Face Masks: Everything You Need To Know

About a Face Mask

While leaving the house, I always make sure to pick my face mask along with my car keys

and wallet. Likewise, Everyone is adopting this practice to stay safe and protected from the

COVID-19. However, If you have running questions like Why do wear a face mask? Who

should wear what, and how the different types of face mask work. This Ultimate Guide To

Face Masks will let you know everything that you need to know about a face mask.

What is Face Mask

A face mask is a portable physical protection barrier that primarily protects you and others

from the microbes that spread through airborne transmissions when you talk, sneeze, or

cough and protects you from incoming viral respiratory droplets as well.

Why Is It Important To Wear a Face Mask

Wearing a face mask will help prevent the spread of infection and prevent you and others

from contracting the airborne contagious infection, COVID-19. When someone coughs, talks,

or sneezes they could release germs into the air that may infect others nearby. Face masks

are part of an infection control strategy to eliminate cross-contamination.

What Are The Most Effective Type of Fase Masks

You’ve probably seen people wearing a variety of face masks during this pandemic. With so

many different types of face masks to choose from, it becomes overwhelming to narrow

down the options to choose the best that suits you. Different masks are recommended for

different situations.

Hierarchically, face masks have been divided into 3 different categories;

1. The Best Type of Face Mask - N95/ KN95 Respirator

2. The Better Type of Face Mask - Surgical Face Masks

3. The Good-One - Fabric Face Masks

N-95/KN-95 Face Mask - The Best Type of Face Mask

The N-95 respirator is the best protector against any type of contagious respiratory infection.

It’s designed to achieve a very close facial fit along with the edges designed to form a seal

around the nose and mouth and very efficient filtration of airborne particles.

What Makes N-95/KN-95 Different From Others

The purpose of respiratory protection is to prevent workers from being exposed to air that

has been contaminated by harmful dust, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, vapors, or

sprays to avoid occupational illness.

N-95/KN-95 masks are so-called because they are a U.S. standard that requires masks to

be able to filter out at least 95% of very small particles, including droplets containing the

coronavirus.

It offers the wearer:

● >99.9% (BFE) Bacterial Filtration Efficiency

● >99.5% (PFE) Particle Filtration Efficiency

● >99.9% (VFE) Viral Filtration Efficiency

Pros

● Have several protective layers

● Seals tight to block coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles

● Provides unparalleled protection

● Standard, one size respirator to fit almost any shape/size face

● Lightweight, Comfortable with longer wearing time.

● Allergy-free

Cons

● Reserved for medical health workers

Surgical Face Masks - The Better Type of Face Mask

A surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable protective equipment that creates a physical

barrier for the mouth and nose of the wearer against potential contaminants in the immediate

environment. These are part of an infection control strategy to eliminate cross-

contamination.

How Surgical Masks Are Different From N-95 Respirators

As the name implies, surgical masks are primarily for doctors to wear during surgery. It

protects the patient and doctor both from the surgeon’s and patient’s respiratory emissions,

as well as protecting the surgeon from any liquid, splashes, or bodily sprays.

Surgical masks are made in different thicknesses and with different abilities to protect you

from contact with liquids. These fall into three levels of barrier protection:

● Level 1: low barrier protection

● Level 2: moderate barrier protection

● Level 3: maximum barrier protection

Pros

● Two protective layers

● Blocks coarse and fine droplets

● May offer some additional protection if others don’t mask

● Medical grade certified

● Affordable and disposable

Cons

● Don’t filter ultrafine droplets

● Not designed for multiple uses

Fabric Face Masks - The Good-One

You don’t necessarily need to go out and shop for masks. You could simply cover your

mouth and nose with bandanas, scarves, or an old T-shirt. Alternatively, you can sew one at

home to mimic the surgical mask shape.

Effectiveness Of a Fabric Face Mask

The exact effectiveness of cloth face coverings is still unknown, but it’s believed that a fabric

face mask can offer a protective barrier against larger respiratory droplets to keep the

wearer from spreading an infection to others. Because many people may be asymptomatic

COVID-19 carriers, fabric face masks could help reduce the spread of the disease.

Pros

● Keeps others safe by preventing exhalation of viral particles

● Washable and reusable

● Easy to make on your own

Cons

● Less filtration

● No airborne particle protection

● Susceptible to some droplets

Final Thoughts

Wearing a face mask is one of the easiest and important ways we can all help stop the

spread of the coronavirus. But not all masks are created equal. A cloth face mask is most

effective against large droplets while staying six feet away from others.

So it’s downright surprising that surgical masks offer more effective protection than fabric

masks. But in my recommendation, the N-95/KN-95 face mask is the best option to choose

for protection against COVID-19. N-95 respirators are capable enough to provide more than

95% filtration of ultrafine particles.

I am also using an N-95 Respirator and will give you a sincere recommendation to buy one

for yourself. It’s entirely sealed, more comfortable, easily breathable, and affordable.