J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Apr 1. One more paper towel, longer protection. Yu N1, Wu L2, Su J1, Huang K1, Zhao S3, Chen X4. Author information 1 Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan, China; Dermatology Department of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan, China. 2 Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan, China. 3 Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan, China; Dermatology Department of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan, China. Electronic address: shuangxy@csu.edu.cn. 4 Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan, China; Dermatology Department of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan, China. Electronic address: chenxiangck@126.com. CHALLENGE Nowadays, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc all over the world. Due to the shortage of surgical mask resources, the saving use of surgical mask has become a prominent topic of the public. The life cycle of a surgical mask is usually about 4 hours. One of the factors which limits the effective useful life of surgical mask is the high humidity of the wearer’s expired air and the splutter lead to trapping of moisture in the masks1 .This not only lead to growth of bacteria, but also stimulate delicate skins in face. THE SOLUTION Paper towels are daily necessities, which are high absorbent and popular price. The surgical mask with a paper towel significantly reduces the amount of water vapor and the splutter exhaled from the mouth. To ensure the ability to absorb water vapor, a paper towel may be properly folded in half (about 1-2 times, moderate thickness), forming a rectangle. The size of paper towel should be adjusted according to the mouth position and within the range of the mask. Then the folded paper towel is placed on the inside and middle of the mask(Figure 1). Finally, put on your mask. The paper towel can be changed when you feel uncomfortable or are 30 minutes intervals. Through our practice, the mask with a paper towel is more moisture resistant than without it and skin-friendly. We hope this idea will be conducive to the prevention and control of COVID-19. KEYWORDS: COVID-19; Paper towel; Surgical Mask
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