Feet picking

Posted July 13th, 2008 by Bea

Hi, I'm a 48 year old woaman from the UK. I've been picking obsessively at the soles of my feet for about 16 years now. In my younger days I had other obsessive habits: a year or so of OCD riutualistic behaviour with which involved categorising things with numbers, then obsessive blackhead removal followed by a period of constant searching for split ends. The foot picking began after a period of self loathing in my early 30s and I have been unable to stop. The good thing is that it's largely invisible to the outside world and I manage to control it in the company of others, apart from close family. To this extent it hasn't ruined my life, job or anything but is nonetheless causing me great angst. Until I came on this site this evening I did not know this condition had a name and identity, CSP, which is strangely comforting. I hope just being on the site will help me overcome the problem. I have to say I 'm hugely grateful to all of you for posting your experiences here because it helps a newcomer like myself to understand that we are not alone. I have suffered terrible guilt and self disgust at my habit. I think the problem shifted to my feet because I loathe them anyway. They are big and wide and ugly with bunions. I've never been able to wear dainty strappy sandals and the foot picking is making things worse. In the summer the problem is exacerbated because my feet are in flip flops or sandals rather than safely zipped up in boots with socks all day! In winter evenings, when I'm in my slippers, and no one's around, are far worse. Sometimes I pick my feet so much (and use a chiropody blade too) they bleed and I have to clean blood off my shoes and wear plasters. I even limp for a few hours if I go too mad. I can't help thinking that the typical OCD perfectionism is at play here. I feel that I am striving to achieve a perfect smoothness with my feet and am not satisfied with any kind of roughness. Unfortunately I know deep down the roughness is mostly caused by me and I'm making it worse. Sometimes I manage to avoid foot picking for a while, when I'm out all day and in the evenings in the company of others. It usually occurs in situations when I am bare footed and resting for long periods eg. watching TV, using my laptop, reading the paper. These are all situations where I cannot resist picking my darned feet and eating the skin!! My husband sometimes tries to stop me but it just adds to the tension I'm feeling. I'd be particularly interested in hearing any comments from compulsive foot pickers out there. Is there a method for dealing with it, other than cutting my feet off or tying my hands behind my back...?

On March 12th, 2013 Dmickey28 said:

Thank goodness I am not alone. I have noticed this over the last two years. More so in the winter months. It gets so bad I can't walk and can't get pedicures so I can stop. I just started an intense exercise regime and already had to skip today because I picked so deep yesterday. I wish I knew how to help myself.

On February 16th, 2013 merkev said:

hi, i have just come across this web site after googling feet picking. I too have picked at my feet for many years. However, unlike yourself i do not have any OCD traits. ( i wish I had the tidy-up trait once in a while though) I have tried for years to stop this as i see it as a repulsive habbit & sometimes a guilty pleasure. Wierd i know. What i have observed about myself is that the more stress I am under or the more nervious I am the more I do it!. i often pick till i bleed too & then limp about. What i have tried with minor success is putting lots of cream on my feet ie sorbaline or similar foot cream then putting on socks at night & other times I am in a position to pick my feet. After a week or so the skin on your feet becomes softer and this makes it harder to pick at. Also my wife keeps telling me to keep the socks on to avoid tempation or habit. This also works sometimes. However, I hate wearing socks so Inveriably end up bare foot & fliddling with my feet. Not much help I guess but if you havent tried this it is worth a shot. You are not alone. Hope you find some solution. All the best K

On January 21st, 2013 Ouch772 said:

I have been a fingernail, cuticle, toenail soles of feet picker since I was very young. It gets better and worse. I switch from one area to another in jags. I pull out my toenails until i have pain walking and they get infected. I have left my soles alone for a couple of years but am afraid if I start it will spiral as it has before. The one thing I have found to help over the years is manicure and pedicure. Set appointments. Don't ditch. As silly as it may be my embarrassment at showering up for an appointment with abused digits deters me. The other thing is they smooth everything out so good opertunities do not present themselves as easily. There is a callous removal cream that can help smooth out picked at soles. I have never looked for professional help on this an doubt I ever will. As I write my left small toe is bleeding as painful but I felt victorious when I got ahold of that nail. Need to get back on pedicure wagon but need to heal first.

