Does wearing a mask cause dangerous health problems?

Medical professionals say it is safe for most people to wear masks for extended periods of time.

“Keep in mind that many people —for example surgeons or certain kinds of scientists—have routinely worn masks for long periods of time without clear adverse effects,” said Sarah Stanley, associate professor of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.

SInce the coronavirus pandemic began last year, medical experts have knocked down false claims that spread online about the safety of masks.

Disposable face masks are meant to be used once, then thrown in the garbage. Cloth masks should be regularly washed.

Children under the age of two should not wear masks, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the same goes for anyone who has trouble removing a mask without help.