Why Touching Your Face Causes Acne Breakouts [DermTV.com Epi #257]



So it's just another ordinary and regular day here at DermTV. No, actually, what I'm going to talk about is why anything that touches or rubs against your skin can cause acne breakouts. There are a lot of different causes for blemishes and pimples but particularl acteria, excess oil and anything that contributes to clogging your skin. And the reality is that anything that touches or rubs your skin will contribute towards increased clogging. So, just your hand touching your skin while you're watching television or when you're reading or when you're in class, that will increase breakouts. A telephone touching your cheek when you're talking, that can increase breakouts. A sweatband, when you're running, to catch the sweat, that'll do the same thing. Even your bangs just whisping across your forehead, even if they're squeaky clean, they can increase breakouts. Sports equipment, a chin band or even just the cushion for your forehead, that rubbing is going to increase breakouts. The way all of these things increase clogging is very simply, the oil gland and the hair follicle allow the oil to come up to the surface; anything that touches or rubs pushes the oil right back down and increases the chance of a clog. Anything that squeezes or rubs, squeezes that duct and makes it more narrow, that increases the chances of clogging. Anything that rubs or regularly touches up at the surface will cause a little bit of thickening which can close off the opening if it's already marginally compensated. All of these things contribute to increased acne breakouts. This is the bottom line, to help avoid unnecessary acne breakouts, remove anything that regularly touches your skin and try to not let anything that doesn't absolutely have to rub or touch your skin do that.