Cell phone spots and touchscreen acne – could you also be suffering from “Phacne”?

Stress, lack of sleep, an unbalanced diet and an inadequate skincare routine can all cause skin issues. One factor, however, is often overlooked which is also a leading cause for acne-prone skin. If you exercise, pay attention to what you eat, care for your skin and yet you’re still struggling with blackheads and pimples, there may be a reason why. It’s possible that “Phone-acne”, also known as “Phacne”, is stopping you from having a spotless complexion. Phacne occurs on the areas of your face which come into constant contact with your phone, for instance, while making calls. If you’re dealing with acne on your cheeks, your jawline, chin, or the area between your cheekbones and ears, your phone may be the problem.

How your smartphone causes skin issues

Smartphones have become an integral part of our modern lives; few people can imagine being without their phones. Our phones are constantly in our hands, our bags, on tables, and unclean areas – such as public transport. Easily, bacteria from makeup, facial oils, and environmental toxins accumulate and our phones become dirty, greasy, and full of germs. Using our phones 24/7 all day every day increases the likelihood of bacteria to be on our phones, especially on touchscreens. When our phones ring, we pick up and hold our phones against our face, oftentimes oblivious to the bacteria we may be transferring to our ear, cheek, and chin area. The dirt on our phones comes into contact with our face, where it leads to the formation of blemishes and acne.

Bacteria-Magnet Smartphones – What you can do

The best thing to do to prevent Phacne from occurring is to regularly disinfect your phone. To prevent unwanted acne, clean your phone every evening before heading to bed. Antibacterial disinfectant wipes and sprays do the trick and can be found in most drugstores and pharmacies. Cleaning your phone regularly drastically reduces the number of germs and bacteria on your phone, and prevent blemishes from occurring.

Also, don’t forget to clean your hands. Washing and disinfecting your hands regularly stops bacteria from spreading and being transmitted to your phone, and then your face. If you don’t have disinfectant handy, and nevertheless want to prevent touchscreen pimples, then use headphones or a headset while on calls. You can then happily chat with your friends for hours, without worrying about the effects of your cell phone coming into contact with your skin.

Wrinkle worries – How Smartphones can cause premature aging

Unfortunately, you should be concerned about more than just acne when using your phone frequently: increased contact with technological devices, such as cell phones, also contributes to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Focusing on small displays, we’re likely to put a strain on our eyes and frown slightly, which eventually leads to lines forming across the forehead, as well as between and around the eyes. Because we tend to use our phones, and thus frown, often – these fine lines can quickly deepen. Fine lines and wrinkles oftentimes develop when using our devices in the evening, when our phones are the only light source.

To prevent Smartphone ‘Aging’, you can take regular breaks from your phone and computer. During these breaks, you should try to relax your face. You can additionally reduce the risk of premature aging by massaging your face, moving your hands in circular motions from your chin to forehead. But before touching your face be sure to wash your hands.

Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid – must-haves in preventing smartphone skin issues

Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid are active ingredients that help prevent premature skin aging. Retinol helps skin to naturally become plumper and supports skin regeneration, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Skin becomes smoother and more supple. Retinol can also help minimize phone acne, as it fights blemishes and clears up the complexion. Hyaluronic Acid helps keep skin hydrated and supple, reduces fine lines and makes skin glow. The best way to use hyaluronic acid is to gently massage it into your skin with your hands, as this stimulates the skin cells. The result of regularly using retinol and hyaluronic acid? A youthful, clear complexion.

Waking up next to your smartphone – blue light to start the day

It’s important to reduce the use of technological devices before going to bed. It’s so easy to spend time checking your emails before bed and then finding yourself watching stories on Instagram and Facebook. It’s happened to the best of us – for many people, it’s even part of their evening routine. One minute before you may have felt tired, but that tiredness disappears when sucked into the world of social media. If you feel it’s difficult to sleep after being on your phone, there’s a reason for that. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops all emit blue light, which disrupts the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that controls the internal clock and helps you fall asleep. If you spend too much time on your screen before bed, you should expect trouble getting your ZZZ’s in and sleepiness the next day.

Try to limit your cell phone use in the evenings. If you find it difficult to do so, consider leaving your phone in a different room, and use a good old alarm clock instead. Using an alarm clock will not throw your melatonin production off, you’ll get your beauty sleep, and you’ll wake up with refreshed, well-rested skin in the morning.