Alert! They're right about face masks increasing touching of the face.

[LAS14]

I've begun wearing a face mask out of the house, but on walks I only pull it up when I see someone approaching. Today 30 seconds from the time I pulled it back down, I scratched my nose. I sanitized it as soon as I got home, but I'm thinking about what happens if you have to wear it all the time and are doing other things.

[cynatnite]

1. You get used to it...

At least that's how it was for me when I worked in medical. There were times that we wore them for an entire day and it didn't take long to not think about it.

I've got a couple of scarfs if I need them.

[cayugafalls]

2. I gotten almost mental about the procedure when coming home.

I have to, I'm immunocompromised. It is almost zen like to practice not touching your face when it itches.

I have to remove my mask and then wash or sanitize my hands before doing anything else. I also wear gloves so, yea, I am mental about the procedures I take.

Stay well.

[Demovictory9]

3. cloths masks for putting in washing pile when you get home. so you need more than one

[Chainfire]

4. The masks are not magic

You have to work with them to make them effective.

[Drahthaardogs]

5. You aren't wearing it properly

You don't pull it up and down just when people approaching. You put it on, keep it on, then take it off and wash it.

[LisaL]

6. Yes, exactly. You have to leave it on.

And not touch it.

[RobinA]

7. So What If You

have to wear one at work and it has to be good for a week? I sanitize my hands before I take the mask off.

My problem is my glasses ride up due the the mask and I end up looking through the reading part of my lens and I can’t see. Which makes me touch my glasses... Masks were not made to be worn by people who don’t have to wear masks. They come in sizes, because they have to fit right to work. If I were a surgeon, I would have to have glasses that allow me to see with the kind of mask I wore.

[pnwmom]

9. Make multiple masks and wash a mask after a single use.

Go to youtube and look at different designs for one that looks easy enough for you and would fit your face. There are lots of them.

For example:

&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1U9hH6BvgBXm1MpwPtV_gYP3No8cT3ZvNteAy1jraGQqQDXQ8JbD64bmg

[LAS14]

15. I don't see the logic.

If there are no other people in sight, why do I need to keep the mask on? It fogs my glasses.

Can't wash it. It's a surgical mask, but that's irrelevant to this discussion, I think.

[Drahthaardogs]

17. Because that's how you wear PPE

When you are out, consider everything a hot zone. You decontaminate when you get inside.

[RhodeIslandOne]

20. You have to get used to it on your face

If you keep pulling it off I'd figure the chances you have to keep readjusting and itching increase.

[Kaleva]

8. I don't understand the logic of pulling your mask down.

[LAS14]

16. It fogs my glasses. I only pull it down if no other people are in sight. nt

[Kaleva]

19. Your mask may not be fitted properly then.

If you have air leaking up.

I found that the bottom rims of my glasses, when put over the top of the mask, presses the mask snugly against my nose.

[pnwmom]

10. It's not the mask's fault if you scratch your face when you're not wearing it! n/t

[cwydro]

11. I see so many interviews on CNN or MSNBC with people pulling their masks down to talk.

Others with the mask just under nose, others readjusting the mask continually.

It’d be funny if it weren’t so pathetic and sad.

Masks aren’t magic.

[LisaL]

12. People aren't used to wearing them.

And some don't know what they are supposed to be doing. They should make some PSA videos like they did with hand washing, because most people weren't doing that correctly either.

[cwydro]

14. I agree.

But wearing masks or gloves won’t work for the average citizen.

People just need to not touch their faces.

That being said, it’s a respiratory virus. Wearing a mask can help.

[Ms. Toad]

13. That's you, not the mask.

Put it in place and leave it in place. I've worn two that I have made - both for several hours at a time.

I touch my face less, not more. But I don't pull my mask up and down.

Pulling your mask up and down seems to me to make the mask mostly useless because of the added risk of contamination. Wear the mask, breath in and suck micro-organisms against the front of the mask. Pull it down touching the contaminated surface, scratch your nose and contaminate your nose, pull the mask back up and smear the particles on the inside of the mask (from your nose) where they are easier to suck them into your nose as the now-contaminated surface moves back and forth across your nasal opening..

[Flaleftist]

18. I wore one today and did not touch my face or lift the mask to scratch.

I find it makes me more aware and I resist the urge. It makes it a little hard to breathe, but I see that as a good thing as it means the air is being filtered through the mask and not coming in through the sides. I keep an erasable pencil clipped on my shirt. If I feel the urge to scratch my face around the mask, I use the pencil. I'm careful to only handle it from the end and not touch the tip that I use to scratch.