Common Mask Complications

Students share their difficulties they experience while wearing a mask.

Taylor Doyen

Mask requirements are similar throughout schools across the nation. While wearing masks, it is common to have small difficulties.

Taylor Doyen and Hailey Fitzmaurice
September 13, 2020

The new practice of wearing masks to help keep each other safe from COVID-19 can also bring inconveniences. Possible mask glitches could be eyeglasses fogging up or finding a mask that fits properly. Students of PIHS shared some explanation of common mask problems as the 2020 school year begins.

1. “Mascne” or Mask Acne

Nobody likes breaking out, but what if you found out the reason for your acne was related to your mask? Some people may suffer from their mask creating sensitivity on the lower half of their face. Chacity Gendreau ‘23 stated, “After I wear my mask for a while, it irritates my face and makes me break out.”

2. Sizing

Another common problem is finding the perfect fitting mask. A small fitting mask can cause ear pain from pulling too tightly. Sierra Farley ‘23 said, “Sometimes towards the end of the day my ears start to hurt from the strings of my mask.” A loose mask can also cause problems. For example, not staying above your nose. Haley Cormier ‘23 said, “My mask is always slipping down, and it’s annoying to keep pulling it back up, over and over.”

Bella Quirino ‘23 demonstrates a break to alleviate some behind-the-ear pain associated with a poor fitting face mask.

 

Haley Cormier ‘23 showing her mask slipping below her nose.

3. Eyeglasses

When you put on the safety goggles in a science lab or your own shades or glasses, the mask can lead to difficulties. This fogging up goes away, but for a moment it’s tough to see.

4. Personal Issues

Mask problems can be more unique and personal to a person. For example, Ben Whitney ‘21 got his braces off, and no one really noticed, due to the mask covering his mouth. “I had my braces for three years and no one noticed when I got them off!” Whitney said.

5. Breathing

Of course everyone finds that wearing a mask makes you slightly more aware of your breathing. Grant Stubbs ‘24 said, “I don’t like my mask, because it gets hard to breath after awhile.” Simple tasks, such as walking upstairs, can give the impression of being more difficult, because of the masked breathing.  Morgan Seward ‘22 said, “I don’t like wearing a mask because when I go up the stairs it’s harder to breath with it on.”

Grant Stubbs ‘24 demonstrates proper mask fit.

Although there are inconveniences with the masks, PIHS students have shown they’re on board with wearing them. Jocelyn Gagnon ‘23 said, “We’ve had to wear them for so long, that I don’t really notice it anymore.”