Your Glasses Could Be Making You Break Out
Follow these do’s and don’t’s for keeping your skin clear when you wear specs. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Where your acne is located is a sure sign of what’s causing you to break out. Chin? You can blame hormones. T-Zone? Pollution could be the cause. On your temples and forehead? If you wear glasses on a regular basis, your eyewear may be to blame. To ensure perfect vision and perfect skin, we’ve gathered a list of do’s and don’t’s from experts who deal with this issue daily.
The best thing you can do for your skin is to wash your glasses at least once a day because frames collect bacteria and dirt over time. “Wipe your glasses with soap, water, and a paper towel or a micro-fabric cloth to keep off the bacteria,” says Marni Bessler, a New Jersey-based optometrist. Swiping the frames with rubbing alcohol also works.
A simple cleaning is all you need. “You don’t want to disintegrate or break down the material of the frames,” says Chynna Steele, a dermatologist in Atlanta. “When you remove the protective coating of anything, you can start to get allergies or irritation from the plastic.”
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“The pressure from the glasses covers the pores and can make any product comedogenic [pore-clogging],” says Steele. To stay on the safe side, use only non-comedogenic products, which are oil-free and made of smaller particles that don’t clog the pores as easily. “Mineral makeup is the best option because they tend to be pretty sheer and light,” says Steele.
Since your hair produces oil throughout the day, you want to keep from touching your hair and then your face to avoid breakouts. Similarly, another habit to break is placing your glasses on your head. “Anything that can be transferred from the hair to the face—natural oils, hair products—can definitely be transported just by moving the glasses down,” says Steele.
Instead of popping them onto your head, carry a case with you. “Anytime you take your glasses off, they should be put directly in a case after you clean them,” says Bessler. One made out of a silk material can even double as a washcloth for the lens and frames.
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Because the acne isn’t caused by excess oil, blotting papers won’t make much difference, says Steele. “They won’t be adequate enough in preventing acne,” she says.
The pressure from the glasses can also cause clogging, so make sure your frames aren’t super tight. “You definitely want to have them adjusted correctly, not only for your comfort, but to prevent friction,” says Bessler.
Think twice before lying down to watch TV. “That just increases the pressure on your face,” which can lead to pimples, says Steele.
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If you’re experiencing a rash as opposed to acne, you may be suffering from an allergic reaction. “Many people have allergies to nickel used in frames,” says Denise Whittam, an optometrist in New York City. The nickel can actually seep into your oil glands, causing redness or even blisters. “If you’re not ready to transition to contact lenses completely but want to give your skin a breather, I recommend trying a daily lens, like 1-Day ACUVUE MOIST Brand Contact Lenses.”
Just make sure to give your eyes a break, too. “Contacts can block a certain amount of oxygen from getting to your eye,” says Bessler. She recommends wearing glasses at night for at least two or three hours before you go to sleep.
More from Women’s Health:
3 Annoying Skin Problems That Are Being Caused by Allergies
You Can Tell What’s Causing Your Acne By Where You Break Out
4 Bizarre Places You Always Get Zits—and How to Prevent Them
