마스크로 인한 쓰라림, 알레르기, 피부질환을 호소하는 아이들<br /><br />Masks can be irritating to wear, but children seem to be more prone to skin problems than adults, with masks chafing against their skin.<br />Our Kim Yeon-seung looks into this issue.<br />Masks prevent the spread of COVID-19, but most people find them a bit uncomfortable.<br />It's difficult to breathe through, it's itchy, it's bothersome.<br />But for children, it's worse.<br />Children have thin and immature skin barriers, rendering them more vulnerable to skin diseases that range from a simple rash to atopic dermatitis or impetigo.<br />"It hurts because it's tight over here. and it hurts with the string chafing and pressing against the skin."<br />The rubber string on masks often tugs on the skin behind children's ears, causing pain and itchiness.<br />Children also often suffer from allergic reactions from the masks' metal wires.<br />"Children often tell me that they want to take the mask off because the skin behind their ears hurts. I also heard that a girl in another class had skin trouble because of masks."<br />Children also tend to be more careless when eating food and often have leftover crumbs around their mouths.<br />Wearing a mask on top of that may cause bacterial infections like folliculitis.<br />So it's important that children wipe their mouths clean before putting their masks back on.<br />"If your child is suffering from dermatitis, come to the hospital in its early stages rather than letting it fester. Also, to prevent further skin trouble, moisturizing is key."<br />Changing the type of mask brand can help if there's skin trouble, since each mask varies in material and chemical composition.<br />To help prevent skin irritation in general, people should make sure masks are dry and clean and use a slightly acidic cleanser to thoroughly wash their faces.<br />Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News<br />
