It’s a pretty inadvertent action when it comes to touching our faces. A reflex we are prone to do which can be triggered by nerves, habit, or by simply just wiping something off with our fingers. Subconsciously, it can be a compulsion, but if we were given more background to the effects it can cause, we may become a bit more resistant to touch! Let’s get more into the nitty gritty of it all.
Dirt, Bacteria, Germs, Viruses
Bacteria, viruses, and other germs are easily transferred from fingertips, doorknobs, handles, and public doors to our faces when we touch them. Any dirt that is transferred from our hands to our face is also a major culprit in the spreading of acne. Any excess oil that is generated on our hands and touches the face is a catalyst for potential inflammation. This can lead to picking our face such as tending to our breakouts rather than a trained professional. Hands aren’t the only contributor when it comes to contact with your facial skin, but doing extractions on your own also causes further breakouts.
Certain factors we may never even thought of can be attributed to the transference of dirt and oil… these can be from dirty pillow cases to cell phones and money. Since we use our hands for everything, we tend to think they become moist because they are oily, but it is actually due to perspiration. Talked about in a previous blog, sweat contributes to acne flare ups if it’s left on the skin.
Doctors Recommend…
This leads to how we can wash our hands properly by scrubbing under fingernails with anti-bacterial soap and a toothbrush. Doctors recommend this for 20 seconds minimum.
Since touching the face is a difficult habit to break for mostly everyone, doctors recommend hypnotherapy. However, if you don’t want to invest in hypnosis, they also say to remind yourself on how gross touching your face can be. Just think of not only the places your hands have been, but complete strangers that touch the same things you do!