What year was masks invented?

The use of masks dates back thousands of years, with evidence of their use in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece. However, the modern concept of face masks, particularly for medical purposes, began to take shape in the 19th century. The surgical mask was developed in the 1890s by surgeons to protect patients from infection during operations. Thus, while masks have ancient origins, their formal invention for medical use occurred in the late 19th century.