Facial protection in the era of COVID-19: A narrative review

We live in extraordinary times, where COVID-19 pandemic has brought the whole world to a screeching halt. Tensions and contradictions that surround the pandemic ridden world include the availability, and the lack thereof, various facial protection measures to mitigate the viral spread. Here, we comprehensively explore the different types of facial protection measures, including masks, needed both for the public and the healthcare workers (HCW). We discuss the anatomy, the critical issues of disinfection and reusability of masks, the alternative equipment available for the protection of the facial region from airborne diseases, such as face shields and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR), and the skin health impact of prolonged wearing of facial protection by HCW. Clearly, facial protection, either in the form of masks or alternates, appears to have mitigated the pandemic as seen from the minimal COVID-19 spread in countries where public mask wearing is strictly enforced. On the contrary, the healthcare systems, that appear to have been unprepared for emergencies of this nature, should be appropriately geared to handle the imbalance of supply and demand of personal protective equipment including face masks. These are two crucial lessons we can learn from this tragic experience.

Automated summary

We are living in extraordinary times with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the world to a standstill. The use of facial protection measures, such as masks, has played a crucial role in mitigating the spread of the virus. Public and healthcare workers both require different types of facial protection measures, and the proper disinfection and reuse of masks should be emphasized. The healthcare systems should be adequately prepared to handle the imbalance in supply and demand of personal protective equipment, including face masks.