Nearly half of Americans say they're now wearing masks whenever they leave the house, according to a recent Gallup poll. And while it seems more and more people are warming up to the idea universal mask-wearing, in the dog days of summer, wearing a mask can be a bit uncomfortable. There are a handful of tricks, however, to help you stay cool in the summer of COVID-19.
- Avoid dark-colored masks.
The single best bit of advice? Wear light-colored masks over dark-colored ones. "Light-colored clothing reflects most of the visible wavelengths which, in turn, absorbs less heat," writes Aldrin Gomes, PhD, professor of Physiology and Membrane Biology at UC Davis.
- Make sure your mask isn't made of polyester.
Make sure your mask is made of a breathable fabric like cotton over a polyester blend, which can hold heat to your face. Not only will cotton masks make you cooler, but they are also often more effective, according to Christopher Zangmeister, a researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and co-author of a recent mask study published in the journal ACS Nano.
- Bring a spare mask.
Sometimes, the heat simply cannot be beaten, which can turn even a light-colored cotton mask into a swampy swath of fabric. A mask that's dampened with exhaled moisture or sweat has increased resistance to airflow, and is also less efficient at filtering bacteria, according to Nursing Times.
- Stay hydrated.
Virtually all good health advice includes proper hydration, and wearing a mask is no exception. "Whether you're wearing a mask or not, always stay hydrated while you're out and about," write the experts of Penn Medicine.
Link:BestLifeOnline