Did you know you could be causing your skin issues without even noticing you’re doing it? So what exactly am I referring to? Touching your face.

Simple things like resting your cheek on your hand or picking at a blemish throughout the day can cause your skin issues. Many of us have this habit of touching our face, and do it without even realizing it.

We’re going to go over why this is a bad habit in the first place and then some tips on how to cut this habit out of your life.

Why is touching your face a bad thing?

• Touching your face makes spreading bacteria and viruses more prevalent. Our hands are our main way to interact with things, we touch so much throughout the day and then touching our face is the easiest way to acquire any bacteria or viruses.
• If you are prone to having more oily skin, then touching your face can also cause you acne breakouts. Acne breakouts are trigger by three elements: excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. When you pick at blemishes on your face you can push bacteria to that area which can cause more severe acne.

Tips to stop touching your face

• Take note of when you touch your face. The first step to stopping this habit is becoming more aware of it and when you do it. Whenever you catch yourself in the act, make a quick note of exactly what you were doing and how you were feeling. Were you bored and just resting your chin on your hand, or were you anxiously picking at your face. Knowing when and why you touch your face can help you avoid those behaviors.
• Substitute the behavior. Once you become more aware of when you are touching your face, you can make an effort to substitute the behavior. For example when you notice yourself reaching up to touch your face, instead fold your hands and put them in your lap until the desire to touch your face subsides. Find an action to substitute touching your face and if you stick to it, eventually this new habit will replace the old.
• Keep your hands occupied. The goal here is to keep your hands busy so that you don’t even consider touching your face. For example, if you pick at your blemishes when you are anxious, have a stress ball nearby to distract you from touching your face. Constantly think of other activities to keep your hands busy during the times in which you are more tempted to touch your face.
• Keep your skin hydrated. Another reason some may be tempted to touch their face is because their skin feels dry and itchy. Moisturizing your skin on a daily basis is a good practice to keep your skin hydrated and make you less likely to itch at your face.

Wash your hands frequently

Even if you follow all of the above tips you still may slip up and touch your face every so often. If you can completely break the habit of touching your face, keeping your hands clean is a great place to start. Keeping your hands clean can reduce the spread of oil, dirt and bacteria to your face and keep your face healthier.