Locations:
Search IconSearch

Tips for Staying Cool While Wearing a Mask When It’s Hot

How to choose your mask wisely + keep it clean

employee at bakery wearing a mask and working

If you’re just running into the grocery store, wearing a cloth face mask for a few minutes isn’t a huge inconvenience for most people. But if you work outside or go to work or school in a building that isn’t air conditioned, adding a mask to the equation can crank up the discomfort level during the sweltering summer months.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth in hot weather is certainly uncomfortable, but it’s quite necessary if you’re going to be around other people outside of your household,” explains internal medicine physician Janet Morgan, MD.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face masks when you’re in public places — especially when it’s hard to stay 6 feet away from other people. (However, if you have a medical condition that causes trouble breathing or if you aren’t able to remove a mask without help, it’s not recommended that you wear one.)

Wearing a cloth mask when it’s hot can feel stuffy and humid, but for most people it’s generally not dangerous to your health, Dr. Morgan says. However, being in very hot temperatures for an extended period of time — mask or not — can put you at risk for heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion, dehydration or, in extreme situations, heat stroke. (If you’re prone to heat exhaustion, check with your provider first.)

If possible, avoid long periods of direct sun exposure if you’re outdoors, and avoid heavy exertion. If at any point you feel dizzy, nauseous, lightheaded, confused, faint or breathless, it’s time to get out of the heat.

Advertisement

Stay cool in your mask

To make wearing a mask more comfortable when it’s hot, keep these tips in mind:

  1. Choose your mask wisely: The CDC recommends using multiple layers of fabric for homemade masks, to better contain droplets that come out of your nose and mouth when you cough, sneeze and talk. Tightly woven cotton fabric is a good choice, as it’s breathable and soft. If you’re working directly in the sun, opt for a light-colored mask, as darker colored ones will absorb more heat.
  2. Carry a spare (or two): If your mask gets sweaty, swap it out for a clean one. Wetness decreases the protection of the mask and can make it even more uncomfortable, Dr. Morgan says. “We advise people to carry a spare mask at all times.”
  3. Don’t forget to drink water: If your mouth is covered by a mask, you might be less likely to take sips of water throughout the day. But when it’s hot and you’re sweating, you actually need more water than normal. Stay hydrated by taking frequent sips of water.
  4. Take breaks: If it would feel good to take off your mask for a few minutes, make sure you step away from others first.
  5. Keep the rest of your body cool, too: The CDC recommends choosing lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in hot weather.

Don’t forget to wash your masks after each use, since some germs thrive in warm, damp conditions like those created by a sweaty mask.

The CDC recommends washing your masks along with your regular laundry using detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting, or by hand with a bleach solution. Dry them completely in your dryer or by laying them flat, preferably in direct sunlight.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person lying in bed on their side at night with their eyes open
December 17, 2024/Primary Care
Prednisone Side Effects and How To Feel Better When Taking Steroids

Like any medication, prednisone can come with side effects — for best results, take it with food in the morning and work with your provider to get the dosage right

Healthcare provider applying a bandage on arm of person after injecting a shot
December 16, 2024/Primary Care
Recommended Vaccines for Adults and Seniors

From influenza and COVID-19 to pneumococcal, shingles and more, vaccines help keep you healthy

Oversized temperature guage in front of globe, with mosquitos and clouds around
December 5, 2024/Primary Care
How Does Climate Change Affect Your Health?

Climate change can strain your heart, cause illnesses and make it difficult to breathe, but you can take steps to protect the planet and your health

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line
November 29, 2024/Primary Care
Can You Take Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Together?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction

Doctor in a white coat holding a clipboard in front of a patient on an operating table with a surgical team surrounding them
November 27, 2024/Primary Care
How Accurate Are Medical TV Shows?

They’re fun to watch, but medical TV shows are often more hype than reality — and you shouldn’t rely on them for factual medical information

Child imagining being afraid of getting a shot, and then being afraid while actually getting a shot by a healthcare provider
November 19, 2024/Primary Care
What’s the Nocebo Effect? Examples and Effects on Your Health

The nocebo effect is a phenomenon where expectations of negative outcomes may influence the results

Red and irritated skin on the armpit of a person with their arm raised
November 7, 2024/Primary Care
How To Prevent Chafing

Irritation from skin rubbing against skin or clothes can affect your whole body, but powders, creams and even the right underwear can help protect you

Close-up of a fruit fly
October 30, 2024/Primary Care
How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies for Good

Make your home a no-fly zone by cleaning your drains, refrigerating your produce and DIYing a fruit fly trap

Trending Topics

Person sitting on floor at night next to bed in deep thought, with partner sleeping in bed
Understanding Mental Load: What It Is and How It Affects You

When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line
Can You Take Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Together?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction

Smiling person with headphones on, sweeping floor in living room
Understanding Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT Exercise)

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being

Ad