While a face mask is usually not the sole cause of a skin infection, the combination of summer heat, humidity and tight-fitting mask-fabric intensifies underlying conditions and worsens fungal or bacterial infections.

We already have yeast on our skin. A yeast infection occurs in the right setting, such as a warm, moist environment, but is often related to other factors including diabetes, compromised immune system, a recent course of antibiotics, or poor hygiene that allows the yeast to grow unrestrained.

For example, a yeast infection is a fungal infection resulting from a yeast called Candida, and people are having the following problems:

• White tongues with black or dark spots
• Acne flare-ups
• small blisters in the corners of the mouth
• Yellow smelly tongue
• Sores on top of the ears
• Sores on the chin
• Dry, irritated skin

The mask-wearing could be giving you mouth fungus and fungus-related blisters and unusual skin blemishes in addition to ear, nose and throat problems and infections.

Here’s How Candida Works

Hot air gets trapped inside the mask and can be a source of mouth sores and other issues. Face masks trap warm moisture that is produced when we exhale. For people with acne, this can lead to flareups. For others, this warm moist environment creates the perfect condition for naturally occurring yeast and bacteria to flourish and grow more plentiful. This overgrowth of yeast and bacteria can result in inflammation of the lips, resulting in cracking and sores at the mouth’s corner.

Candida yeast loves the humid climate captured by your mask. Plus, if your lips are always dry, the urge to compulsively lick them will only make the persistent yeast more at home. If moisture and saliva get trapped in your mouth’s corners, they become a breeding ground for Candida. As the yeast grows, your tongue turns white and smelly and becomes redder underneath and inflamed.

Here’s How to Help Your Face and Mouth

Since giving up the mask isn’t exactly an option these days, there are ways to treat unusually irritated skin near the ears, chin and jawline. The diagnosis? A yeast infection, yes, on our face, potentially caused by the masks we been wearing during the pandemic.

To treat the Candida fungal infection condition, apply Chilcoatl natural anti-fungal, antibiotic, antiviral cream. It can also be used for sores on top of the ears, on the chin and for dry, irritated skin. It is designed to be absorbed by the skin quickly and moisturizes and deeply hydrates while repairing fungal damage. It also reduces acne flare-ups. Don’t use lip gloss or chopsticks, because these types of products can actually worsen the problem.

For white tongue with black or dark spots, small blisters in the corner of the mouth and yellow smelly tongue use Chilcoatl spray to reduce fungus problems, including Candida. Chilcoatl is the skin care regimen to follow in this summer of COVID-19, which is also the summer of Candida.

Is the face mask needed protection? Many studies are available and more coming, which say it is not, I encourage you to see a video on YouTube by Doctor Kelly Victory. The name of that video is, “The Truth about COVID-19”. Fortunately, and unfortunately, we live in Mexico, and the masks are state-mandated, so we will continue to use them.