Wearing a mask is a part of everyday life, but that doesn’t mean it is the easiest thing to wear. It can make your glasses fog up, make your mouth dry and also cause your ears to hurt. But they keep us safe! So, how can you wear a mask without hurting your ears?
You can wear masks without hurting your ears by attaching the elastic loops to paper clips and connecting them at the back of your head. Or attach buttons to a headband and loop the mask elastic around them. Make sure you are taking proper care of your ears and have breaks from masks during the day.
To help you out, we’ve compiled the best advice that can stop your mask from hurting your ears!
How do I stop my ears from hurting when I wear a mask?
Invest in a quality mask instead of double masking
By using two masks, you are applying more pressure around your ears that will cause them to hurt. Sometimes mask elastic starts to dig into the back of your ears. By double-masking, the pressure will increase a lot and behind your ears will start to hurt sooner.
A lot of people double-mask because they think it will offer them better protection. But you want to be comfortable as well as protected, especially with how often masks are worn. You’re better off investing in a high-quality mask that won’t put as much pressure on your ears instead of double masking.
Get the right mask ear loop fabric
The fabric of a mask can make all the difference in helping stop your ears from hurting. Some fabrics might feel harsher on your skin than others. Your ears will feel more pressure from different kinds of face masks, and this can easily irritate your ears.
Many people find that a triple layered reusable cloth mask is better for their ears because the elastic is not as harsh, and the material is soft. Others prefer level 2 surgical masks because they are designed to be worn for hours with a gentle elastic for the ear loops. Picking the right ear-loop mask can be a trial-and-error process, but it saves your ears in the end.
Use the headband mask method
Your ears hurt from the mask elastic that tucks around them and the constant pressure this has. To avoid this, lots of people have been using the headband method. This is where they attach their masks to headbands so that there is no pressure on their ears. They just have to wear the headband. For this method, you will need:
- Thread
- Needle
- Buttons
- Fabric headband
First, you try on your headband and mark the position where it sits right above the ears. Once that’s marked, you can sew a button on that spot on each side of the headband. After that, you put your mask loop on the buttons instead of the ears. Your chin will help keep your mask down when you’re wearing this.
It’s a very easy and simple method that will keep your ears from hurting all day. This can also be done with a hat for when you’re outside!
Use the paperclip mask method
If you can’t use the headband method, you can always use the paperclip method because it will work just as well. All you have to do is loop the ear loops through paperclips and attach them together on the back of your head. It will put less pressure on the ear as the paperclip will do the job of holding the mask together.
The paperclip method is one of the best hacks for people who wear masks for hours. The reduced pressure on both your ears and face makes it easy to wear this mask all day. Be sure to fasten it appropriately so it doesn’t come loose. You can use multiple paper clips if you need to so that the mask isn’t super tight around your head.
Wear a non-elastic mask
If the elastic material irritates your ears no matter what you do, you can always avoid wearing elastic masks altogether. Instead, you can wear a mask that comes with tie designs. These can be stylish cloth masks that have ribbons that you can tie at the back of your head. There are also medical-grade tie masks. Again, it reduced any pressure from mask elastics and can be much more comfortable.
The best part about these masks is that they won’t come close to your ears or rub them in a way that might cause irritation to you. There are a lot of masks to choose from out there! It’s a good idea to take a look at all of the face mask types and benefits to see if one will better suit your needs.
Take breaks from wearing masks
If your ears still hurt and you become sore from wearing any type of mask, you need to take breaks to help your ears recover. You can go outside during your break or go to an open area of the workplace where you can take off your mask.
Doing this for ten minutes from time to time will help relieve pressure from your ears, and they will hurt less. You will be surprised at how much a ten-minute break from masks will help. But if it isn’t quite enough, switch up the style of mask you are using. Take a break from earloop masks and try one of the other methods we’ve mentioned like the paperclip one.
Take care of your ears
To help reduce the irritation from mask-wearing, you should be taking care of your ears. Add some ear care into your nighttime routine. You could moisturise your ears to prevent chafing or rashes from a mask. Use other ointments and creams to keep your ears hydrated throughout the day. You can also massage your ears to feel better.
Taking care of your ears prevents any damage from the masks that might stay around for a long time. Your ears will feel less sore and not become irritated as easily.
Trying these techniques is the best way to find the right one for you. But taking care of your ears when wearing face masks is very important, so make sure to be moisturising!
While you’re trying to find a mask that won’t hurt your ears, have you wondered what face mask is best for glasses? You should also learn about why you use facemask filters.
