Which side to wear a medical mask

Why is it important to wear a medical mask the right side?

Are you wearing your mask correctly? structure. Moreover, each layer has its own purpose and characteristics.

Taking a conventional surgical mask as an example, it consists of:

external moisture-repellent layer;
a middle filter layer that traps pathogenic particles (microbes and viruses);
inner layer that absorbs moisture and protects against the accumulation of vapors under the mask.

If you put on the mask inside out, its protective effect will be noticeably reduced. The outer layer, once inside, will repel particles of moisture formed during breathing, and they will begin to scatter in different directions from under the mask. That is, a person can easily infect others. Side effect: If you wear glasses, they will instantly fog up.

The inner layer, being outside, will also harm. After all, it will absorb particles from the surrounding air, including those with pathogens. Such a mask will quickly become dirty and dangerous.

To distinguish the outer and inner layers from each other, they are color coded.

Which side to wear a two-color medical mask

In a WHO training video, Dr. April Buller explains that the inside of the mask is “usually white”.

Actually, this is the standard that the manufacturers of surgical masks adhere to.

The white (or smoother) side is the inner side, in contact with the skin. Colored always facing outward Mask Protection Standards & Medical Face Mask Information For Use.

From the instructions of the leading American manufacturer of medical protective equipment Primed

In general, if you come across a two-tone mask, wear it with the white (lighter) side to your face.

Which side to wear a one-color medical mask

In theory, no difference.

If the sides are not marked with a color, then most likely, the mask has not a three-layer, but a two-layer structure. The filtering middle layer is sandwiched between two identical outer layers. Therefore, as the FIVE RULES OF PROTECTION AGAINST CORONAVIRUS AND ARVI Rospotrebnadzor says, any party can wear such a protective device. Just make sure the bridge of the nose bridge is on top.

For perfectionists: you can check which of the same layers has a smoother, softer surface. If there is such a difference, wear the mask with the soft side to your skin.