On January 6th, 2013 Jak said:

How can I stop picking my feet?!!! For the past couple of years I have been picking my skin off my feet, but lately its got a lot worse. Now its painful to walk and I make them bleed. I can't stop. I don't have any real problems in my life or hang ups, its just become a habit. My skin is dry now and my feet have got in bad condition, and I just keep trying to pick off the rough or thick skin to make my feet smooth - but its gone way too far! I don't know I am doing it until it starts to hurt, but I just have to get the skin off no matter what. If its too painful I will use scissors to cut off the length of skin. I feel if I could make my feet soft and smoother I would not pick them, but I can't give them chance to heal. today I could hardly walk and was limping. Its crazy!

On April 1st, 2013 Finn said:

It is the same with me. Tried to find information on this , and all I get is CSP, which is not the case here... I feel that I am also just trying to get the hard parts out...been doing this for 35 years now, though. Have also tried not to pick. Succesful yes, but then I feel that my soles are not feeling or "not breathing". Picking makes the soles breathe. It is impossible even trying to explain this to others, but I feel that this is not CSP, even though skin picking is involved. Would be great to have contact with someone who feels the same...!

On December 28th, 2012 arg13 said:

I would also love any advice, the only thing I manage that works is putting some thick moisturiser on at night and constantly wearing socks. I find when I have dry skin its a lot more tempting. This is the first time I have posted on anything like this and I know i struggle with anxiety and believe thats where the skin picking started, but its so hard to talk to people about it right?! I just feel people will be so confused/disgusted. But I do find I have 'binges' where I go at my feet and my hands and I just can't stop, its just a compulsion and I don't know how to stop it, this post is actually an attempt to try and stop it. Do people try out counselling? Medication? Will power? Thanks.

On January 7th, 2013 MaryMary05 said:

You sound just like me.. I always felt like I was weird like I was the only person in the world with this problem..good to know I'm not alone.. I've been picking at my feet for years now.. Started in my early teens and now at 27 I'm still going.. no one other than my gf knows about my picking and this is the first time I am actually trying to get help about it.. and the first time I'm even talking about it.. I use nail clippers and attack the skin on my big toe (both feet) the worse is when my feet are wet or after a long day of work.. it has become a ritual for me.. everyday i come home from work take off my shoes and socks and start picking the skin until it hurts or until I feel like I got all the skin I could.. I have been researching online about skin picking and from what I understand its a form of ocd.. I wish I could stop this habit but I just don't know how.. Don't have health insurance and I can't afford any right now.. Just wish I knew why this started and how to stop it..

On December 28th, 2012 Dogmum said:

Different suggestions work best with different people, however if you suffer from anxiety and are on medication which helps you that's a good start. I find personally being "busy" and having a schedule will not permit enough time. If I am in bed at night sometimes that's the only time i have left. Also having a busy social schedule will take your mind off of picking and you may even forget it for a few days. I have people over for dinners or go out for social events, this cheers me up having the company of others and I actually forget for awhile. Personally talking about my problems to others doesn't make them go away, it just helps me cope emotionally. I will try the foot moisturizer with socks, thanks.

On December 27th, 2012 Dogmum said:

Hi Everyone I am 44 and Just started this bizarre habit 6 months or so ago. I pick my feet every time until I bleed. . . . Have used an entire box I purchased from Costco of bandages. I am limping around today because of it. My inlaws just left (THANK GOD). Perhaps because of stressors in my environment and sometimes I feel I am not good enough and or deserving of the love of those around me. It feels good to pick and hurts to bleed however I just can't stop - it must be what it's like to be addicted to something like drugs or alcohol. I feel so much better after I patch myself up with the bandages, it feels amazing, the bandages give me comfort after I hurt myself in thisi way. Yes I must be a little demented, I would NEVER hurt anyone or any creature, just myself. Yikes, I'd better stop this or it'll be years before I realize it. I didn't realize others had this awful habit. My heart goes out to all of you. I hope I can stop . . . . . I hope each of you can too, thanks for your comments.

