Face masks are big business these days and fly-by-night manufacturers are certainly taking advantage of the pandemic. Since the start of the year and as the new administration is slowly gearing up to open up the economy, over 20 million counterfeit N95 respirators have been seized by federal authorities across the U.S with more arrests expected in the coming months.
Wearing face masks and respirators as protection from COVID-19 and other harmful aerosol particles in the air is something most people have a hard time getting used to. For healthcare workers and individuals with sensitive skin, adverse dermatological effects are very common from the prolonged wearing of face masks or respirators. Unfortunately, we all have to wear them both to shield ourselves from the coronavirus and to comply with federal mandates.
Since face masks and respirators are here to stay in our continuing fight against COVID-19, many brands are integrating fashion with function in their products, leaving many to wonder if these essentials can be turned into fashion statements.