Unveiling the new you: How to live with a mask on

NEW DELHI: Even as lockdown restrictions gradually ease, experts say masks will remain an integral part of our lives for a long time and will become as common as wearing a pair of sunglasses or a cap. However, not everyone is comfortable with its prolonged use. Here we unmask the problems being faced by
people and what alternatives they can try to make their lives easier.

1. Sweat, friction and you
It is hot and wearing a mask for a long time can cause a lot of sweating, which may get trapped inside the mask. That is good news for any kind of bacteria or
virus. But the humidity can also cause skin damage and acne in some people.
What to do
Avoid materials like polyester that can trap moisture from breathing and sweating.

Cotton is a good alternative as it is lightweight and allows more ventilation.
2. Trapped
Some people feel they can’t breathe properly with a mask on. The feeling of something covering their face and muffled speech makes them uncomfortable, in some cases feel suffocated, and may cause anxiety.
What to do
Use masks that have ties to put them together, instead of an elastic.

You can also go for ones with adjustable straps and made out of lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton or line.
3. Hazy picture
If glasses weren’t enough already, now you have two things on your face all the time. And they don’t get along. Fogging of glasses because of the mask
is a common complain.
What to do
When warm breath escapes through the top part of the mask and hits your glasses, they fog up. This means you have to use a mask that fits properly across the bridge of your nose. If you’re using a homemade cloth mask, add a slot to it where it touches the nose and insert a pipe cleaner or a paper clip.

This way it will sit snugly on the bridge of your nose, allowing the air to escape only from the sides. Using a thicker strip of fabric for that part may work just as well. Another option is to tape it down using sports or medical tape
4. For autistic people or those suffering from hearing loss
Most people are used to communicating through visual cues, like moving of the lips. It is especially important for those who are suffering from hearing loss and depend on lip reading. A normal mask doesn’t allow that.
What to do
One can opt for a face mask that has a plastic window over the mouth so that movement of the lips is visible. This will help in effective communication.

5. No music to your ears
Dermatologists say that excessive use of masks in this weather can irritate the skin behind your ears as the elastic keeps rubbing against it.
What to do
If you want to keep using your mask, you can try placing a folded tissue behind your ears to act as a cushion. Alternatively, there are a number of creative options out there to counter this problem. One of them is headbands with buttons to put elastic loops of the mask around them. This can also be done with baseball caps on any other type of head gear. Another option is to take an ‘S’ hook or a paper clip, place it at the back of your head and put the mask loops around it.

Neck gaiters and bandana masks are also gaining popularity. Women with long hair are tying the mask loops to their buns.
Text: Meghna Dhulia, Graphics: Sunil Singh