On December 6th, 2012 ddj7x7 said:

Amazing yes that I am not the only one. I have long been in remission regarding the feet. But the scalp can be a probem. I thought perhaps others picked but I didn't realize others felt such pleasure as I do while picking. It feels so good it's uncanny. Almost orgasmic. Sometimes I would just press my nail into a spot and hold it there as I sighed in tranquil relief. Yet I was brutalizing myself. I got a huge cyst one time and really had fun with that. Even though it has heeled, I keep remembering its phases as it healed and how it felt to touch it, rupture it, etc. So gross. So painful...oh it hurts so GOOD. lol.....

On November 12th, 2012 pickerforlife said:

I've been picking since I can remember. I am 44 yrs old, and sometime pick for hrs. Sometimes I use sharp objects such as knives, nail clippers and pick until I cannot walk. Throughout the years, I had stopped or even slowed down, but the past 13 yrs has brutal. I came to this site because I need help. I cannot say this is due to substance abuse because I started as a young child. I used to remove the skin from the palm of my hands, but I only pick my feet. Months ago, I found myself picking scabs, but have since gotten away from that. I tried a Psychologist but didn't get anywhere with her. I think I need to find someone who specializes with people like me.

On October 3rd, 2012 16limjh1 said:

I know how you feel, guys, but lately I've found out that mixing sugar with moisturizing cream and then putting it on your feet works quite well. Oh, I forgot to mention, you have to put your foot in a sock (maybe a old worn one) after you put the cream on. Wear it for about a day or night, or when you feel it being itchy. Good Luck!!

On September 24th, 2012 Mastermindhunter said:

Oh, thank the lord! I thought I was all alone in this! I'm a chronic picker, and used to pick at the bottom of my heels till they became tender! It was becoming a problem walking and was anguish walking all the time! It's murder! My mother taught me to wear socks, and to sit on my hands! It stopped eventually, but that was either because she hid the razors, or I got better, nut recently I have been feeling so anxious, and these feelings of anxiety drive me nuts, and I'm afraid of relapsing into the self mutilation! HELP!!!

On September 16th, 2012 misey said:

I am 26 years old and have been picking the skin off my hands feet lips and any scabs I could reach since I was around 7 years old. I don't really know why I started but I remember the day I started I used a pair of nail clippers and went to work on both of my feet. I know that day I was angry so maybe that's why I started. I never realized there were so many people with this problem. I always felt weird and thought I was the only one. I am so glad to find out that I'm not and to find out that its an actual problem that maybe one day I can fix. I don't do it all the time. There are times I go months without doing it. I noticed when I'm extra stressed or upset I do it without realizing it until my feet and hands are sore and/ or bleeding. Sometimes its so bad that I limp. Even when I do things to distract myself from picking I still sometimes do it and don't even realize until its too late. I wish I could stop. I hope I can stop. My hands and feet are always rough and ugly and sore and bleeding.

On September 4th, 2012 Gyps29 said:

OMG... I thought I was the only one who dd this! I have picked the skin off my feet for as long as I can remember, I also do it to my fingers, lips and the inside of my mouth.... So embarrassing, I wish I could stop but I don't know how....

On August 30th, 2012 myfeetbleed said:

I remember picking my feet the summer after Daddy passed away.I don't know if I did it before that.I pick so long and hard that it makes my feet bleed.I have even peeled the skin off from my toes making them bleed and be sore for days.I have never eaten the picked off skin.I just thought it was just me doing this,glad to know I am not :)

On July 19th, 2012 Pisces said:

I just stumbled upon here while searching for help on Google. So glad I found all of you. I have been really hoping to get some ideas on how to stop. It's gross and embarrassing. Especially after a particularly bad bout when I have to wear bandages and make excuses about what happened to me. "I cut myself", or "I hurt myself" usually suffices, but for those close to me, it's not enough. ;( I also have periods where I destroy my hands in the same way. I never eat the hands skin though. Weird. I just don't know WHY we do this. I'll read up some more and come back later. So glad to be amoung "friends". Very thankful and hopeful.

