9 Covid-19 Skin Care Trends That Are Here To Stay

From increased interest in experimenting with injectables to treatments for ‘maskne,’ here’s how the coronavirus pandemic is changing how people approach skin care, according to dermatologists.

Now that COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the world, and shifting mask guidelines have also left many people wanting to put their best face forward. In most instances, fully vaccinated folks no longer need to wear a mask when out in public.

The pandemic certainly changed the way people thought about their skin, and in an article addressed to the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in June 2020, researchers discussed their analysis of search trends on Google to see what patients were interested in. They found that people’s searches for general skin conditions (like acne or eczema), skin cancer, and cosmetic treatments declined during the pandemic. For skin cancer and cosmetic treatments, interest hadn’t yet returned to baseline levels when the study was published. Now that the pandemic has been going on for some time, many people are returning to their regularly scheduled dermatology appointments in search of help with acne, wrinkles, or that much-needed skin cancer check. Here are the skin-care trends that boardcertified dermatologists are seeing in the time of post COVID-19 — and what they predict will stick around for the years to come.

BOTOX IN THE EYE AREA

Even though part of the face may be covered with a mask for part or all of the day, patients are still looking to smooth lines and wrinkles: “Botox became more popular in the time of mask wearing,” says Robert Anolik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Laser and Skin Surgery Center in New York City. That’s because the area that your mask isn’t covering — your forehead and eyes — has always remained visible and largely became a focal point, and people requested Botox to reduce crow’s feet. But eyes still need to be able to show your emotions. You want someone to see your smile or notice how happy you are to see them. If you’re worried that injectables will freeze your face so that people can’t discern your expressions, Dr. Anolik adds that well-done injectables like Botox should allow your smile to come through even if you are wearing a mask. Botox in the crow’s-feet area still allows for skin movement, so people will know you’re flashing a grin. “The main way anyone looks frozen or artificial with Botox is an immobile upper forehead, and that should never be done, with or without wearing a mask,” he says.

BOTOX INJECTIONS AROUND LIPS

Some vaccinated people who aren’t wearing masks while out and about will be looking to show off what they weren’t able to for the past year-plus: their lips. So, in addition to Botox around the eyes, people are also using the injectable around the mouth to create a more youthful pout, dermatologists like Anolik have observed. “There’s also more interest in using Botox during the facial treatment to soften lip lines and cause ‘lip flips,’ which is when we inject units of Botox at the lip edge, allowing more visibility of the lips themselves,” says Anolik.

TELEMEDICINE AS THE NEW ‘PREDERMATOLOGIST’ APPOINTMENT

Telemedicine was a growing field before COVID-19, but after stay-at-home orders shut things down, it exploded. “Teledermatolgy is here to stay,” Anolik says. “However, I don’t feel it’s the best place to start — but it is a possible place to start,” he adds, noting that in-person consultations allow dermatologists to better visualize the skin and notice characteristics like skin texture. Consider using your office’s telemedicine platform to diagnose minor rashes and for initial appointments where you might ask “Does XYZ problem look like I need to come in?” he says. It’s best to have skin concerns checked in person so your doctor will be able to see the nuances of the skin bump, rash, or discoloration, but a video appointment can be a smart first step if you’re still wary about going in.

MASKNE’ AND OTHER MASKRELATED SKIN IRRITATION

From “maskne” and rosacea to perioral dermatitis — an acne-like rash around the mouth, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) — a variety of skin woes surfaced when mask mandates were implemented.

If you’re still battling these kinds of effects, you’re not alone. Before mask mandates changed for vaccinated individuals, “I truly had 10 people a day who come into my office with one of these problems from wearing a mask — minimum,” says Sapna Palep, MD, the founder of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. Increased warmth and humidity within the mask provides an ideal environment for the bacteria that cause acne and for clogged pores, another cause of acne. The heat and humidity also aggravate rosacea or cause irritation that leads to perioral dermatitis. Dr. Palep urges people to stop using oil- or serumbased skin-care products. For instance, if you’re using an anti-aging retinol serum at night, switch to a more pure retinoid gel, like Differin gel 0.1 percent. Stop any retinoid use at the first sign of redness or irritation, and experiment with applying the retinoid less frequently. If you have a choice, wear masks made of cotton, which is lightweight and breathable. If mask-wearing is triggering rosacea or perioral dermatitis, visit your dermatologist. In the meantime, use mild, gentle products designed for sensitive skin.

