In this period of the Covid-19 pandemic, a protective mask has become a common object
of use to contain virus transmission. The imminent need for masks has led many governments
to produce them, including surgical masks with
mask earloop or masks with side cuts at the ears. Among those on the market, surgical
masks with elastic loops are the ones most chosen by parents for their children. These
elastics cause constant compression on the skin and, consequently, on the cartilage of the
auricle, leading to erythematous and painful lesions of the retroauricular skin when the
masks are used for many hours a day. Pre-adolescent children have undeveloped auricular
cartilage with less resistance to deformation; prolonged pressure from the elastic loops of
the mask at the hollow or, even worse, at the anthelix level can influence the correct
growth and angulation of the outer ear. In fact, unlike when using conservative methods for
the treatment of protruding ears, this prolonged pressure can increase the cephaloauricular
angle of the outer auricle. It is important for the authorities supplying the masks to be
aware of this potential risk and for alternative solutions to be found while maintaining
the possibility of legitimate prevention of the potential spread of the virus.
We read with interest the article by Ors [1] on prominent ear deformities and its
recurrence rate. This article gives us the opportunity to better understand the
effectiveness of nonsurgical options for the treatment of ear anomalies in young patients
(5–14 years).
The current COVID-19 pandemic has imposed the worldwide use of masks in addition to
social distancing. The use of masks applies to everyone, even children, certainly if over
the age of 5–6 years.
The masks distributed to the population by government bodies are of various types, both
as regards to their shape and the systems for fastening them to the head, but, basically,
they are divided into 4 large categories: masks with elastic (ear loops), strips of fabric
with lateral slits (side cuts at the ears), with tapes, single cervical band.
Small children are rarely made to wear the masks with tapes, due to the difficulty in
positioning and tying the tapes.
The “single band” masks that wrap around the neck have the drawback of sliding
downwards and, therefore, not keeping the nose covered; furthermore, if used during the
summer season, they tend to produce a humid microenvironment that favours the development
of dermatitis and eczema.
Many adults (health care workers and others) complain about discomfort associated with
round elastic earloop
, due to the continuous pressure of the elastic behind the ear. Several methods have
been proposed to overcome this problem: from the use of hairpins to hang the elastic bands
from the forehead to the use of various types of bands that pass behind the back of the
neck and to which the loops of the mask are attached. However, these methods used by adults
are not used by children, resulting in constant pressure of the elastic on the skin of the
posterior portion of the auricle.
All bodies subject to the action of a force undergo deformation, which depends not only
on the intensity of the force applied, but also on the nature of the body itself. In
general, deformations can be of two types: elastic, which disappear when the force is no
longer applied, and non-elastic, which remain even after applying the force. Cartilage has
memory thanks to the presence of elastic fibres; although this allows it to return to its
initial condition when deformed, if the stimulus persists, it can lead to permanent changes
in its conformation.
This principle has been used for many years for the conservative correction of
protruding ears [1, 2]. Obviously, in order to use these non-surgical correction techniques
(e.g. bands, patches, ear splint therapy) with benefit, the development of the various
components of the ear must not be completed. This can happen if applied in children who are
less than 8–10 years old, because after that age the cranial volume, with its appendages,
almost completely reaches total growth [3]. The literature reports important successes in
the treatment of protruding ears with conservative methods, with a success rate that shows
a decline from 91% in infants to 33% in 9-year-old children [1, 2, 4].
The main advantage of this treatment is that it keeps the splint in position for a long
time, so that it can exert constant pressure on the growing cartilage, changing it into the
desired shape.
The success of these conservative methods confirms that a constant pressure maintained
for a long time on the cartilage of the ear of growing children can change the shape and
increase the cephaloauricular angle of the outer auricle.
Griffin et al. have demonstrated that the cartilage of the auricle has a homogeneous
structure, although the concha has a greater resistance to deformation than the helix [5].
This resistance is comparable to that of nasal cartilage (about 200 times lower than the
resistance of Medpor prostheses used for ear reconstruction). The concha had a greater rate
of loading than the antihelix when taking into consideration the anatomical structure of
the cartilages. One reason for this difference may be that the concha is a curved
structure, which can support compressive loads [5]. Therefore, if a constant elastic force
were applied at the level of the concha, it would be less harmful than if applied at the
antihelix level.
It is well known that the pressure of the
mask elastic on the skin of the posterior concha of the auricle for a long time
causes pain and erythema, due to the continuous rubbing of the elastic on the skin in the
same position. This has led some users to apply silicone rear ear supports that decrease
decubitus, but increase the distance of the auricle from the mastoid region. Others, on the
other hand, prefer to change the position of the elastic by moving it more towards the
antihelix than the mastoid region, thus applying an elastic force in an area where the
cartilage has less resistance, with a consequent increase in the cephaloauricular angle of
the outer auricle.
Therefore, the use of surgical masks with flat elastic earloop in growing children for many hours
a day not only leads to intolerance and decubitus of the retroauricular skin (as for
adults), but can also influence the correct growth and angulation of the outer ear with the
consequent increase in the incidence of protrusion of the outer auricle (Fig. 2a and b).
One alternative to the surgical mask is the earmuffs mask (in which the ears are
completely wrapped, held in place by mask elastic cord at the back of the ear) or the band mask with lateral
slits at the ears: also these models, due to their conformation, tend to create a constant
pressure on the antihelix, increasing the auriculocephalic angle (Fig. 2c).
Many scientific societies of paediatrics and pedagogy have raised doubts about the
risks that this situation of forced constriction by Covid-19 can cause on the normal
psychophysical development of children; however, it has never been pointed out how the use
of surgical masks with ear loops can be harmful to the correct development of the auricle
by permanently modifying the cartilage of the concha in growing children.
We are confident that highlighting this potential complication to those involved in the
procurement of masks will stimulate the search for alternative solutions, while maintaining
the possibility of legitimate prevention of the potential spread of the virus.
Face masks are an essential part of protecting yourself and others from coronavirus,
but that doesn't make them any easier to wear. Over the past few weeks, we've
realized firsthand how masks can wreak all sorts of havoc on our skin. Now many of us are
dealing with another unfortunate side effect: discomfort on our ears.
Those loops that keep your mask in place can put a lot of pressure on your ears and
aggravate your skin, but there are a few ways to prevent that. From skin care tips to face
mask ear savers, these are the tricks experts swear by.
The majority of us only wear a mask on Halloween as temporary props we can take off at
any time. But now that we're wearing masks out in public on a regular basis, we're
quickly realizing that they can be uncomfortable.
"Moisture and friction can cause irritation, as prolonged mask use can irritate
sensitive skin. Some masks are tied around the head, and some are fastened by loops that go
over and around the ears, so the ears can (be) irritated as well," said Dr. David
Lortscher, board-certified dermatologist and CEO of skin care brand Curology.
Irritation can show up in many forms, including bruising, raw skin or increased acne
and breakouts.
When face mask straps rub against your ears, they create friction that can result in
inflammation in the outer skin layer and blistering.
"This can cause open wounds or scabbing of the skin, which increases your risk of
developing an infection. Plus it makes it a challenge to apply a mask again over those
areas," said Dr. Joshua Zeichner, board-certified dermatologist and director of
cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital's department of dermatology.
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