On July 12th, 2012 ImJustMe said:

I am a 21 year old female. I have had this problem since I was about 8 or 9. after my father died, I found myself having a more angry outlet and things and then began to nervously pick my hands. At first it was just my nails then the skin around my nails now that its been years... its worst. i used a sanding stone that they use for pedicures on my hands and feet to keep the skin smooth after i pick at my hands and feet.. I hate myself a lot of the time for having even started. The fact that i play the drums and have been since i was 6 i have rough hands and used to think picking them would make it easier or better. But it actually over time made things worst. I cant even sweat too much or get my hands wet without them turning white. People ask me sometimes what happened and want me to show them but i get defensive because im embarrassed. I thought i was alone in the world that i just was an outcast. Ive had girlfriends and theyve been fine with it, and try and make me secure for the most part but i only show them a select part of my hands. its both hands and both heels of my feet.. if anyone knows of a way to help the healing process, id be forever grateful, Thank you to those who shared your stories and information :)

On June 17th, 2012 Ilovetuffy said:

I am 8 years old and I pick my feet and it is good to know that I am not the only one.I live in Minnesota with my mom and 3 cats and 1 hamster.I pick my feet every 2 days after my bath.I stop when my fingers or skin hurt. I can not remeber how long I have been doing it.

On June 17th, 2012 Ilovetuffy said:

On March 18th, 2012 CrazyCatLady said:

I do this as well and it is extremely embarrasing. I find that I pick much less if the skin is smooth. I have discovered a way to fix the rough patches: diaper rash ointment. I know it sounds weird, but it works. Buy the A&D ointment (not the white cream/lotion). It is yellow and waxy. Rub A LOT of it onto your entire foot and put a sock on. I do it at night so that the skin has a lot of time to absorb the ointment, but I suppose you could do it during the day. I hope this helps.

On February 14th, 2012 Bonegigi said:

I am always picking skin off of the center of my foot. I really thought I was the only one who did this but now after coming here I have realized that there is a whole sub-culture of people who have the same habit. I have OCD so I assume it is from that and according to alot of the testimonials here I realize that alot of you do as well. I don't know if anyone does this also but I love sticking the bottom of my foot on sharp objects like the corner of a table or anything with a pointy end, not something that is too sharp where is will actually cut my skin or draw blood but with enough of an edge to make a mark. Alot of times I will just leave my foot there and grind the corner into the middle of my foot. After a few minutes I will remove my foot and rub or scratch the area of my foot that was on the corner. For some wierd reason when I do this it feels amazing to me and actually helps me focus and almost puts me in a trance. It also helps my picking because after continually grinding my foot into a sharp object for a few days in a row a callous forms and I am able to pick away at it. I have gotten to the point to where anytime I see a table corner or something that has an edge all I can think about is poking my foot into it. It is a wierd habit but I do enjoy it and I am not hurting anyone so I really don't feel too bad for it. To me there are alot of worse habits out there I can be doing.

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

I am 23 and have always been obsessed with picking zits, scabs, blisters, etc. In the last year or two it's focused on my feet. Any loose skins and I'm pulling on it until it bleeds. Some times my feet hurts for several days and I worry I will get a serious infection someday from doing it. I've been trying to keep them healthy with lotion and other things so I'm not tempted by loose skin but it's difficult because I often start picking without realizing it. I get satisfaction by it when I'm able to pick skin off, then shame because I've hurt myself. For about six months now I've been being treated for anxiety and depression and I know those conditions have contributed to my bad habit, but I'm getting sick of it. I looked up methods to treat it tonight and found this site and hopefully I'll get some hints to stop doing it. It's hurting my husband because he hates to see me in pain and it's not healthy.

