have reported skin issues bursting on their faces covering the chin, cheeks, and near-tomouth areas. To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for excessive use of SFMs and side effects on face skin, an online survey questionnaire was applied to collected data on concerns about wearing SFMs for a long time from students (both local and international) at the Ming Chi University of Technology. Totally 40 participants, with age ranging from 18 to 45 years old, were participated in this study. Survey results showed that significant dermatological manifestations were observed among participants after using SFMs, including acne with a high ratio (75%). Due to the lack of space between the face masks and the breathable parts of the face, there is a buildup of moisture inside the mask. Past research and our study found that humidity and temperature sensations are stored inside SFMs which lead to disturbing the respiratory system and have a greater impact on the face skin. And acne eruptions after prolonged use of SFMs are also reported.