Unbelievable Facts About Face Masks

A face mask is a covering for the face made of common textile: cotton. It is usually worn on the face over the mouth, ensuring that it covers the nose. It is a practice that is common among the populace globally. Face mask goes beyond the use for preventing covid-19 or an infection. It’s a covering that has a lot of details entailed in it, so because of that, I’m bringing to you an article that will educate you on it. Since physical distancing seems not to be effective, the use of a face mask was introduced to keep us safe.

The Type of Face Masks

Here’s a list of face masks that exist. They include:

• N95 Respirator

This is a critical facemask in healthcare: for health practitioners. It is only advisable to use it if you are having close contact with patients. Do the world a big help not to buy the facemask if you’re not dealing with patients or working in a health center because of its limited supply.

• KN95 Respirator

This face mask is very similar to the N95 mask. The uniqueness of this mask is its ability to filter greater particles that are greater than 0.3 microns. It captures large particles from the air.

• Full Face Respirator

I always find it difficult to breathe under a cloth face mask. I don’t know if you also encounter such difficulty with cloth facemask? This mask might be a better choice for you. It is highly recommended for people that are not battling with respiratory issues or breathing difficulty.

• P100 Respirator/Gas Mask

This type of face mask has nothing in relation to healthcare. It is worn by painters, woodworkers’. It is usually worn by those who come in contact or deal with lead, chemicals, and asbestos. Do not wear it to prevent Covid-19.

• Self-contained Breathing Apparatus

Self-contained breathing apparatus face mask is worn in dangerous conditions to breathe in clean and filtered air. Firefighter and rescue worker always use this. It’s not meant to protect against infections.

• Filtering Face Piece Respirator

It is a disposable face mask, i.e., you get rid of it after use. It is not often used for airborne infections but rather used for particle prevention like particles from wood, dust, animal dander, and pollen. It can be used if there are cases of allergies during the pandemic.

• Full-length Face Shield

This is a plastic version of the protective glass shield used by welders. It will cover the whole face from your forehead to your chin, and it’s secured with a moderated headband to hold it firm to your head. It is not absolutely advisable to use it in preventing infections. It might cause difficulty to your breathing when if over time.

• Basic Cloth Face Mask

This is the commonest and standard one for your daily use. It is a highly recommended type of facemask for preventing the spread of infection, like the covid-19 crisis. It can be worn anywhere and anytime.  With this, you should know each facemask and its uses.

With the pandemic crisis around us, i.e., the covid-19, the best facemask in the medical community is the cotton face masks. Cotton won the quiz; it has the highest place when it comes to air filtering. It sifts out a high percentage of particles than most other materials. In addition to its features, cotton is soft, cool, and breathable, which guarantees its usage.

Before you choose any face mask for use, follow these guidelines:

• It must include multiple layers of fabrics.
• It must be washable and machined dried without any prior damage or change in its shape.
• Allow the passage of air and breathe without restraint.
• Fit comfortably against the side of your face
• Secured to your face with ties or ear loop.

Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid With Your Face Masks

• Cross-contamination by removing the face mask and re-sitting the external side on your face.
• Using the wrong type of face mask. The competence of how a face mask work is “what is made up of and how well it sits on your face.”
• Getting your face mask wet.
• Taking it off the wrong way.
• Touching your face mask with dirty hands.
• Wearing a face mask all day. Your face mask is meant to be changed or disinfected every 2 hours. Otherwise, the accumulation of particles will take place.
• Not fully covered. Wearing the face mask below your nose or below both your nose and mouth.
• Spraying it with chemicals
• Using a face mask with a valve is wrong.

These set of people are not advised to use cloth face masks:

• Anyone with difficulty in breathing
• Children younger than 2 years old
• Anyone who is unconscious and weak to remove the face mask without assistance.

The Peculiar Way to Wear Your Face Mask

The first side to consider before usage is safety and comfort. Check this out…

• Be sure to wash your hands wholly before touching and after touching it (with soap and running water). It will keep germ away from your hands and at the same time from your face mask.
• Do not touch the fabric parts. Touch only the bands or ear loops or ties when putting on and taking off your mask. This keeps your face mask uncontaminated.
• The mask must fitly cover your nose, chin, and mouth. If you adjust the facemask to any side of your face, do well to wash your hands.
• Ensure you are comfortable in it, and you can also breathe through it.
• If the mask is re-usable, make sure you wash it after use but if it is disposable, discard it after use and any damaged ones.

Side Effects of Face Mask

Your face mask is working double task: it protects you and stops the germs from spreading and getting to you. However, the face mask can cause some unwanted side effects which may be bearable or unbearable.

• It can alter your sight: the air exhaled from your nose or mouth goes into your eye, which increases the urge (uncomfortable sensation) to touch the eye. If your hands are contaminated, you will be infecting yourself. You can do yourself a big favor by resisting the temptation. Follow the covid-19 protocols by washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap under running water after coming in contact with bodies in public (doorknobs, packages, staircases, and so on).
• Fog on your glasses: this is the common problem faced by people using glasses. The exhale air from you shoots straight into the bifocals; oops, fog is formed. There are two tactics you can consider. “Look for a fitted face mask that fits well on your face.” Also, “look for a tissue (folded) and place it between your mouth and the mask (a breathable tissue)” the tissue will absorb the warm exhaled air and stop them from reaching your glasses.
• These side effects are very obvious, and it’s growing to be a habit in you. During a conversation between two people, your speech audibility seems to reduce; this tends to bring you together unintentionally. To stay safe, always keep six feet away from the other person when talking with them and as well work on your audibility and calmness in your speech.
• It can hurt children younger than 2 years old and incapacitated individuals: kids under age 2 years old should not be entrusted with cloth face coverings, they might find it difficult with their breath, and also people who are unconscious or incapacitated will be unable to remove it on their own.
• It can result in skin irritation: face mask or any other face-covering reacts with the skin; it’s only obvious than the other. If you have dry skin, ensure to use a moisturizer before wearing it. The moisturizer prevents irritation. Get rid of your makeup before wearing a face mask.

Apart from using face masks as the only facial coverings, you can try using a fabric or bandana. Just fasten the face mask to the back of your head.

How to Make a Face Mask Out of Your Handkerchief or Bandana:

• Lay it out flat on a table
• At the center of the bandana, place a coffee filter.
• Fold the bandana top and bottom toward the center over the coffee filter.
• Get a rubber band or a head tie or shoelaces and put it around each end of the folded bandana.
• Tuck in each of the fabric piece in and then your rubber band out
• Then you can now sling it over your ears.