hands off - maybe.
If you have read my previous posts you'll know I am insistent about why you shouldn't touch your face. The amount of opportunistic and/or pathogenic bacteria potentially on your hands is frightening, but on the flip side, the power of touch is incredible and it's positive role in skin health cannot be ignored.
So in this current climate of pandemic, I think it's probably an ideal time to clarify why you shouldn't touch... and, also, why you should let me.
Putting aside the friendly, and not so friendly, bacteria, mites, fungi, parasites and other organisms that make our face their home, leaves us to focus on a new kind of outbreak, the COVID- 19 virus.
Viruses are tiny organisms that live inside a host, like me or you. They are not friendly, and will attempt to multiply within their host and spread from host to host to ensure their survival.
As for the COVID-19 virus, if you are not sick of hearing about it, talking about it, reading about it... then you are one of the few fortunate ones. For the rest of us, bear with me, I come in peace.
So here is the 411,
COVID-19 is spread person to person via respiratory droplets, a cough or a sneeze will do it, and whilst this is thought to be the primary method of transmission, these droplets can land on surfaces, these surfaces can be touched by your hands, you touch your face (nose/mouth/eyes- the 'wet' parts) and transmission occurs.
Think you can keep your hands off your face? Good for you!
However, it may not be that easy. Touching your face is a habit, one likely started at a very young age, and can be attributed to boredom, stress, discomfort and pleasure.
A federal government study suggested "These movements are not usually designed to communicate and are frequently accomplished with little or no awareness"(Grunwald. M et al, 2014).
So here are the Australian Government Department of Health recommendations, given to help you keep potential pests away from your face,
covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
disposing of tissues properly
washing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
if you are sick, avoiding contact with others and staying more than 1.5 metres away from people
cleaning and sanitising frequently used objects such as mobiles, keys and wallets
As for me, I still want to touch your face, I want to put my hands all over your face!
And this is how I'll do it, whilst making sure that my safety and yours isn't compromised,
I am restricting numbers of people in clinic at any one time, extending turn around times to ensure all surfaces are adequately disinfected between clients, wearing masks (WHO recommends this only for the sick, however we will practice this when inside the clinic room as an extra safety measure), practicing hand hygiene at all times, wearing gloves for all facial treatments, sterilising our equipment (as per usual) and encouraging contactless transactions. Hand Sanitiser is available to all clients at the front reception desk and I ask only that if you feel unwell to please stay home and rest.
A facial has a myriad of skin health benefits, the power of touch adds benefit to the nervous and endocrine systems that have a lasting effect on overall health.
So let me touch you, safely.
www.thefacialistonline.com/book-online
With love,
x Lauren