Have you noticed people wearing face masks incorrectly? Sometimes they are so loose that they keep falling below the person’s nose. Then they have to fiddle with it to try and get it back in place for a few minutes. Touching the mask repeatedly is counterproductive. What can you do to wear a face mask correctly? This reader wants some specific recommendations.
Many People Do Not Wear a Face Mask Correctly!
Q. At least half of the people who wear face masks do so improperly, with their noses exposed, which is the same as not wearing a mask. Thick beards also impair mask function. How can people use masks more effectively?
A. Even N95 respirators don’t work as well as they should if they don’t fit properly. If a mask is loose and slips below the nose, it cannot do the job.
Face masks held on by ear loops rather than secured firmly to the head may not fit tightly enough to provide meaningful protection (JAMA Internal Medicine, online, Nov. 23, 2020).
Here, in his own words, is the author of this research letter:
“When comparing a surgical mask with head ties vs a procedure mask with ear loops, there was a large difference in fitted filtration efficiencies (FFEs) (71.5% v 38.1%, respectively). Even more worrying, there was also a similar trend of poor FFE performance for N95 respirators designed with ear loops vs those with head straps.”
He goes on to state that:
“…future design and manufacture of N95 respirators may need to exclude ear loops altogether. The current approval process with a focus on mask filter performance may also need to be updated, to consider how they are held in place. From a physics perspective, the forces generated by elastic ear loops are unlikely to be stronger than head ties or straps, which are needed to ensure better fit on the user’s face, especially for N95 respirators.”
N95 respirators vs. Cloth Face Masks?
Remember that N95 respirators are considered the best face masks for healthcare professionals. That’s because they are supposed to have high filtration efficiency. Here is what the FDA says about N95 respirators:
“An N95 respirator is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. Note that the edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19). Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.”
The People’s Pharmacy Perspective on How to Wear A Face Mask Correctly:
First, even the great N95 face masks can only work well when they are really snug on the face. Ear loops just don’t do the job adequately.
I am sure you have seen people with their face mask below their nose. People keep trying to tug up their cloth face masks because they are so loose. If we are to believe the research, we all need much better face masks than the one-size-fits-all that are so common.
To learn more about the proper way to wear a face mask correctly, you may wish to consult the “Comprehensive Guide to Face Masks” from the Cleveland Clinic.
ConsumerLab.com says these KN95 masks meet standards and are as good as N95 masks. However, they do use ear loops to hold them in place.
Share your own thoughts about face masks in the comment section below. There have been a lot of public health messages about face masks, but not a lot of information about how to wear a face mask correctly.
Do you think the government should make high-quality face masks that fit snugly available to the public at a reasonable cost? What about N95 masks? Should the public be able to acquire them? After all this time it seems as if there should be an abundance of high-quality face masks available for free or at a reduced cost. What do you think?
