Wait, What’s a Face Mask Bracket?

The longer that COVID-19 and face coverings remain a part of our lives, the greater the opportunity to modify and accessorize.

Face brackets, also known as mask braces, are becoming quite popular for their functionality. Prevention notes that these contraptions are typically made from silicone and designed for “easier breathing, a lowered risk of maskne [mask-induced acne] in the process, and even saving your makeup.”

But are these face covering modifications safe, or helpful?

Richard Watkins, M.D., a Northeast Ohio Medical University associate professor of internal medicine who specializes in infectious disease, tells Prevention readers, “Personally, I would not use this as I would be concerned about the integrity of the seal.”