The masks are here to stay, that is clear to us. Although we are already in the new normality, for the moment, its use is still mandatory until the expected vaccine against COVID-19 or an effective treatment for it arrives.
This obligation has led to the fact that, in addition to an element of protection , a fashion trend is being created as a complement that is already part of our clothing. In this line, very different designs are being manufactured and for all tastes .
Looking back, the first week of the health crisis due to thepandemic the masks were completely sold out ; a very different situation from the current one, where we can find them even in supermarkets and online stores.
However, despite this variety and ease of purchase today, experts recommend that we buy certified and approved products , avoiding websites that may offer us suspicious offers. Likewise, before buying, we must be very clear about the way in which each mask protects us and for what situations they may or may not be suitable.
Hygienic and surgical, the basics
The hygienic ones are the most used and recommended for the general population. The material with which they are made is very soft.(non-woven filter) and they are quite comfortable. They protect from the top of the nose to the chin , adapting to the shape and size of any type of face. The fastening rubbers , in addition, are soft but resistant. According to experts, they block outside dust and the particles that we expel when we breathe , speak or sneeze.
The surgical type have a higher degree of protection -they have three layers of filter- and they are also very thin and adaptable to the face . The price is affordable and they can be purchased in packs of 10, 50 or 100 for greater savings and family use.
FFP2, greater protection
The FFP2 or N95 have a protection level of 95% , so they are safer . This fact does not imply that it is the model that we must use, but that it will depend on our daily activities.
They are recommended for people who work facing the public , for example, and are more exposed to contagion risks. They are also the perfect masks for people who live with patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Fabric and filter
Experts explain that all masks have some type of filter, and that the classification is determined by the size of the particles that it is capable of filtering .
Those made of fabric usually incorporate an inside pocket where a filter -active carbon and limited useful life- is inserted, which offers additional protection .
These fabric masks are very effective as long as they are made of suitable fabrics and they have to cover the nose, mouth and chin with a good fit . They also have to have several layers of fabric , allow for normal breathing and be able to wash the relevant number of washes . without causing tissue damage.
Those that we should not use
According to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) and experts on the subject, the masks that we should not use are those that have a built-in valve , which is designed so that the wearer does not inhale aerosols or microorganisms.
The area where they are usually used is biosafety laboratories , with biological risk material . In this case, the device has the objective of facilitating the breathing of the person who wears it. Now, if we talk about trying to avoid contagion between two people , that same valve will be the one that facilitates the exit of air with microparticles, assuming a risk for contagion ..
