What to Do If Your Ears Hurt From Wearing a Mask for a Long Time? Try Tie-on Masks!
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, masks have become an essential item for daily travel and activities. However, a common minor annoyance after prolonged wear is the sharp pain in the ears caused by mask straps. Is there a way to solve this problem?
In fact, ear pain is inevitable if you wear
a mask correctly. When a mask is worn for 4 hours or more, the skin may show
pathological changes clinically similar to "early-stage pressure
ulcers".
There are three main reasons for ear pain
from long-term mask wear:
(1) Vertical Pressure
The ear loops of the mask subject the local
tissue behind the ears to continuous vertical pressure. If the mask is worn for
a long time, the local area bears pressure that exceeds the normal tolerance of
capillaries for an extended period, leading to redness, swelling, heat, and
pain. Generally, the blood vessels under the skin can withstand a pressure of
approximately 32 mmHg. If this pressure is exceeded, the local blood vessels
may become twisted and deformed, hindering blood flow and causing ischemia.
(2) Friction
Friction acting on the skin easily damages
the stratum corneum. When wearing a mask, the skin may experience reverse
frictional resistance from the surface of the ear loops. If the skin is abraded
and then soaked in sweat, it is prone to reactions similar to early-stage
pressure ulcers.
(3) Shear Force
Shear force refers to a force that, when
applied to an object, causes a parallel sliding movement in the opposite
direction. It is the combination of friction and vertical pressure. This force
disrupts local skin blood circulation, resulting in pain.
Therefore, ear pain is normal as long as
the mask is worn correctly, especially with N95 masks.
Solution for Ear Pain From Prolonged Mask
Wear
If you really need to wear a mask for a long time, you can try tie-on masks. Jianda Tie-on Masks provide you with a high-quality solution.
