Medical Face Masks Market

Market Overview

The global medical face masks market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.85% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The increasing prevalence of surgical procedures drives the global demand for medical face masks.

Medical face masks are mostly surgical face masks that healthcare professionals use. They provide better protection to healthcare professionals from the spread of infections, especially during patient examinations, surgeries, patient consultations, and more. Medical face masks are one of the significant materials used in a healthcare setting. It is used in every type of healthcare setting as a basic necessity. Most multi-layer (two- or three-layer) medical-grade face masks are constructed from non-woven fabric.

Disposable surgical masks are popularly used by healthcare professionals who attend to patients or perform surgeries. Face masks protect healthcare professionals from harmful microbes that may ooze as aerosols and liquid droplets from the patient's mouth. The infections can also spread through body fluids or infectious blood. These medical-grade masks act as a protective barrier and help eliminate or prevent cross-contamination between surgeons and patients.

Market Dynamics

Global Medical Face Masks Market Drivers

3D Printing of Medical Face Masks

3D medical face masks are emerging as an effective solution to the increasing need for protective equipment among HCPs. The 3D modeling process of medical face masks relies on computer-aided design (CAD) software. A custom-made 3D-printed face mask is designed based on individual facial scanning, 3D modeling, and 3D printing. These 3D-printed masks are made from polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, a fully biodegradable thermoplastic polymer of renewable raw materials. For instance, Copper3D, a manufacturer of 3D printing materials, is also encouraging manufacturers and printing services to make 3D printed respirators quickly available to protect against COVID-19 and thereby facilitate the work of HCPs.

Copper3D designs NanoHack 3D-printed, antimicrobial, antiviral, reusable, and recyclable masks. The mask incorporates a modular fine particle filtration system with a copper nanocomposite material proven to deactivate viruses. The advanced model also contains a modular filtration disc regulating air intake and particle size. The company has kept its digital file for 3D printing online so that manufacturers can easily print it out and offer it to people in need. This will likely drive manufacturers to produce 3D-printed masks, further contributing to the medical face masks market growth during the forecast period.

Increased Number of Surgeries Globally

Surgical services have long been seen as a crucial component of the public healthcare system. Surgery is practiced everywhere, in both resource-rich and resource-limited environments, and it has significantly expanded due to changes in the patterns of various diseases. The frequency and occurrence of various acute and chronic illnesses are increasing, leading to a corresponding rise in the number of medical operations to address them. The rising elderly population, more alternatives for minimally invasive surgeries, and improvements in surgical technology are a few of the main causes of the increased number of surgeries. The increasing number of surgeries is thus driving the demand for medical face masks in the market.

Furthermore, there has been a significant rise in the quantity of non-essential surgical procedures worldwide prior to the COVID-19 era. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) stated that around 18 million individuals in the United States underwent surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in 2018. The number of cosmetic surgeries in the US has increased over the past five years. Cosmetic operations have climbed by 47% since 2013, according to a survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The demand for plastic surgery procedures was high among individuals aged 23−38 years, owing to the influence of social media and an inclination towards self-care. The rising number of surgeries is fueling the demand for medical face masks across the globe.

Global Medical Face Masks Market Restraint

Complications Associated with Medical Face Masks

Although medical face masks are considered to be one of the essential components for the protection of HCPs and laboratory researchers who are exposed to infectious substances and hazardous materials, the complications associated with medical face masks are a key factor posing a significant challenge to the growth of the medical face masks market. Medical face masks are commonly used in healthcare settings to protect HCPs from respiratory and other infections. Many clinical studies found that pressure ulcers form due to intense and prolonged pressure generated from the tight fit of the N95 respirator masks.

In addition, facial regions like the nose, where the bone is near the skin, are more vulnerable to injury. Although face masks may not be heavy, their pressure is concentrated on a small area of the facial skin due to the small surface area of the medical face masks' edge. An HCP's skin condition and microclimate can further exacerbate the damage caused by pressure ulcers. Moreover, excessively moisturized skin by sweat and humidity is susceptible to skin irritation.

Masks can trap heat, leading to higher humidity and heightened skin sensitivity. Increased inflammation through fissures and cracks could result from overly dry skin. Therefore, several skin complications associated with medical face masks coupled with high bacterial contamination on the surgical masks worn by frontline HCPs, which may lead to infections in healthcare settings, are likely to hinder the uptake of medical face masks, thereby posing a threat to the overall market growth during the forecast period.

Global Medical Face Masks Market Opportunities

Trend of Double Masking

The COVID-19 epidemic had a substantial impact on people's lives globally. Implementing measures to control the spread of infections or at least the speed of their diffusion among the population was very important. Face masks are considered significant in avoiding the spread of the COVID-19 disease. During the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, people used single-face masks. However, multiple variants of COVID-19 started to spread among various countries, significantly impacting the population in recent months.

