Now hear this! Accumulated germy gunk on your cell can spell disaster for the acne-prone
Talk about yuck factor! Petri dish imprints of cell phone bacterial growth done by students of U.K. molecular biology lecturer Dr. Simon Park of the University of Surrey have gone viral, thanks to an article in the Mail Online. While most of what they found are not harmful, germs such as the infectious bacteria Staphylococcus aureus most definitely are.
Other bacteria and viruses – including fecal contamination (hello food poisoning!) from those who don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom – thrive in the germy soup of oils, cellular debris, makeup traces and dirt that gets deposited from your face to your phone to your fingers and back again with every use.
For the acne- and eczema-prone, this can mean a non-stop circle of infectious triggers.
In addition to germs, another factor in the breakout-cell phone connection is acne mechanica. (Actually, this holds true for land-line receivers as well.) A close cousin to regular everyday acne (aka acne vulgaris) and manifesting in rashy pimples, acne mechanica results when heat and sweat get trapped for an extended period where there is rubbing or pressure. It’s most common in athletes under straps, weight-belts, synthetic clothing and helmets but even chin rests on violins can trigger similar breakouts.
What to do? It’s just a matter of a better clean routine, telephonically speaking:
- Sterilize your phone every day, and twice a day if you have an active breakout, rash, cold, flu or any other contagious condition. Personally, I’m a fan of the Violight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer that uses ultraviolet light to kill germs in every nook and cranny. Or, you can use touch screen wipes such as Wireless Wipes Anti-Bacterial Cell Phone Wipes. I suggest carrying extras with you in your bag or briefcase.
- Go hands free whenever possible (but don’t forget to sterilize your headset regularly.)
- Use hand sanitizer gel or wash your hands thoroughly every time you use the bathroom. Remember, contaminants don’t just come from you (although they can) but from everyone else who has used the facilities before you. If you don’t care for the gel, wipes such as Purrell Wipes work just as well as long as you are thorough on your hands, fingers and around (and under) your nails.
I want to emphasize that germy handhelds won’t cause acne, contact dermatitis or other skin conditions per se, but can markedly exacerbate them and make them harder to control. But by stepping up the sanitation, the solution is most definitely in your hands.
Bad germs happen but they don’t have to show up on your skin.