Whether conscious of it or not, it turns out we touch our faces... a lot. In one study, researchers found that participants touched their faces an average of 16 times per hour. And in another study—of medical professionals—participants touched their faces an average of 19 times in a two-hour window.

But here's the thing: Not touching your face—or, more specifically, your eyes, nose, and mouth—is vital to keeping you healthy and stopping the spread of germs. It's called "self inoculation," says Dr. Evelyn Darius, a family physician with the virtual health platform PlushCare. "This is where a person infects themselves by introducing germs from their contaminated hands into their body," she explains.

And as we all do our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus, avoiding touching your face is key, albeit, easier said than done. Hopefully, with these tips and tricks, you'll be able to stop touching your face for good.

Our eyes, nose and mouth are direct entries for germs.

"They contain mucous membranes that are a direct entry into our bodies, as opposed to our skin which acts as a layer of defense against germ entry," says Darius.

And experts believe that the transmission of the coronavirus occurs mostly through respiratory droplets, says Dr. Linda Anegawa, an internist with PlushCare. "With droplet transmission, viruses present in the respiratory secretions of an infected person can infect others if these droplets make contact with mucous membranes," she explains. And even if you practice social distancing, experts believe the coronavirus can live on surfaces like doorknobs, handles, and tables for anywhere from a few hours to several days. This means that you could transmit the virus to yourself simply by touching a surface containing infected droplets and then touching a mucous membrane, like your mouth.

Start by practicing good hand hygiene.

First and foremost it's important to practice hand hygiene to reduce the presence of germs on your hands, says Darius. That doesn't mean dousing your hands in sanitizer. The right sanitizers will do the trick in a pinch, but experts say proper hand-washing is the most effective method of reducing germs and bacteria on your hands.

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Don't wear a mask if you don't have to.

Wearing masks often leads to unnecessary face touching—think of all those times you attempt to adjust it—leading to inadvertent mucous membrane contact, Anegawa, explains. Unless you absolutely need to wear a mask, meaning you have active coughing or sneezing, she suggests leaving them to the medical professionals.

Avoid common triggers like false eyelashes.

False eyelashes may cause irritation that can lead to more face touching, says Anegawa. And if something like wearing contacts makes your eyes dry, consider wearing glasses instead so you aren't tempted to fiddle with your contacts. Bottom line: Think about what tends to bother you, and avoid it when possible.

Consider wearing headbands to keep your hair off your face.

If stray hair tickling your forehead always has you swatting at your face, consider embracing this spring trend. Or, try tying your hair back with one of these no-crease elastics. A satin bonnet will also keep your hair secure and out of your eyes.

Treat any underlying conditions.

Similarly, treat any health conditions that may cause you to touch your face excessively, says Darius. If you have eczema or dry skin, moisturize after you've properly washed your hands. If you have seasonal allergies that make your nostrils itch, talk to your doctor about treating that with an antihistamine or a nasal steroid.

Put your hands in your lap while you speak.

If you tend to talk with your hands, make an effort to cross them in your lap while you're talking in effort to keep your hands away from your face as much as possible, says Darius.

Tie a ribbon around your finger.

Try mindfulness strategies that can help you break the habit of touching your face. For instance, tie a ribbon around the base of your dominant hand’s index finger (or, you know, a sparkly ring) as a tangible reminder of the behavior, says Anegawa. And, attempt to identify the triggers that cause you to to touch your face—maybe you lean your cheek on your palm while you read, for example—and replace that with an alternative such as crossing your legs.

And think about meditation.

Practicing just five minutes of relaxation or meditation twice daily can help reduce the compulsive fidgeting and touching behaviors that are accompanied by stress—and we're certainly experiencing a lot of stress right now, says Anegawa.

If all else fails, keep your hands busy.

If you simply can't stop touching your face, try keeping hands occupied with something like a stress ball. But remember: These items need to be cleaned, otherwise they can also harbor germs and bacteria that can make you sick, says Darius. "Wash them frequently, as recommended by the CDC, for 20 seconds with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer."


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Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.