Many healthcare professionals were also largely affected, and there was a loss of life among frontline workers. The spread of aerosols was an important factor through which infections were spreading. This prompted researchers to develop solutions like double masks, which reduce the penetration of aerosols that can cause infections. Even the smaller aerosol droplet spread can be avoided, providing better protection to end-users. Healthcare professionals and frontline workers across the globe largely followed this trend. This has significantly increased the usage of face masks across the globe.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global medical face masks market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant global medical face masks market shareholder and is anticipated to expand substantially during the forecast period. North America is experiencing an increase in surgical procedures due to its sophisticated healthcare system and the rising population of elderly individuals who require regular medical interventions. Therefore, there has been a significant increase in patients requiring efficient medical treatment and surgical procedures. In addition, the demand for medical-grade face masks used by healthcare professionals is anticipated to increase. There will likely be an increase in the demand for face masks during the forecast period due to the proliferation of activities in this region brought about by additional technical improvements. For instance, with robotic assistance during surgery, surgeons may now do intricate procedures with significantly reduced risk and increased success rates. This is one of the main causes of the increase in surgical procedures in the North American market.

Furthermore, hospitals rely heavily on money from elective surgeries, but these procedures were mostly delayed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. For instance, North America's largest hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital, had budgeted a USD 246 million income for 2020. However, with the COVID-19 crisis, there was an expected operating loss between USD 104 million and USD 454 million. Post-recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic or complete vaccination, hospitals are expected to perform the postponed elective surgeries, driving the demand for surgical face masks over the next few years.

In Europe, the demand for medical face masks is high due to the increasing target population and high safety awareness among individuals. The region is home to multiple developed countries, so most countries' healthcare infrastructure is well-developed. The increased number of tests performed across these countries gave them a clear picture of how to contain the spread of the virus. European countries have a well-developed healthcare infrastructure, which helped them contain the spread of the disease. This region conducted a substantial number of COVID-19 exams.

In the same way, European countries also carried out extensive mass vaccination campaigns, increasing the need for medical-grade face masks in the region. This will propel the usage of medical-grade face masks in the region.

The Asia-Pacific region comprises a combination of healthcare markets at different stages of development. For instance, Japan is one of the world's largest and most well-developed healthcare markets. A large volume of surgeries is conducted as it is home to a major share of the aged population. Similarly, there is a significant surge in medical tourism in nations like India. It is well acknowledged as one of the foremost nations in medical tourism advancement and engages in medical outsourcing. Patients worldwide seek medical treatment in India due to its affordable surgical procedures.

Western people usually get a package deal that includes flights, transfers, hotels, treatment, and often a post-operative vacation. Moreover, patients can choose from hip surgery, open-heart surgery, knee replacements, dentistry, bone marrow transplants, cancer therapy, or pediatric heart surgery. In recent years, the increasing number of surgeries has driven large volumes of surgical face mask consumption in Asia-Pacific.

Segmental Analysis

The global medical face masks market is segmented by product, distribution channel, and end-user. 

Based on product, the global medical face mask market is segmented into surgical masks (2-ply, 3-ply, and others) and respirator face masks (N series, P series, R series, and others).

The surgical segment dominates the global market and is expected to expand substantially over the forecast period. Surgical face masks are largely used during surgeries and the patient examination process. There is no substitute for surgical face masks that are used among healthcare professionals. Hence, there is a constant demand for surgical face masks in the market. The increasing geriatric population globally and the rising prevalence of chronic and acute diseases are driving people to avail themselves of various treatments in healthcare settings.

In addition, a rising number of surgeries are being performed in healthcare settings. With the technological advancements in the medical field, surgeries are seen as a permanent solution for various health problems. Robotic surgeries with high precision and a greater success ratio for complex surgeries are driving people to opt for surgical treatments. This has increased the number of surgeries being performed across the globe.

Based on the distribution channel, the global medical face mask market is segmented into B2B/Institutional, retail, and online. 

The B2B/Institutional segment owns the highest market share and is projected to expand substantially over the forecast period. One of the most popular distribution methods is business-to-business. Manufacturers of medical face masks innovate, undertake product development research, and produce disposable gloves. Along with manufacturing, these businesses also supply their goods to substantial distributors and institutions, who sell them to hospitals, research facilities, retail outlets, internet marketplaces, and other end-users.

In the case of medical face masks, group purchasing organizations (GPOs) are directly procuring medical gloves in very large volumes at an economical cost from manufacturers. This trend is usually seen in developed countries like the US. Most large hospitals that consume a larger volume of face masks, or a chain of hospitals, will order directly from the manufacturers to get the product at a discount, thereby eliminating the middlemen and distributors in the supply chain.

Based on end-users, the global medical face mask market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, diagnostics laboratories, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and individuals. 

The hospitals segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is expected to expand substantially throughout the forecast period. Hospitals are the largest consumers of medical face masks. Hospitals perform a substantial number of procedures annually. The hospital serves as the initial point of contact for every patient seeking treatment or advice. In addition, healthcare practitioners are required to use medical face masks in every process and procedure to avoid the transmission of illnesses. This largely drives the demand for medical face mask usage in hospitals. Globally, a large volume of surgery is conducted in hospital settings, which demands the usage of surgical face masks.

Recent Developments

• December 2022 - Top Mask Ultrasafe & Chic, the newest face mask from Akzenta International, is a great eye-catcher with tone-in-tone earloops. Only high-quality, skin-friendly components are employed in creating Top Mask Ultrasafe & Chic. available in nine lovely colors. The production of Top Mask Ultrasafe & Chic complies with EN 14683 TYPE IIR Standard. It has a 98% precision filtration efficiency.
• December 2022 - Prestige Ameritech launched ProGear's NIOSH and FDA-approved N95 Surgical Respirator to protect patients and healthcare workers from transferring microorganisms and airborne particulate materials.