On July 12th, 2012 ImJustMe said:

Thank you for sharing your story. I honestly didnt think that other people suffered with things like this.. but about the doctor visits.. have they and are they helping you to stop?

On February 9th, 2012 Tonychen said:

I'm a 12 year old boy in new Zealand. It started from when I was cutting my toenails, I began to also cut away the skin around my feet. I pulled it out and ate it. Now I pick ate it whenever I'm sitting down barefoot, even sometimes cutting open the skin so it's easier to pick at it. When I do physical education or just run around I have to go bar effect and I'm always afraid to show my feet. Help me!

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

I tend to cut destructively at my toenails as well as feet picking. Didn't think there was a connection!

On January 30th, 2012 alec79 said:

I'm a 50 y/o female who has been peeling/picking skin from my toes, heels/bottoms of my feet since I was 18 or so? I peel the skin so badly sometimes that it's hard to walk because of the pain. It's so disgusting to me-the peeling and eating of the skin. I go into a "zone" like I'm in a trance when I'm picking and eating. I know it's anxiety-related and it's humiliating and embarrassing. I had no idea there was a clinical term for this. I go through periods where I leave my feet alone, use a pumice stone to keep them smooth, but then there's the impulse to peel and pick around my toe nails. I'll try keeping my toe nails painted and taking care of my feet, then I'll go off and not take care of them any more. I hate this compulsive behavior. I used to pick my scalp and form scabs that would bleed. I would pick and eat those also. It was so rewarding to have a big scab on my head to pick off and eat. I quit that as I got older and my hair thinned and it was visible to others when I had these sores on my scalp. I was sexually abused by a family member when I was a child. I've also suffered from anorexia and bulimia. Sigh. I also have keratosis pilaris-bumpy skin on my arms and legs primarily and I have picked the ingrown hairs from those tiny bumps for so many years I can't remember. I have scars on my arms from picking those areas also. Wow, I feel pretty fucked up. What's more fucked up is that I'm pretty limber and I can actually put my foot to my mouth for short periods of time to chew on my toenails--wow. I admitted that.

On December 12th, 2011 Mr Mahon said:

I'm a 12 year old boy and I've done skin picking since I was 9 and I just want to stop cause at school weave got Dance and P.E and that's barefoot and I try and sit at the back of the room to try and hide my right foot. I'm glad I'm not alone in the UK and I feel more comfort when I talked about my problems when someone has them anal. I just want to stop because if my son/ daughter says what's that on your foot daddy I'll feel disgusted. Can anyone help ;(

On January 10th, 2012 serena said:

listen im one year older than you and first off my grammar is bad. when your this age your just starting to like girls and your going threw hormones. i promise it sucks. but the main thing you need to think about isn't being embarresed it should be about how to get the girl haha. for the longest time i would wear long sleves in the summer. and thats been since i was in the 3rd grade. i know its embarising when people see them but you have to embrace it and say i dont care about what you people think i am happy about who i am thats the frist step to healing. be proud of yourself is always important. i am a 13 year old girl and i have put up with this always. i stopped for a while but i am starting again. i am getting back to stopping. i hope this has helped(: *i will stop*

On November 10th, 2011 letrys said:

They say it's not always necessarily an OCD thing but an aftermath of using methamphetamines, having a substance abuse problem, depression/anxiety, or having a family member with a substance abuse problem. Thankfully it's a recognized disorder and there -is- treatment for it (both pharmalogical and behavioral). Good luck to you.

On November 8th, 2011 Kasey187 said:

I'm nineteen and have been doing this for a couple years, I can't believe how many other people do it, I was always embarrassed and thought it was weird to, especially when swimming and it becomes more obvious, I think somebody else said this to. Never considered it being anxiety related but that does make sense for me. The only thing i have found is that false nails help a little bit if you can afford them as you are less able to pick,

On November 10th, 2011 letrys said:

False nails.. that's probably the best idea right now for me until I get myself into therapy. Thank you.

