Allergy Masks FAQs

Allergy Mask Frequently Asked Questions

When do people usually wear an allergy mask?
When do people usually wear a mask?People that suffer from allergies wear Allergy Masks for many reasons, including various indoor and outdoor activities. Those that are very sensitive to allergies may have to wear a mask at all times. It may be beneficial to wear an allergy mask during some activities including gardening, mowing the lawn, vacuuming, raking leaves, sweeping hardwood floors, taking walks in park, jogging, bicycling, riding a motorcycle, commuting to work, working in an environment with pollution or fumes, other cleaning jobs around your home, when the flu is affecting people, and any time that you may be exposed to mold, mold spores or other allergens.

Do allergy masks work and how do they help with allergies?

How do masks help with allergies?Masks work similarly to the way that air purifiers do. The filter media in the mask traps particles and pollutants as you breathe. Typically, an allergy mask will be able to provide protection against common particle allergens like pollen, plant spores, pet dander, mold, house dust, and dust mites. Depending on the type of mask you’re using, the filter can also protect against irritants like tobacco smoke, cleaning agents, perfumes, soaps, paint, varnish, hydrocarbon pollution, arsenic, odors, and chemical air fresheners. For those with allergies, asthma, MCS and COPD, it is important to know the breathing benefits of masks, but here are several other scenarios where a mask may help to improve your breathing or provide protection against irritants:

  • You should always wear a mask if you have to clean up mold, garbage, or anything that may seem toxic. Many people use bleach or products that contain bleach when cleaning—you should always wear a mask when cleaning with bleach. Both mold and bleach are harmful to everyone—allergy sufferers and non-allergy sufferers alike.
  • City commuters that travel on trains, airplanes, subways, bicycles and walk the streets should consider wearing a mask to protect their lungs against urban air pollution and fumes. Emissions from vehicles, diesel fumes and industrial pollution are a primary driver of urban air pollution and ground level ozone.
  • If you are sick but you cannot stay home, a face mask may help to prevent you from spreading an infection or illness to others. Masks also help to protect you against viruses and catching one if you are in a crowded area. Typically the CDC recommends N95 rated masks or respirators to curb the spread of the flu virus and other communicable diseases. In January 2020, 3M released a Technical Bulletin regarding the comparison of FFP2, KN95, N95 and other filtering face piece respirator classes. Based on this comparison, it is reasonable to consider China KN95 as “equivalent” to US NIOSH N95 and European FFP2 respirators, for filtering non-oil-based particles such as those resulting from wildfires, PM 2.5 air pollution, volcanic eruptions, or bio-aerosols (e.g. viruses).
  • If you have asthma and enjoy being outside in colder temperatures, the Cold Weather Mask by ICanBreathe is designed for winter and outdoor outdoor use. While masks will trap some warmth while you’re wearing them, this the fleece Cold Weather Mask can help prevent the cold air from causing shortness of breath or a cold weather induced asthma attack.

What different types of allergy masks are available?

There are a variety of allergy face masks that are available on the market today and the decision about which mask you should purchase can be overwhelming. Similar to when you purchase an allergy product, it is helpful to learn how a mask works and what the differences are between them.

Respro Techno Mask - Common Allergy MasksWhen researching any mask it is important to note what type of filtration that the mask provides. We have masks with HEPA filtration, charcoal cloth filtration, carbon filters, and some with no filters (filter media is built right into the body of the mask or respirator). The 3M 6291 HEPA mask provides HEPA level filtration for any outdoor work or activity. The respirator itself will last a very long time because the filters are replaceable, and the body of this mask is made from durable, but forgiving material. This respirator also offers some of the best particle filtration on the market. With NIOSH P100 rated filters, this 3M respirator will capture at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns or smaller in size (HEPA standard) and also works well to filter out oil-based contaminants. There are a few types of HEPA respirators available, including masks with replaceable filters and masks that are semi-disposable.

