Hands Off Your Skin

Here at the Skin School blog, our main focus is your healthy skin. There are even a few solutions to improve the quality of your skin that don’t require a visit to our office. Would you believe the average person touches his or her face 16 times in one hour? From all the things we come in contact with daily, our hands certainly get their fair share of germs and bacteria.

You might even be touching your face while you read this blog post. Whether we notice it or not, this healthy skin no-no is something we all do. From rubbing your eyes, picking a blemish, or resting your face in your hands while sitting at a desk, as we touch the skin on our faces, bacteria is introduced in places we don’t want it.

There are two main reasons not to touch your face. First, it could cause you to get sick. If you have come into contact with something or someone infected with a cold or flu virus (such as a door knob or telephone) and then touch your face, your chance of getting sick increases by 50 percent.

The second important reason to avoid touching your skin is that it can cause acne. If you already have acne prone skin, touching it will increase your chances for breakouts. Our fingers secrete natural oil that mixes with dirt and bacteria on our skin and this leads to unwanted blemishes.

Here are a few simple tips to keep your hands off:

• Be conscious of keeping your hands away from your face (it seems obvious, but not always easy to remember.
• Wash your hands every few hours and always before eating.
• Don’t pick pimples. It only pushes bacteria deeper into the skin and can cause unwanted scars.

Always clean your face before bed. A good skincare regimen will help to prevent a multitude of skin issues. If you aren’t sure how to go about doing this or haven’t had success in the past, a board certified dermatologist, such as a member of our team here at Knoxville Dermatology Group, can help you establish a skincare regimen that will meet your skin’s unique needs.

Are you suffering from breakouts or another skin condition? Our team of board certified physicians here at Knoxville Dermatology Group is here to help. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.