On September 22nd, 2011 solesrunred said:

This all brought me to tears. It is so comforting that I no longer feel alone with this dreadfully satisfying habit. Comforting and sad too, that so many people suffer from it. I've been ripping the skin off from under my feet since I was a young child. As the callouses developed over time, it took more than my nails to pierce the scar tissue and I would use pins, scissors, razor blades, knives or just about any sharp pointy thing I could get my hands on to make incisions. I usually focus on the bottom half of the flat of my foot but I've begun moving upward recently. It's to the point that sometimes when I do it, my feet bleed and I can barely walk for a couple days. I can't wear whole shoes, only sandals now, I can never show anyone my feet and I'm slightly embarrassed when I go for a pedicure. I only go about twice a year when I've mucked things up so badly that I can't stand myself. Another thing I do, and please try not to be grossed out, is ripping off my toe nails. Usually the baby toes, but on my right foot I've managed to destroy the nailbed of my second toe so badly that the nail all but refuses to grow back. I love the feeling of the flesh and nail being torn and I love the hot cool feeling of the blood pouring out. I know something is wrong with me...I hate and love it, if you can imagine that...I guess I'm off to read more testimonials now and to learn more about this...Thanks for a safe place. Much appreciated.

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

It's always embarrassing to go get a pedicure and have the pedicurist ask you what happened to your feet. Glad I'm not the only one! I cut into the corners of my toenails to rip out a slight hangnail, but to do so I end up cutting out half the nail. Makes me toenails look really bad. I don't like the bleeding per se (that's usually when the shame kicks in) but the brief moment when you can rip out that nail or that chunk of skin feels really good. And (excuse the grossness) I love chewing on the skin afterwards.

On September 15th, 2011 billyp said:

Like many of you here, i am glad to know that i am not the only one to do this. However, I compulsively pick the skin on my feet with anything sharp. Be it a pin that a literally drag across my heel to make and incision in my heel allowing me to pick at it. And sometimes I use a knife which a saw across my heel to remove the hard skin, cutting myself on occasion because ive cut to deep. Does anyone else use tools such as knives? i feel like an evil torturer to my own body :(

On February 9th, 2012 Tonychen said:

Yes , I feel that way too, cutting into the skin and then picking, it seems so wrong, but I feel comfortable when I do it. I uses knifes, pins, toothpicks, scissors, anything that's sharp.

On September 2nd, 2011 smiler said:

hi guys im new to this and didn't even know a site would be out here, im sat here now with my feet killing i have been picking most of day im in agony and made it bleed this morning x

On August 22nd, 2011 Emzy said:

So many people here have described exactly what I do to my feet. One post literally I kept going 'oh I do that....and that....and that...and that'. I don't really know why I pick the bottom of my feet. I've always picked at/bitten something since I was about 6 (I'm 18 now). I've always bitten my fingernails, but when I managed to stop doing that at around the age of 10/11, I started picking the skin on my head under my hair, and I used to have big areas of scab that I would then pick off and my head would be bleeding a lot of the time. Istopped doing that when my Mum found out and told me off every time she saw me doing it. But that started the fingernail biting again. Then I began to bite the skin around my fingernails too and I still do that. But the foot picking has only been going on for just under a year now. And sometimes I just have to limp around the house because I've hurt it so bad, and it burns in the shower when it comes into contact with hot water and soap. I avoid showing people my feet at all costs. And I have a pair of scissors on my bedside table, in case I can't get the bit of skin off with my fingers. I told my friend ages ago and she told me I was disgusting and that I ought to just stop. So I never spoke to her about it again. Can anyone suggest any tips to stop doing it? My feet don't often bleed from it, but when they do, I put plasters on them, and then my Mum noticed once and I lied to her and said I cut my foot on some glass. I just want to be able to stop. And at the moment I feel like I can't. Is it psychological?