We also have the Respro masks which combine an activated charcoal cloth filter with a HEPA-like filter that work together to capture many pollutants from the air you breathe. The filters for this mask meet the European equivalent of the N95 rating (as do Respro Sportsta and Allergy masks), which also makes it effective in protecting against the spread of H1N1, Avian and other strains of the influenza virus. Again, this type of mask has replaceable filters and a durable neoprene shell.

Further down the line of masks, there are those like the Silk Mask. These latex-free, hand-sewn silk allergy masks offer varying degrees of particle filtration providing instant relief from non-toxic particles such as dust, pollen, mold, dander, lint and soot. These filter masks for allergies lack replaceable filters, so after a certain amount of time you will need to replace them. Though unlike true disposable respirators, you can get many uses out of the same mask and most can be hand washed to extend their life.

In addition, another type of mask is an organic cotton masks. While an organic cotton mask’s filtration capabilities is less than that of masks or respirators that are made from synthetic materials, they do offer protection against larger allergens and work well for those that are sensitive to certain types of filter media and mask materials.

What is the best mask for an urban commuter?

Respro Allergy Mask - Commuters ChoiceThe best type of mask for a city commuter is one that contains a HEPA filter, HEPA-like filter or filters that provide protection against fumes and oil-based air particles. All of the masks we carry from Respro work very well for commuters in an urban setting. The Respro Allergy mask and Bandit scarf provide solid air filtration. Each mask is a little different in materials and style, so be sure to check out our Compare Allergy Relief Masks page for more information.

What is the best mask for outdoors or athletic activities?

Best masks for outdoor activitiesThe best mask in our offering for athletic or outdoor activities is the Respro Sportsta mask. This mask stays put even during moderate to vigorous activity and offers excellent filtration and isn’t as bulky as a traditional respirator.

Other masks are also appropriate under given circumstances. The 3M Masks fit well around the face and stays in place through moderate activity. The fact remains, though, that the more effective the filtration, the more restrictive a mask will be during vigorous activity, so finding the right balance is often a matter of trial and error.

How do I know what size mask is right for me?

Our customers ask this question often, and since each mask is made VogMask - 8-Bitdifferently, there is not a simple answer to this question. Some masks have adjustable straps, while some attach behind the head with Velcro. Other masks have elastic straps that will stretch to fit most people. Getting the correct mask for your face size and your allergy needs is important not only because a snug fit is essential for the best filtration, but also because masks are personal items which cannot be returned. Deciding which model and size is best for you will depend on several factors. Here are several questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a mask:

  • Is my face structure small (usually children), medium, or large?
  • How often am I going to use this mask?
  • What level of air filtration do I need?
  • How much do I want to spend on an allergy mask?
  • Am I allergic to the materials used to make the mask?

Answering these questions will help to narrow down your choices and give you a better idea of what type and size of a respirator or mask you should consider. In general, most masks and respirators are one size fits all. Most will NOT fog glasses provided that you fit the mask to your face snugly and properly use the nose piece to seal around your nose and the top of your cheeks. If your target is to capture common particle allergens like dust, mold spores, pollen, etc., N95 is fine for moderate cases, and a mask that is N99 rated or equivalent is best for more severe cases, as well as industrial/work applications. If your target usage is for capturing particulate as well as smoke, odors, fragrances or fumes, you should consider masks that have some type of activated carbon/charcoal in the filter, as these are the only masks that offer the filtration needed to adsorb these types of irritants.

When do I replace my respirator, mask or filters?

The filters in an allergy mask, over time, will become less effective. Some masks, like the 3M 8233 Respirator are semi-disposable which means they can provide about 60 hours of good use before you will want to consider tossing them out. Others, like the I Can Breathe! masks, are disposable, meant for only a few uses at most. For those with replaceable filters, we have a Mask Replacement Filters page to make finding the correct replacement filter very easy for you. Typically, you should replace disposable filter type masks after 60 hours of use or every 3 months.

