Touching your face can clog pores and cause acne-causing bacteria to spread. Constantly touching your face and scratching your pimples are some of the worst habits to have when you suffer from acne. Lose the habit by using mental techniques or by creating physical barriers that prevent you from touching your face. If you just can't avoid putting your hands in your face, it's important to know how to minimize the damage.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Resist the Temptation to Touch Your Face
Step 1. Keep your hands busy when you touch your face most often
If you put your hands on your face when waiting for the bus, when you get bored or in class, find something to keep your hands busy. You can try stress balls, key chains, beaded bracelets, rubber bands, or gemstones.
- If you touch your face when watching television, try massaging your hands.
- Crochet or scribbling are great ways to keep your hands busy (plus you'll be doing something creative!).
- Identify the factors that cause you to touch your face, so you can anticipate temptations and plan for distractions. Do you unconsciously put your hands to your face when you read, when you are in class or when you watch television? Do you go to the bathroom to brush your teeth and then find yourself scratching your pimples? Or do you touch yourself when you are stressed, excited, angry, bored or sad?
Step 2. Sit on your hands if you are tempted to touch yourself when sitting
Whenever you are in class or at the table, try sitting on your hands if you don't need them for eating or taking notes. Assigning a place for your hands (other than your face) will help you break the habit, especially if you scratch yourself without realizing it.
Alternatively, interlace your fingers and place them on your legs or table instead of using them to rest your face on them
Step 3. Use visual reminders to remind you not to touch your face
Put a "DO NOT TOUCH" post-it note on your bathroom mirror, car rearview mirror, TV remote, and any other spots you see often. It will be helpful for you to stick these reminders in places where you most often get your hands on your face.
You can also set an hourly alarm on your phone that reminds you not to scratch, especially if you happen to do it more often at certain times of the day
Step 4. Wear gloves if you have a tendency to touch your face when you are at home
This may sound like silly advice, but it's impossible to scratch your pimples with gloves. You can also keep them overnight if you have a tendency to sleep with your face on your hands. Just make sure you wash them regularly so they don't build up too much bacteria.
- Use 100% cotton gloves. Wool would irritate your face (if you were to touch yourself), while nylon could get damaged.
- If you can't wear gloves, you can bandage your fingertips with bandages or duct tape. This is a less eye-catching solution and makes it much harder to scratch pimples.
Step 5. Ask a friend or relative to make you notice when you touch your face
A close friend, parent, or roommate can be very valuable allies when you're trying to break the habit of putting your hands in your face. Ask him to scold you in a good-natured way every time you touch your face.
If necessary, you can also set up a jar to put a euro in every time you touch your face. This could give you an incentive to break the habit
Step 6. Remember why you need to stop touching your face
Try not to be discouraged and think of all the good reasons you have for breaking the habit. Alternatively, think about the dangers of touching your hands and face.
Search the internet for pictures of acne scars to see what will happen to you if you keep touching your face. Many types of acne leave no scars if the pimples are not touched; scratching, puncturing and irritating the skin increases the chances of leaving a scar
Step 7. Practice mindful meditation to manage the emotional factors that cause your behavior
If you touch your face when you are feeling stressed, anxious, bored or sad, take some time to clear and "reset" your mind. Meditation has been shown to help people manage their emotions and resist repeated behaviors that involve the body (such as touching or scratching).
- Follow internet videos about guided meditation or sign up for a meditation class at a local yoga studio.
- You can also download a guided meditation app, such as Headspace or MindShift, to help you relax when you are not at home.
Method 2 of 2: Minimize Skin Damage
Step 1. Trim your nails and keep them clean
Make sure you always have short nails so you don't damage your skin when you touch your face. Also, keeping the space under the nails clean is important to limit the transfer of bacteria from the hands to the face.
Hands are one of the dirtiest parts of the body, so remember this to avoid the temptation to touch you
Step 2. Wash your hands and fingers thoroughly with antibacterial soap
Wash yourself with a splash or two of soap and warm water. Scrub them for at least 30 seconds to produce a lot of foam before rinsing them off with warm or hot water.
- Keeping your hands and fingers clean reduces the chances of getting acne when you touch your face.
- If you have to touch your face, wash your hands with antibacterial soap before and after doing so.
Step 3. If necessary, follow a skin care routine to treat acne
Talk to your doctor or see a dermatologist - they will recommend acne creams and cleansers that require a prescription if pimples cause you to scratch. Over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids have been shown to have a beneficial effect against acne.
- If you prefer natural products, you can use witch hazel or tea tree oil to dry out pimples and acne.
- When washing your face, don't rub too hard, as this can cause irritation and lead you to touch yourself in pain.
- Remember: the more you touch your face, the higher the likelihood of developing clogged pores, pimples and acne.
Step 4. See your doctor if you suspect that you have dermatillomania
This condition is closely linked to OCD and may require cognitive behavioral therapy to be treated. You may have it if:
- Can't stop scratching;
- You scratch to the point of causing cuts, bleeding, or bruising;
- You touch scars, wounds and pimples on your skin in an attempt to "fix" them;
- You don't notice you are touching your skin;
- You touch yourself while you sleep;
- You touch yourself when you feel stressed or anxious;
- You use scissors, tweezers, and pins (in addition to your fingers) to touch your skin.
Advice
- Do not give up! As with all vices, you probably won't be able to stop touching your face in a single day.
- If you have a tendency to touch your face when standing, put your hands in your pockets and play with your change, a pebble, or whatever else helps keep them busy!
- Wear a headband or hat if you have bangs or long hair. This will prevent the hair from falling over the face. Pushing the hair away from the eyes or nose is one of the most common reasons for touching your face.
