Association Between Acne Vulgaris and Face Mask Usage in Turkish Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Survey Study

Aim: Throughout the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the widespread use of personal protective equipment, including facial masks, was associated with an increased incidence of facial dermatoses, notably acne and dermatitis. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to ascertain the prevalence and clinical manifestations of acne vulgaris in young adults aged 17-24 years and to compare these characteristics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to elucidate the association between facial mask use and acne exacerbation. Materials and Methods: This study was performed among 6,517 undergraduates studying at the university. A multiple-choice questionnaire was disseminated via email to all undergraduate students utilizing the electronic mailing addresses furnished by the university. Results: 48.6% of the participants had acne vulgaris before the pandemic, and 18.8% had new-onset acne vulgaris during the pandemic. During the pandemic and before the pandemic, the frequency of acne was higher in females than males (P P < 0.001, P < 0.001). The presence of papules-pustules, itching, pain, dryness, and flaking were more common in patients with newly developed acne in the pandemic (P P = 0.015, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.036). The frequency of acne increased significantly in those who used masks, those who used masks every day, those who used masks for more than 4 hours during the day, those who used black masks, those who did not change their masks during the day, those who used facial cleansers every day, and those who used emollients (P P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.005, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Wearing face masks results in the development of acne and causes considerable acne flare in acne patients before the pandemic. Mask-induced acne is a significant problem symptoms like itching, burning sensations, and dryness, which are more common than pre-pandemic acne.