It is more likely that the masks started off as dust masks, as they are originally from a desert planet.
In the Wheel of Time series, there are two instances of where dust masks turned into cultural traditions. The first is now nowhere near dusty areas, but maintain wearing a veil for modesty/propriety reasons, even if the veil is sheer silk. They even use light-weight chainmail veils for their helmets. The other group still lives in a desert, but uses the veil to signify their readiness to kill.
