Abigail Klein Leichman
March 22, 2021

Clearer skin may be an unexpected bonus of wearing a Sonovia facemask to protect against Covid-19.

It turns out that in addition to actively eliminating 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles that encounter the Israeli-made zinc oxide-embedded fabric SonoMasks, over 99% of acne-causing bacteria also is eliminated.

According to test results from FDA-accredited Hylabs in Israel, the reusable SonoMask “showed tremendous activity of the treated fabric against C. acne in anaerobic conditions,” said Prof. Amos Adler, a clinical microbiology specialist from Tel Aviv University and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

Adler cited a study published last year that found many people suffer skin breakouts because of wearing facemasks for extended periods. In fact, the term “maskne” has been coined to describe pimples, redness, bumpiness and other irritations exacerbated by the masks.

The treated fabric of SonoMasks seems to have the opposite effect, said Adler, concluding that it “might be beneficial in preventing the exacerbation.”

SonoMasks protect against viruses and acne-causing bacteria. Photo courtesy of Sonovia

The Hylabs report came out at around the same time as a second set of laboratory results from Italy that confirmed SonoMask is 99% effective at neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 particles and influenza virus (H1N1) particles.

Considering the latest results, Sonovia is planning a new line of anti-pathogen textile products to be released soon, probably including bed linens and pillowcases, said Liat Goldhammer-Steinberg, Sonovia’s chief technology officer.

Sonovia’s almost-permanent, ultrasonic technology for mechanical impregnation of zinc oxide nanoparticles into textiles was developed at Bar-Ilan University.

At the start of the pandemic, the company produced its first tens of thousands of masks for donation to Israeli hospitals and medical professionals.

Since then, Sonovia went public and has sold over 300,000 SonoMasks in some 100 countries.

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