Filter or Mask Replacement - No Tools Required!In general, we recommend you replace your filters or mask when you notice a decrease in filtration performance or if you smell solvents—this is referred to as “breakthrough”. This means that your filters have essentially captured as much particulate and toxic matter as they can and they are now failing and allowing solvents to pass through. You should also replace your mask when breathing through the mask becomes more difficult, when the mask or filter is damaged, or when the face piece becomes unhygienic.

Filter and mask life will depend greatly upon several factors including the concentration of contaminants, humidity, temperature, ventilation and even your breathing rate. All of these factors can work to decrease the effective use time of your mask. Lastly, for respirator filters or masks with carbon, the maximum use time is approximately 6 months. Even with light or infrequent use, these filters should be replaced since carbon can and will absorb contaminants from the general environment, even when you are not wearing the mask or using the filter. As with all of our products, should you have a problem with a mask you purchased from us, contact customer service at 1-800-339-7123.

Should I buy several different masks depending on my situation and environment?

Yes, you may need several masks depending on the level of your sensitivity. The founder of the mask company I Can Breathe! has severe chemical sensitivities and breathing problems. She often wears a Silk Comfort Mask for everyday use, but she also keeps the very popular Honeycomb mask with her at all times.

The Honeycomb mask has better filtration because of its carbon filters. So unlike some masks or respirators, these help filter out odors, vapors, fragrance, and smoke. If she feels her breathing change based on environmental changes, like someone smoking, she will change masks to help avoid the allergen and maintain her breathing. In short, your mask needs will vary and often certain tasks or jobs will require more or less filtration than others, so it is not a bad idea to have a couple different types of respirators or face masks on hand.

What about respirators for commercial or industrial use?

A few of the respirators that we offer are very heavy duty, particularly the 3M 8233/8293 and 3M 6291. The 8233 and 8293 are HEPA-rated masks, with the latter also blocking oil-based particles (while the 8233 does not). These respirators offer excellent protection from particulate in everyday use, as well as commercial settings. People who work with commercial ceramics, food production, agriculture and a variety of other areas where ultra-fine dust and particulate are common receive excellent protection with these respirators.

The 6291 respirator is also an excellent choice for those areas noted above, with two advantages over the 8233/8293 masks. For one, you can wash the body or shell of the 6291 respirator. More importantly, this respirator has replaceable filters. It comes standard with top-of-the-line P100 filters, but there are also a couple types of specialized cartridges available that target organic vapors as well as chemicals that commonly irritate MCS. You can use these cartridges interchangeably with HEPA filters and they are often utilized by people working with chemicals, solvents, glues, paints, varnishes, and other chemicals.

How do I maintain and clean my allergy mask?

Cleaning Your Mask - No Washing Machines RequiredDisposable masks are not meant to be cleaned, but with more expensive masks that use replaceable filters, cleaning the mask is very important. Each mask has cleaning and maintenance instructions on the packaging or in the directions. Make sure you follow the instructions very closely when cleaning or maintaining your mask. Some, like the Organic Cotton mask, are hand washable and you can use them over and over again. It is also important for you to read the packaging of these masks for sizing and fitting instructions.

What about mask shipping?

Due to their light weight, most of our masks ship via USPS Priority Mail, and arrive within 2-4 days depending on your location. However, as with all of our products, expedited shipping is available and orders placed for over $50 receive free ground shipping.

How do I store my mask or respirator?

Mask StorageYou should store your mask or respirator in a clean, dry area. A respirator does you little to no good if the inside gets dirty or contaminated with allergens. You may have multiple kinds of respirators that you use for various projects at work and around the house. You should store each mask or respirator in separate sealed plastic bags and away from direct sunlight that could possibly break down the filter media or away from water, dirt or allergens that could contaminate the mask or filters. This will ensure your mask or respirator are clean, dry, and ready to use whenever you need them.

Am I forgetting anything about your allergy masks?

If you have any questions about masks, allergy masks, asthma masks, humidity, allergies, prices, or our policies, please call our customer service department at 1-800-339-7123, contact us via Live Chat or submit an Customer Question via any product page.

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