What kind of masks are not produced today: do you want a synthetic one from a pharmacy or a trendy black one, like the heroes of blockbusters? Or maybe you need the maximum degree of protection and then you should look at industrial respirators? Healthy Food Near Me talked to both the doctor and the designer (style matters in modern life too!) about the best protective face masks in 2022. We tell you what models exist and how they differ from each other.
Top 5 fa'atatau e tusa ai ma le KP
1 place. Respirators with replaceable filters
They are reusable. They are made from hypoallergenic material. The main feature is already visible from the name. In such protective face masks, you need to screw filter capsules. They protect against most toxic gases and vapours.
They are used exclusively for industrial purposes. However, against the background of the spread of coronavirus, you can also meet people in the metropolis. But the question is how regularly the filters change and whether they change at all. Plus, such a device is often quite expensive.
2nd place. Anti-aerosol protective face mask
Most often they were used at construction sites and in industry. Moreover, depending on the quality, this can be used for several shifts. Unlike conventional masks sold in pharmacies, these are much more snug to the face, which increases their degree of protection. Be sure to have a breathing valve. And the top is made to fit comfortably with goggles.
However, if you want to use this for medical purposes, you still have to follow the rules of hygiene and change it every two to three hours.
On such masks, the protection class must be indicated. It starts with the abbreviation FFP followed by a number.
- FFP1 – retains up to 80% of solid and liquid impurities. It is recommended when working in dusty areas where the suspension in the air is non-toxic. That is, some sawdust, chalk, lime.
- FFP2 – retains up to 94% of impurities in the atmosphere and even substances of medium toxicity.
- FFP3 – stops up to 99% of solid and liquid particles.
3rd place. Mask with a window for a respirator
As a rule, this is a modernized medical mask. Only she has a small valve for breathing. This helps wick away some of the natural moisture that builds up when you exhale. In addition, in order for the respirator window to be better attached, several layers are added to the mask. They usually have six layers.
Also on such protective face masks indicate the mark 2.5 PM. So in the documentation they designate ultrafine particles, that is, very tiny. Only some gases are smaller.
In everyday life, 2.5 PM particles are dust particles and droplets of moisture. They literally float in the air. The designation on the mask means that it does not allow such particles to enter the respiratory organs. At least as long as the respirator is fresh.
4th place. Pharmacy mask
Correctly it is called “medical mask”.
“Modern medical masks are made from non-woven synthetic material made using spunbond technology – from polymers using a special spunbond method,” he told Healthy Food Near Me general practitioner Alexander Dolenko.
Such material retains moisture well. Please note that on the packaging you can find two names – surgical and procedural. The first masks are sterile and consist of four layers, not three, as usual.
5th place. sheet mask
These protective face masks have two main consumers. The first are masters of the beauty industry. That is, hairdressers, nail service workers, eyebrow specialists. They work with different chemicals, aerosols, plus in close proximity to the client. Therefore, it is an elementary protection of the respiratory tract.
The second buyer of fabric masks made of linen, cotton, as well as with all sorts of prints are fashionistas. KP spoke about the use of masks in the fashion industry designer Sergey Titarov:
— The mass character of protective masks is a great opportunity for fashionable fashion companies to release a designer product that will attract the attention of others. When the epidemic is over, masks will become an indispensable and, no doubt, useful accessory. During the coronavirus pandemic, the consciousness of most people will change and they will be more conscious about general hygiene and disease prevention. Of course, a protective face mask will become one of the attributes of a modern person, along with a beautiful bag or fashionable glasses. We will see how fashion designers will play with this accessory with different looks.
In 2022, stars use designer masks for flights and any visits to public places, choosing them to fit the image: making them a stylish accent or an element of the total look. But where did the fashion for protective masks come from? Sergey Titarov answers:
– Asia is the main consumer of protective masks, every self-respecting Asian wears it. Initially, the mask was exactly what it was intended for. The ecology of megacities leaves much to be desired, many use a mask as protection against air pollution. Asians are big workaholics and in this regard are very sensitive to their health. They protect themselves, but at the same time they want not to infect others, and for this they use a mask. Part of the population is worried about the condition of their skin, even a small pimple on the face causes great concern, but all this is hidden behind a layer of tissue.
Fa'afefea ona filifili se ufimata puipui
Tips for choosing a protective face mask gives general practitioner Alexander Dolenko.