Stop touching your face! Hand creams and body lotion can be the reason you have acne.
Stop resting your face on your hand while studying… If you must do it, use a Kleenex in between your hand and your face. Your body lotions should be acne safe as well.
If you’re starting to notice that your face is breaking out after you sleep on your arm or hands – take note of what you’re putting on your body.
It’s not easy to just stop touching your face cold turkey. It’s a very hard habit to break but there are several ways you can help yourself.
Ways to Avoid Face Touching
Today, you likely rubbed your eyes, scratched your nose, wiped away a crumb from your mouth, smoothed over your temples—or something in between. In fact, you’ve probably touched your face dozens, if not hundreds of times, without realizing it.
Here are a few helpful ways to avoid touching your face so you can reduce your acne breakouts.
Hands Off: Keeping your hands away from your face can be difficult, especially if it’s a deeply ingrained habit. However, keeping your hands busy with activities such as doodling, knitting, or playing with a stress ball can be helpful.
Secure Your Hair: If your hair constantly touches your face, it can lead to skin irritation and increased oil production. Try keeping your hair back and tucked away to keep your skin clear.
Mindful Practices: Engaging in mindful practices can make you more aware of your face-touching habit, helping you break it over time. Activities like yoga and meditation can cultivate mindfulness and control over your actions.
And if all else fails…
Keep your hands clean. It’s hard to break the habit of touching your face, but by washing your hands regularly and properly (remember to wash them for the duration of the song “happy birthday”!) You’ll be doing your skin and your health a huge favor.
Use an Acne-Safe Body/Hand Creams
The fundamental reason why you shouldn’t use hand cream on your face – or face cream on your hands – is that the skin on your face is different from the skin on your hands.
More specifically, the skin on your face is more sensitive and prone to irritation than the more weather worn skin on your hands.
The moisturizer you use on your hands and body should be non-comedogenic and acne safe. Cocoa butter is loved by sun worshipers and people who are dry, but it will clog your pores quickly! You have acne safe alternative choices like Moisture Clear, Matte Moisture Hydrating Gel and Nutri-Cream.
Did You Know that Facial Skin Has Smaller Cells?
The skin cells on your face are smaller than the skin cells on your hands.
This means that your face doesn’t provide a barrier with the same degree of protection as the larger skin cells on your hands do.
This is why you’re more likely to experience acne, eczema, rosacea, and allergic contact dermatitis when you put hand cream on your face.
To sum up, the first way to stop touching your face is simply to notice when you’re doing it. The second is to find a way to help you notice. And the third is to pick up a habit that’ll keep you hands-off during your down time.
The Takeaway
While it might be a challenge to completely rid yourself of acne, reducing the habit of bringing your hands to your face is a beneficial starting point.
Breaking this habit can seem like an uphill battle, especially when dealing with acne already feels overwhelming.
Schedule your initial consultation with us so we can help you get clear. It’s hard to accept that something as innocent as touching your face with your hands causes acne.
Cheers to clear!
Rene