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Facial Skin Temperature and Discomfort When Wearing Protective Face Masks: Thermal Infrared Imaging Evaluation and Hands Moving the Mask

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Scarano

    (Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Francesco Inchingolo

    (Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy)

  • Felice Lorusso

    (Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

Abstract

Individual respiratory protective devices and face masks represent critical tools in protecting health care workers in hospitals and clinics, and play a central role in decreasing the spread of the high-risk pandemic infection of 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The aim of the present study was to compare the facial skin temperature and the heat flow when wearing medical surgical masks to the same factors when wearing N95 respirators. A total of 20 subjects were recruited and during the evaluation, each subject was invited to wear a surgical mask or respirator for 1 h. The next day in the morning at the same hour, the same subject wore a N95 mask for 1 h with the same protocol. Infrared thermal evaluation was performed to measure the facial temperature of the perioral region and the perception ratings related to the humidity, heat, breathing difficulty, and discomfort were recorded. A significant difference in heat flow and perioral region temperature was recorded between the surgical mask and the N95 respirator ( p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference in humidity, heat, breathing difficulty, and discomfort was present between the groups. The study results suggest that N95 respirators are able to induce an increased facial skin temperature, greater discomfort and lower wearing adherence when compared to the medical surgical masks.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Scarano & Francesco Inchingolo & Felice Lorusso, 2020. "Facial Skin Temperature and Discomfort When Wearing Protective Face Masks: Thermal Infrared Imaging Evaluation and Hands Moving the Mask," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-9, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4624-:d:377061
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonio Scarano & Felice Lorusso & Merla Arcangelo & Camillo D’Arcangelo & Renato Celletti & Pablo Santos De Oliveira, 2018. "Lateral Sinus Floor Elevation Performed with Trapezoidal and Modified Triangular Flap Designs: A Randomized Pilot Study of Post-Operative Pain Using Thermal Infrared Imaging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hermógenes Fernández-Marín & Gaspar Bruner-Montero & Ana Portugal-Loayza & Virginia Miranda & Alcibiades Elias Villarreal Dominguez & Eduardo Ortega-Barría & Virginia Núñez-Samudio & Iván Landires & L, 2021. "Dynamics of Mask Use as a Prevention Strategy against SARS-CoV-2 in Panama," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Qiang Wang & Min Su & Min Zhang & Rongrong Li, 2021. "Integrating Digital Technologies and Public Health to Fight Covid-19 Pandemic: Key Technologies, Applications, Challenges and Outlook of Digital Healthcare," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-50, June.
    3. Grace Vogt & Kimberley Radtke & Andrew Jagim & Dominique Peckumn & Teresa Lee & Richard Mikat & Carl Foster, 2022. "Effect of Face Masks on Physiological and Perceptual Responses during 30 Minutes of Self-Paced Exercise in Older Community Dwelling Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Kai Kisielinski & Paul Giboni & Andreas Prescher & Bernd Klosterhalfen & David Graessel & Stefan Funken & Oliver Kempski & Oliver Hirsch, 2021. "Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-42, April.
    5. Jennifer L. Scheid & Shannon P. Lupien & Gregory S. Ford & Sarah L. West, 2020. "Commentary: Physiological and Psychological Impact of Face Mask Usage during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Philipp Kanzow & Viktoria Dylla & Alannah Malina Mahler & Valentina Hrasky & Tina Rödig & Felix Barre & Simone Scheithauer & Annette Wiegand, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect of Different Face Masks on Self-Perceived Dry Mouth and Halitosis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-7, August.
    7. Assunta Patano & Nunzio Cirulli & Matteo Beretta & Paola Plantamura & Alessio Danilo Inchingolo & Angelo Michele Inchingolo & Ioana Roxana Bordea & Giuseppina Malcangi & Grazia Marinelli & Antonio Sca, 2021. "Education Technology in Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-27, June.
    8. Giuseppina Malcangi & Assunta Patano & Giulia Palmieri & Lilla Riccaldo & Carmela Pezzolla & Antonio Mancini & Alessio Danilo Inchingolo & Daniela Di Venere & Fabio Piras & Francesco Inchingolo & Gian, 2023. "Oral Piercing: A Pretty Risk—A Scoping Review of Local and Systemic Complications of This Current Widespread Fashion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-12, May.
    9. Antonio Scarano & Francesco Inchingolo & Biagio Rapone & Felice Festa & Sergio Rexhep Tari & Felice Lorusso, 2021. "Protective Face Masks: Effect on the Oxygenation and Heart Rate Status of Oral Surgeons during Surgery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, February.
    10. Izabela Wojtasz & Szczepan Cofta & Paweł Czudaj & Krystyna Jaracz & Radosław Kaźmierski, 2022. "Effect of Face Masks on Blood Saturation, Heart Rate, and Well-Being Indicators in Health Care Providers Working in Specialized COVID-19 Center," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-9, January.
    11. Jennifer L. Scheid & Corinne Edwards & Michael Seils & Sarah L. West, 2022. "Perceived Exertion during Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity While Mask Wearing: A Quantitative and Qualitative Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Francis Gyapong & Ethel Debrah & Maame Oforiwaa & Abiola Isawumi & Lydia Mosi, 2022. "Challenges and Adverse Effects of Wearing Face Masks in the COVID-19 Era," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-7, December.
    13. Filip Raciborski & Mateusz Jankowski & Mariusz Gujski & Jarosław Pinkas & Piotr Samel-Kowalik & Artur Zaczyński & Igor Pańkowski & Kamil Rakocy & Waldemar Wierzba, 2020. "Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Police Officers in Poland—Implications for Public Health Policies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Bruna Sinjari & Imena Rexhepi & Manlio Santilli & Gianmaria D′Addazio & Piero Chiacchiaretta & Piero Di Carlo & Sergio Caputi, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Related Lockdown on Dental Practice in Central Italy—Outcomes of A Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.

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      Keywords

      N95 respirators; surgical mask; protective face masks; COVID-19; Infection control; Infrared Imaging;
      All these keywords.

      JEL classification:

      • N95 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Asia including Middle East

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