How to stop touching your face

A bad habit

It’s been estimated that we touch our faces an average of 23 times every hour, or 368 times every day if we respect the recommended 8 hours of sleep. Yes, it’s a lot! Some studies indicate that this reflex even starts in the womb. Which means we’ve been scratching our noses, wiping our foreheads and rubbing our eyes for quite some time without giving it much thought. We also do it instinctively as a way of relieving tension in our facial muscles and when our emotions run high. We do it to try and massage away a headache or calm an irritated eye. Touching our faces is a form of reassurance, it can make us feel protected, and it can help us communicate; hiding when we’re embarrassed or overwhelmed.

Hands down!

Just because we always do it doesn't mean this action is harmless. It’s never been more relevant to bear in mind that touching our faces helps the spread of bacteria, germs, and infection. We can spread things without realizing, leading them directly to the face’s mucus membranes: the nose, the mouth, and the ears.

Touching our faces with dirty hands also encourages the accumulation of impurities on the skin. The bacteria and pollution that builds up during the day can penetrate the pores, pressed in by fingers, and leading to blackheads and ingrown hairs. The more we touch, the worse this can become. Each contact stimulates our sebaceous glands which then produce more sebum than usual. The result? Skin becomes greasier, and the vicious cycle continues. But there are (several) ways we can avoid this.

Relax

Relaxation is a good idea for everyone. The Jacobson method offers a simple way to avoid touching your face. As soon as you notice an area of your face tense up or get tired, try contracting and releasing the muscle in question several times to calm it down. It’s pretty effective!

Grab a tissue

Don’t panic, this isn’t a tearjerker. Having some disposable tissues can make touching our faces safer by creating an antibacterial barrier between our hands and the skin. Smart, but it requires preparation, and might not be the most ecological choice.

The medical method

You’ve heard by now that healthcare professionals recommend wearing a surgical mask, especially at the moment. This not only helps limit the spread of microbes but also covers a large portion of the face, which means our fingers don’t come into contact with our nose, mouth, or chin. However, it’s important to change your mask every 3 hours to ensure it stays effective.

The extreme method

Yes, it’s even been suggested that the safest way to avoid touching our faces would be to cover them completely with a breathable sheet. Not the most practical, and it would be a shame to cover up your healthy complexion.

Change your reflexes

Instead of touching your face, try diverting your hands to touch the back of the head. This can help avoid contact with mucus membranes and spare your skin.

Gadgets

You could also invest in an anti-stress device of your choice: a ball, a squeezable object, anything to occupy your hands and keep them off your face.

Get connected

The “Do Not Touch Your Face” app analyzes your movements and sends you notifications to help you limit the number of times you touch your skin during the day.

Paying more attention to what we do with our hands will help us adapt our behaviour. That being said, one of the best bets for keeping our skin safe and healthy is an oldie but a goodie; wash your hands regularly with soap and water.