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

You know, the first bad habit I've really had is pick my nose (I know, gross!). The next was chewing nails. I love picking zits, including my husband's and when he won't let me I tend to get irrationally angry, like I'm being deprived of something. I now pick my feet and pluck hairs a lot (don't know if that's also a problem). I think stress is always a trigger. My feet picking gets so tempting sometimes, I've actually picked my feet in public and rather than being embarrassed, actually felt justified! Anybody else do that? As for it being psychological, definitely. I myself suffer from an anxiety disorder and depression but it could even be as simple as means to relieve stress.

On June 21st, 2011 bIgFaTwOrM said:

I can't express how relieved I am to find out I'm not alone in this. I started picking my feet probably around the age of 8, I haven't stopped ever since. Fortunately I haven't come to the point of bleeding but I have done some pretty weird things just to remove dead skin, not to mention I usually put it in my mouth and chew on it afterwards. It started off on the fingers, but when I started getting small callouses on my feet I began picking there. At first it was just with my fingers on the toes, but moved onto the entire underside of the foot. Now I have huge callouses covering the undersides of my feet and I'll do a variety of things to remove the dead skin. Sometimes I scrape scissor blades along the underside of my foot and sometimes I just cut into the skin with a sharp blade, thankfully I've never drawn blood or injured myself seriously but I've always been worried about it. I'm 18 now and I still can't stop it, sometimes I'll even eat and I don't even know why, it just comes naturally... After the fact though I always find myself disgusted with what I've just done, but no matter ho much I try to resist it, I'll take the nearest sharp object, be it a knife or a sharpened pencil and try to peel off the skin. I'd like to say again that I'm glad I found this place, at least I know that other people are going through the same thing.

On March 29th, 2011 volta93 said:

I'm 21and I clip off pieces of skin from the bottom of my feet too, always with a nail clipper. Usually I'll clip little pieces, all in a line, and then I'll grab onto those pieces with my fingers and just pull and peel off whole sections. It's oddly satisfying and I've been doing it for years, probably since elementary school. Once when I was about 12 I was sitting on the sofa barefoot and my parents noticed how raw the bottom of my feet were, I said they were just dry from swimming. Idk how my mom has never noticed the blood on my socks or on my sheets around the foot of my bed. Like others have said, I just feel carefree when I do it, almost as if it's the only time I can seriously clear my head. Plus that feeling you get while you're peeling off the most perfect, sizeable piece of skin...it's great! I've also been biting my nails and the skin and cuticles around them for as long as I can remember, I guess these habits come packaged together. So fucking weird!

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

Nail clippers are a fun tool for me too.

On September 3rd, 2011 gosan said:

same here..

On July 7th, 2011 bluebutterfly77 said:

Wow! I can't believe how many people do this also! I've been doing this for as long as I can remember! I also use nail clippers and I won't stop till I bleed! I'm 36 now and always think I'll outgrow it. It's something I cannot stop. It doesn't hurt until after I'm done and out of the zone and then I start walking and then I'm like fuck! So I'll put bandaids on the worse parts and wait until the skin grows back and do it again and again. I'll keep the skin in a pile and when I'm done cannot believe all that came from my feet and I'll play with the chunks of skin and try to see how big I can get a chunk at a time.. this is so wierd saying it out loud! But.. I have NEVER ever eaten it. Never even crossed my mind and to think about it is gross but so is pulling the bottom of our feet off! Good to know I'm not alone!

On July 9th, 2011 nissa1186 said:

