Touching your face often can cause acne – Myth or Fact?

Skin is the largest organ in our body. It stretches all over our body, protecting our insides and safeguarding us against harmful external agents. But while skin protects us, it is important to remember that areas of the skin on our face are thinner than the skin on the rest of our body. That’s why the skin on our face is the most prone to infections and issues in general. Although it is best practice to take care of the skin all over our body, it will be a more realistic expectation if we start with taking care of the skin on our face first and then progress with the rest.

Can touching your face often cause skin issues?

We all have heard this – “Don’t touch your face! That’s how you get pimples.” This statement may or may not be accurate in reality. The truth is that our fingers carry a lot of dirt and grime from the day, and when we directly touch our face, our sensitive skin cannot deal with the overload of bacteria. So yes, while touching your face can cause pimples, simply not touching it is not the solution. But not touching your face will reduce the chances of infections and pimples.

There are many other significant causes of acne and skin issues in reality, and touching your face does not even come on the list of top ten causes. 

Common causes of Acne and Skin Infections

Some of the most common causes of acne and skin infections are – 

• Extra production of sebum
• Infections caused by bacteria
• Clogged skin pores
• Poor diet
• Bad lifestyle habits
• Smoking
• Hormonal imbalance
• Stress

If you are already dealing with acne, it is good to change your habits, put down your cigarette, and wash your hands before touching your face.

If you touch your face a lot, don’t worry, we understand that old habits die hard. But that doesn’t mean that old habits don’t die at all. If you know that you often touch your face to move your hair out of the way, be prepared and tie your hair back. You can even keep a hand sanitiser handy so that the contamination would be minimal in case you were to touch your face.

How can you work on preventing acne?

Here are several steps you must adhere to if you want to reduce your acne.

• Wash and moisturise your face every day
• Use acne specific products
• Gently exfoliate
• Avoid using make-up
• Be mindful of your hair care products
• Apply sunscreen
• Visit a Doctor or skin therapist

If you have been facing acne for a long time, you can even get professional help by visiting a skincare clinic near you.

Even if you can curb the onset of new zits, if you suffer from acne, you will realise that acne scars can take a toll on your confidence and skin quality. To get rid of stubborn acne scars, you can use fractional RF needling, fractional CO2 laser, or Blue/Red LED light therapy. These new therapies have been a game-changer in the field of new-age skincare.

What can be done about acne scars?

Getting rid of acne scars can be quite a task, especially if you rely only on home remedies like the regular application of Bio-oil or aloe vera.  Not only do these home remedies really test your patience, but they are not really effective on stubborn scars. If you are looking for long-term solutions, please consider procedures like micro-needling, CO2 laser therapy, blue LED therapy, and dermal fillers. These are highly effective but slightly more invasive than traditional home remedies, so make sure you meet with a specialist, sit down with them, and discuss all the pros and cons before you take a step. Remember, an acne-free life means a more confident you!

Fractional RF Needling – this new cosmetic procedure provides radiofrequency waves inside the skin with the help of tiny needles. Although it may seem like an extremely invasive procedure, the process is carried out by tiny needles inside the epidermal layer, which does not leave any external scars. This is now an effective treatment for acne scarring, with long-lasting results.

Fractional CO2 laser – this process uses a laser specially made out of carbon dioxide. It is used to tackle skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, age spots, crow’s feet, fine lines, pigmentation, sun damage, warts, and even enlarged oil glands. Consult a dermatologist or visit a skincare clinic in Wellington to get all the information about these procedures.

Blue/Red LED light therapy – this LED therapy combo has Blue light for an antibacterial effect for pimples and the Red light reduces inflammation and boosts healing. 

Photodynamic therapy combines an added step using a light sensitive medication to sensitise the skin to react more to the Blue/Red LED. When used in tandem, it can cause great skin results.