SKIN REDNESS AND TONECORRECTING PROCEDURES

Another mask-related woe that’s sticking around: skin redness. “I’m seeing so much interest in treating skin redness,” says Anolik, adding that he believes masks irritate the skin and led to more redness and visible blood vessels. Plus, appearing on Zoom from our ongoing virtual offices tends to make people look “paler and pinker,” he says, making patients interested in pursuing a more even tone. Anolik recommends using hydrating moisturisers that contain hyaluronic acid or ceramides to target irritation. For day-of color correction, green-based concealers or primers can help counteract redness. For a more longterm solution, laser procedures, like a pulsed dye laser or a KTP laser, are other options that Anolik recommends for certain patients. Laser therapy uses an “intense yet gentle” beam of light to destroy visible blood vessels that contribute to redness, explains the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). Talk to your dermatologist about what they suggest based on your goals.

LIP FILLERS

During the pandemic, dermatologists have observed more people seeking a plumper pout via lip fillers. At least while masking is still being done, the demand for this procedure, which can require 24 to 48 hours of downtime, seems here to stay. “In some ways, there’s a rush to get in while masks are still an option,” Anolik says. During that downtime, skin is healing, and some people may develop bruising and swelling, he adds. Your doctor will likely ask that you limit physical activity during this time, according to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons. The good news about wearing a mask (even if you wouldn’t otherwise wear one right now) is that you can go about your low-key daily activities until swelling subsides — and no one will be the wiser.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

If you have bothersome wayward hairs on your upper lip or chin, laser hair removal is an option to permanently remove them. The laser damages the hair follicle, but a series of treatments is needed to stop growth, says the AAD. One drawback is that getting laser hair removal makes skin more sensitive to the sun, so it’s often discouraged in the summer months. Laser hair removal emerged as a pandemic trend because patients could easily cover up the area while skin recovered from the procedure, says Palep. The same goes for present day, where masking is still the norm for many people. A mask will add an extra layer of sun protection for lasered facial areas when you’re outdoors and it disguises potential side effects, like redness or minor swelling. You’ll likely need up to six treatments, spaced one month apart (and then one treatment a year as a touch-up), she says, but you may not need to wait until fall to start.

RADIOFREQUENCY MICRONEEDLING

When COVID-19 restrictions cleared people’s social calendars, it created an opportunity for patients to get treatments that require some downtime, says Palep. And even as our social schedules begin to fill up again, many people are taking it slowly — and prioritizing procedures that demand a little recovery time. Radiofrequency microneedling is one of those treatments. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, radiofrequency heats skin to stimulate collagen production, and the microneedlingcauses minor damage to the skin with fine needles, which also promotes collagen. A radiofrequency microneedling treatment combines the two. You may be red for a couple of days or your skin may appear pixelated for up to a week, she says, but the results are worth it. “This addresses everything from texture to pores, wrinkles, scarring, discoloration, and uneven skin tone,” says Palep, adding that these treatments can be safe for all skin types. Skin Cancer Screenings

SKIN CANCER PIC

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that people with a normal risk of skin cancer get an annual “skin check” exam at the dermatologist (and if you’re at a higher risk of skin cancer, your doctor will advise that you go more often). During the beginning of the pandemic, though, COVID-19 derailed many patients’ schedules, which concerned Anolik: “Routine screening saves lives,” he says. “Given the reduced rate of screenings last year, I worry many of these problems are festering unnoticed.” Now that dermatologists’ offices are increasingly open and extending their hours, those who may have put off skin cancer screenings are trying to catch up. A research letter published in January 2021 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that the number of skin cancer diagnoses has roughly returned to 2019 baselines, but that a “substantial” backlog of undiagnosed cases remains — so here’s your helpful reminder to make a call and get on back on your dermatologist’s calendar. After all, 99 percent of skin cancers can be cured if caught early, per the SCF.