Does Your Cell Phone Cause Acne?
According to a recent survey, 95% of Americans own a cell phone. If you think about how often you pull out your phone to check your text messages, emails, social media accounts or to make a phone call, you’d probably be surprised at just how often you touch your phone. You probably put it down on all kinds of surfaces. Every time your phone touches something, bacteria, fungi and maybe even viruses are transferred to it. Don’t even consider putting your phone down in a public bathroom! Remember- it will soon be touching your face.
All that bacteria can make its way from your phone to your skin- usually your hands or face. It can be transferred from person to person on your phone. If you get unexplained breakouts where your phone touches your face, a dirty cell phone could be to part of the cause. The good news is that you can avoid this problem if you follow these tips for how to clean your cell phone.
How Dirty Is Your Cell Phone?
Just in case you’re still not convinced of just how dirty your phone might be, a 2009 study found that 75% of all cell phones carried at least one disease-causing bacterium. However, even most healthcare workers in a hospital setting say they do not ever disinfect their phone.
Other sources say that the average cell phone has over 25,000 bacteria per square inch on its surface at any given time – compare that to a mere 1,201 bacteria per square inch on the average toilet seat!
How to Clean Your Phone
I recommend using Element 47 Skin Fortifying Mist to clean your cell phone, since this product contains silver, which is known to kill bacteria, yet it won’t damage your screen like benzoyl peroxide will. Just apply spray the Element 47 Skin Fortifying Mist to a microfiber cloth and gently rub it on your phone. Do not spray your phone directly. Always use a soft cloth to wipe your phone, not something abrasive that might scratch your screen. Don’t use household cleansers or alcohol to clean your phone. They can damage the screen.
Equally important is remembering to wash your hands frequently throughout the day, especially after using the restroom, touching doorknobs, and working outside. This will help to limit the amount of bacteria that you transfer from your hands to your phone to your face.
How Often Should You Clean Your Phone?
Even if you clean your phone every few weeks, that’s not frequent enough to effectively keep germs at bay and keep your skin clean. The P. acnes bacteria that causes acne reproduces every 12 hours, so for the best results, try to clean your phone twice each day.
You can purchase pre-packaged cleaning wipes for your phone that you can take with you on the go so you can wipe off your cell while on public transportation, using public restrooms, or in other public places where you need to the most! Another option is to carry a travel-sized spray bottle of Element 47 or other phone-safe cleaning solution and a small microfiber cloth so you can keep your phone clean while you’re out and about during the day.
How to Cleanse Acne-Prone Skin
Washing your face is just as important as washing your phone and hands when it comes to keeping bacteria and acne at bay. Choose an acne cleanser based on your skin type. If you’re not sure which of the 16 Baumann Skin Types® you are, find a doctor in your area who can give you the Baumann Skin Type quiz so you can find out and receive a customized skincare plan, including the right type of cleanser to manage acne.
In general, look for cleansers with anti-inflammatory ingredients to help with redness. Hydroxy acid cleansers are also good choice for acne-prone skin types, since they can help to prevent pores from becoming clogged. Salicylic acid can also unclog pores to help treat existing acne. No matter what type of cleanser your doctor recommends for your skin type, make sure you use it at least every night before going to bed to remove bacteria, dirt, oil, and other debris that can clog your pores and harbor bacteria.
In Summary
Just because you can’t see bacteria doesn’t mean it’s not on your phone! More than half of Americans do not ever clean their phone, and even more do not regularly clean them. Keeping bacteria off your skin is a great way to prevent breakouts and other unwanted skin conditions.
For more skincare advice and information from Dr. Leslie Baumann, follow Baumann Cosmetic on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
As always, wishing you great skin!
©2018 MetaBeauty, Inc.
