Impact of mask-wearing on facial microbiome in sensitive skin

This study investigated mask-related changes in microbiome composition among 30 female volunteers with sensitive skin. Microbiome samples collected from the masked areas before and after wearing a medical mask were analyzed with bioinformatics methods. Mask-wearing significantly reduced bacterial diversity and was also associated with an increase in Cutibacterium (P = 0.110) and decreases in Streptococcus (P = 0.032) and Prevotella (P = 0.026) abundance.