I feel so crazy right now! I have been picking one of my feet for a year now(I thought that was long!). Tonight my boyfriend mentioned my foot again. I refused to show him because he makes me feel guilty. He pointed out how far it has spread- from just the heel to about 80% of the bottom and later side of my one foot is a dark red-probably more red because I've been picking at it since I got home from work (about 10 hours ago). It aches more than it usually had and I didn't even make it bleed this time. My foot has also been having the feeling of falling asleep this week and that's a first. Does anyone else have this problem? Probably disrupting the nerves.. In my first time ever search about foot picking, I found a youtube video of someone picking at their foot and it was just disturbing!! And reading a few of the comments on here disturbed me further! First, how are you able to continue picking for so many years without damaging nerves like I obviously have? Second, why in the world would you eat it?! I'm replying to bluebutterfly77's post because I agree that it never crossed my mind, but my dog does enjoy eating the flakes of skin I leave behind..UGH it's just so gross! What do we do about the fact that it seems to calm us down or whatever? I am not OCD, but I have noticed that I always feel the need to do two things at a time. I cannot watch tv or read without doing something else. Lately, it's the foot picking or sudoku. I'm addicted to both. Luckily, maybe this addiction of ours is saving us from a more dangerous addiction? Very possible. Anyway, just please let me know if anyone else has had a problem with their nerves getting weird or the foot falling alseep. Thank you!

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

Interesting, I also have to have two things going on at once. Since getting my laptop as a graduation gift in high school, I developed the routine of watching tv and being on the internet. When I'm doing one or the other, I crave the second to complete the routine. Just thought it was a habit, but might be part of my anxiety problem. I do realize now reading your post that most of the time, I pick my feet when watching tv or sitting quietly. Maybe I need to make sure there's something else there so I don't do that. If sudoku is your other habit, maybe when you find yourself picking stop and grab the sudoku book instead. Might help trick yourself into wanting sudoku more???

On February 27th, 2011 kymberleighxjennyx said:

CAN ANYONE HELP ME!!! im 19 years old and i pick my skin and toenails off of my feet to the point that i can hardly walk..my feet are infected!i dont even realise im doing it until theres a pool of blood in my bed or where ive been sitting! my boyfriend thinks its like a self harm thing but its really not.It really bugs me when he tells me not to do it because i feel i have to,does anyone else have the same problems i feel so alone...it sounds disgusting but sometimes i even stick knives in my feet to dig skin off and even clip my skin with nail clippers.i dont have dry feet theres no reason why i shoud do it i just have to plz help xx

On February 13th, 2012 RobotGal said:

You have to realize that is in fact a self-harm thing. You may have to search for the reasons why, but if it's that intense, there may be a problem not being addressed. Do you have any issues with depression, anxiety, stress? I was being treated for anxiety when I mentioned my feet-picking to my counselor. I just wanted tips for the "bad habit" when she informed me it was in fact self-mutilation. I was shocked because I would have never thought of it that way. There's no shame in it, but I would advise at least trying some counseling or visit a doctor to see what they say to help. Might even being as simple as not handling stress well or something. Use your boyfriend as support, it sounds like he cares about you a lot :)

On February 8th, 2011 kirstenprice124 said:

Wow, I am very glad to read all of these comments. I am 18 years old and have been picking the skin off of my heel for the past 5 or 6 years. I have always believed it was just a bad habit but recently it has gotten much worse. I will literally get a needle or sharp object in order to pick at the skin until it bleeds or becomes really sore. I can feel the pain but it's almost like I am "determined" to continue what I am doing. Afterwards it hurts to walk and I limp around until I can finally start picking again. I feel like the motivation for this is because I feel less stressed and it takes my mind off of other problems whenever I'm pulling skin off of my foot. I even have mastered driving with my left foot so I can pick the skin off of my right while driving. My friends and family all think it is disgusting and whenever I get a pedicure done I am told I need to "see a doctor about my condition" also it is embaressing to go to the pool in the summer and have my feet get wet because the skin swells up and turns white. It's hard to explain to others what's happened to my feel. Also, whenever I'm not picking my heel I am either picking my fingernails, chewing the skin off of my gums, biting my nails, biting my toenails, or pulling my cuticles off. The only things that have ever helped my stop are: getting acrylic nails done (prevents me from being able to grab on to the skin), cutting my nails short, wearing socks, or staying busy all day. I am really glad to have read all these comments and to finally share my story with people who understand. Good luck to you all!

For information on the skin picking disorder (Dermatillomania), symptoms, causes and treatment methods, get the Complete Guide to Skin Picking Disorders.