7 Places Guys Need To Keep Their Fingers Away From

As a guy, I can say that sometimes we are not the most hygienic group in the world. With this being said, there are things that we can do to not spread germs and look to our friends and co-workers like "that guy" that is the gross one.

Men's Health has created a list of the 7 places that men should not put their hands. The key to cleanliness guys is to keep your hands off of your body.

“Research shows that hands play a major role in the transmission of germs,” says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. “Even after proper washing, hands and fingers are rapidly re-contaminated from the surrounding environment.”

It may seem somewhat crazy, but we have to admit we all know someone who has done at least one of these things! Here we go!

1. Guys seriously, you sit at your desk and the next thing you know, you have your finger in your ear. I am not sure why we do this or what exactly we are digging for (it's not like we are going to discover gold in there) but it is something that happens, perhaps out of a fit of nervousness, but it is gross. Go grab some sanitizer and avoid putting your fingers in your ears.

2. Touching your face a lot- When guys are working, we touch a lot of items that have germs, and we end up putting our hands on our faces, or our foreheads. When we do this, we increase our chances of getting sick.

3. Touching your butt- Yep, I said it, and it's out there. Keep your hands off your butt. Unless you are in the restroom, this is a horrible way to pass germs. No matter how much you think you are germ free, your not. Plus it is not something the office staff needs to see.

4. Rubbing your eyes-It is hard sometimes especially when you are tired to have the urge to rub your eyes. According to Kimbery Cockerham:

 You can easily introduce germs into your eyes, says Men’s Health ophthalmology advisor Kimberly Cockerham, M.D. Those bugs could cause anything from pinkeye to a scarier infection. Follow her simple rule: “Don't touch and don't rub.”

5.Sticking your fingers into your mouth- I am guilty of this. I will be working away and find myself chewing on my fingers. Nasty habit right. The good thing is, we are not alone.

Recent research from the U.K. found that people put their fingers on or around their mouths an average of 23.6 times per hour when they were bored at work. And they still did it 6.3 times an hour when they were busy!

6. Picking your nose- I know you do not think that people see this, but they do. No matter how discreet you try to be, ultimately someone is going to see you digging for the goal, and spreading germs. Not a healthy thing to do. When you use your fingers to dig up there, you can contract Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Not only does this sound bad, it is. You can not only make yourself really sick, but you can also make those around you sick if your hands touch surfaces that others share with you.

7. Picking or playing with your finger nails- Under every nail, you have tons of germs and bacteria. Yet, we find ourselves, chewing and clipping and ripping our nails. Doctor David De Berker states that:

“Your nails should be short to reduce the chances of bacterial carriage, and such nails only need a gentle nail brush to remove debris and often,” says David De Berker, MRCP, consultant dermatologist at the British Dermatology Center. 

The moral to the story is. Men, we put our fingers where they don't belong. Avoiding putting your fingers in these places will not only keep you healthier, but those around you as well.

[Menshealth]