What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Mask?

Taylyn Washington-Harmon is the associate editor at Health.com. A former social media guru, she's worked for a number of lifestyle and beauty brands and has previously written for SELF and STAT. She loves skincare, anime, and her pitbull Momo.

Dr. Anju Goel, MD, MPH, is a public health consultant and physician with more than 10 years of experience in the California public health system.

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Wearing a mask has several benefits. It can keep you from inhaling any respiratory hazards, such as particles of dust or smoke, poor air quality, and germs. Masks can also protect others and reduce the spread of infections if you have an illness.

Research has found that wearing masks, along with social distancing, has significantly curbed the spread of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19. KN95 and N95 respirators have been shown to offer strong protection.

Masks can help prevent you from spreading germs if you're already ill. Wearing a mask decreases the likelihood that you will exhale and spread germs into the surrounding air.

Infectious diseases can spread from exposure to droplets containing germs that cause diseases. Masks protect you from inhaling droplets when people around you breathe, cough, sneeze, or talk.

A 2022 study showed that one person wearing a mask is partially protected from infectious droplet exposure from others with SARS-CoV-2. One-way masking is better than not using a mask—in other words, one person wearing a mask is better than no one wearing a mask.

Masks protect people who have a weak immune system. They reduce or prevent exposure to germs that can make you very sick if you are immunocompromised. This means you have an immune system that does not work properly.

Immune system dysfunction may occur due to:

Wearing a mask could decrease allergen exposure, especially if you have pollen allergies. A mask that covers your mouth and nose helps filter out pollen or irritants. Masks also change the moisture and temperature level of the air you breathe in, further reducing allergy symptoms.

Wearing a mask can protect your respiratory system and general health when there is poor air quality because of pollutants. Categories of poor air quality range from moderate to hazardous on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

The AQI measures levels of the following pollutants with Clean Air Act regulations:

All healthy children and adults should wear a mask when necessary. Talk to a healthcare provider to determine if and when to wear a mask if you are sick or at risk of getting very sick.

The following people should not or may not be able to wear a mask:

An effective mask will fit well: It won't be too tight or loose. It will also have high filtration of particles and droplets, measured by a percentage. High filtration means the mask does a good job of protecting you from those particles and droplets.

The most effective masks are ones approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH-approved masks (or respirators) are tight-fitting and have higher filtration rates—usually greater than 95%. These masks also are best at protecting you and others when worn correctly.

The next best option is international filtering respirators such as KN95s. They offer at least 80% filtration and are also tight-fitting. Other masks—including barrier face coverings, disposable masks, and cloth masks—can have variable filtration and fit. While not as effective as N95s or KN95s, disposable masks can be easy to find, comfortable to wear, and better than cloth masks or no mask at all.

Follow this guidance to ensure proper mask wear:

You can wear a cloth mask on top of a disposable mask or a mask brace over disposable or cloth masks. You can also knot and tuck three-ply mask ear loops.

Masks have been used to protect against COVID and other infectious illnesses. Wearing them has other benefits. Masks may keep your allergy symptoms from getting worse, or they can keep you from pollutant exposure.

NIOSH-approved masks are the most effective, though other masks may be helpful, too, depending on the type of mask. Not everyone can wear a mask, but you should wear one that has a snug, comfortable fit if you can and when necessary.

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