Will Wearing a Face Mask Impact My DEXA Scan Results?

6/24/20 - For now, getting a DEXA scan in the new post COVID-19 environment means you will be required to wear a face mask.

But many face masks have small amounts of metal, so will your results be affected?

Of course, we had to try it. Turns out that wearing a face mask will not affect your DEXA scan results - even if your face mask has a minor amount of metal, like the N95 masks.

The Experiment

We scanned an N95 mask which has a metal bracket for the bridge of the nose.

The results? The mask measured 0.0 lbs. It makes sense - they’re light as a feather! Since the scanner detects mass based on density, the mask likely was not dense enough to register as fat, lean, or bone - just like most clothing.

Since the scanner did not actually register the minor amount of metal on the mask, it would not impact bone density results at all for a client who is scanning masked.

That means you can scan in your mask with confidence, knowing that your results will not be thrown off!

Face masks and face coverings are necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. While we prefer to see everyone’s smiling faces and have non-muffled conversations, we know that helping to keep the community safe and healthy is the right thing to do.

If you’re curious about the other safety protocols that we’ve implemented, make sure to check out our blog post on COVID-19 safety protocols before your next scan appointment.