Seen a Dermatologist!

Posted June 28th, 2012 by Linzipinzi
I am going to start journalling how I am doing, I believe it will be therapeutic for me. Yesterday I went to see a Dermatologist about my skin. I had booked a consultation to get laser skin resurfacing done. Well, I explained to him that I don't have acne but I am a skin picker. He told me I came to the wrong doctor and that I should get reverse behaviour therapy! I somehow knew he would say this. I told him that having picked my face for 18 years, I was feeling desperate to get something done to fix my skin. I thought if I did laser resurfacing, it would motivate to stop picking. But he told me most likely after these treatments, my skin will be all are and broken and festered and that I will be even more tempted to pick my face! He told me that I first need to break the habit for at least a year before being ready for these treatments. He noticed that my scars were still quite red and fresh, as it was only 2 weeks a go that I had my last major picking session. (tweezers involved). I appreciate his honesty with me that I need to seek help first and overcome this habit before I can do any kind of treatment. So I am going to overcome this habit, one step at a time and my goal is to go one year pick free and then next year I can start the laser skin resurfacing! Today is day one for me because yesterday I had a mosquito bite on my cheek that I picked at so I have one open sore on my face but lots of fresh scars still from my last session which was 2 weeks ago.
‹ My story. + Starting my progress. Poem of picking-pain - I think many of you can relate to my words. Love. ›
On July 15th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
I am doing good these days, just last night I picked at 2 areas, but then I stopped and went to bed. It's been almost a month since I had a bad picking session (where I can't stop and do deep picking) I still pick, but this past month has only been surface picking. Here's to hoping the picking will stop eventually!
On July 18th, 2012 Acg7160 said:
good for you and good luck!!!
On July 7th, 2012 AnonPicker said:
I hate that anyone has to deal with this compulsion to pick, but I am happy to know I'm not alone. This has been my little secret for as long as I can remember (I'm 40 years old). I have always thought that it was just me. All alone. I've never told anyone about this until tonight when I posted on this forum earlier. My husband fusses at me for picking but he doesn't understand that it's not something that I can just choose not to do. I mainly pick my face, legs, scalp, and inside my nose. I currently don't have any open sores on my scalp or in my nose, but I have several spots on my face and lots of scabs on my legs. I'm sad that this is part of who I am. I am struggling tonight to not pick my face because there's a spot that's hurting a bit from picking this morning and I just want to pick it again.
On July 9th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Last night I picked at my skin again, I was feeling stressed and tired. Someone said something to me that triggered negative thoughts which led to a picking episode. I need to take control of my thoughts because thoughts lead to actions, etc. I didn't pick too bad though. I just got at 3 spots. I have 2 other spots that are scabbed over and healing from the other night I picked. So I have 5 spots in total. I find I am picking less and less these days. Believing I will finally eventually overcome this horrible habit!
On July 12th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
I am doing okay, I have just one scab on my chin, here's to a scab free face! :)
On July 5th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Today was a good day. I didn't pick at all. And tonight while getting ready for bed, I washed my makeup off my face and didn't pick at all afterwards. :)
On July 7th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Today was another good day for me. I haven't picked in a few days and I have no scabs on my face right now. My scars are starting to fade. :)
On July 7th, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Last night I picked at 2 spots on my face but then I snapped out of it and went to bed. Practising to stop myself before going into that "trancelike" state...
On July 2nd, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
So tonight was day four and then I picked at 2 more areas....I was feeling very tired and I was upset about something, so I was stressed about it. Someone took a pic of me today and when I saw the picture later, I was shocked by how bad my skin looked... :(
On July 3rd, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
This morning I picked at a bump on my cheek and it ended up being an open deep wound. But then I stopped and I put on my foundation so I won't analyzing other parts of my face! I am allowing my other scabs to heal.
On July 3rd, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Last night I picked two more areas on my face. I now have 3 open wounds on my face...
On July 1st, 2012 ELAINE566 said:
I think i skin pick because i get board?! when im just sitting watching telly is the worst time. i feel the back of my left hand to feel for any bits of skin thats loose that i could simply pull of, sounds totaly grose doesnt it and i suppose it is. i pull my skin off till i bleed, but why, i mean, i do make myself sore! at one time i put 5 plasters on my hand. i sometimes pick at my elbows aswell, and i even fiddle with my hair and get it in knots and i have to cut the knots out!!! What is wrong with me!!!!
On July 2nd, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
I find I pick the most when tired, stressed or bored. It's important to avoid the mirrors at these times when we are weak or vulnerable...
On July 3rd, 2012 greenmachine said:
I have the same problem. I found covering or taking down the mirrors completely works for me because I'm less likely to pick when I can't see the perceived problem (even if it's just a speck on my face). I still can't figure out why mirrors trigger picking for me. I have a beautiful face and so many times when I look in the mirror I only notice the tiny imperfections rather than the big picture. After picking, I take a step back from the mirror, notice the big picture and think why did I do this to myself? What do I get out of picking? Picking doesn't give me any benefit. It gives me no relief and makes me feel worse about myself afterwards.
On July 1st, 2012 Linzipinzi said:
Got to day 3 without picking but then tonight I picked 2 spots on my face. But then I stopped before going into that trancelike state, where I tend to spend hours picking at the mirror. So because I stopped, I will not count this as a bad day. Tomorrow will be day 4 for me.
On July 1st, 2012 ELAINE566 said:
Hi, isnt pick at spots different? everyone picks at spots dont they? But its not normal to literally damage your skin when theres nothing to pick at in the first place, because thats what i have done. i have rubbed at my knuckles till they blister then i pick and pick forever and now my left hand looks a mess. its the same for my elbows.
For information on the skin picking disorder (Dermatillomania), symptoms, causes and treatment methods, get the Complete Guide to Skin Picking Disorders.