I am so sick of picking my face...and neck...and back...

Posted August 18th, 2012 by stinabb

Hi everyone. I have been picking since I was I guess 7 or 8, so...20 or so years? I used to pick my lips, nails, cuticles, skin, and scalp...I think the nails were a phase, but I was picking everything else well into my teens. My lips and fingers (thumbs especially) and face always had scabs and/or open sores on them, and I would eat the dead skin from my lips. I managed to quit the lip biting, but I have struggled with the others ever since. I only recently quit the cuticle picking, but still have an intense urge. The scalp picking really isn't as bad, but still a problem, especially when I am bored or trying to fall asleep. The skin picking is what is really getting to me right now...I will find tiny little blackheads or bumps, and push and pick until whatever I think is in there is out, usually after I have made it bleed and scraped off all the skin around it. Then I usually won't let it heal, because I keep picking at the scab. Doing this for most of my life has left me with some unflattering scars on my face, and some horrendous ones on my upper back. I was able to stop for a while, I went on Accutane and got rid of my acne, which helped. But I recently stopped taking the pill (which was keeping my acne at bay) and got a UID, which doesn't help with acne at all, so I had a few bad flare ups, which started my picking all over again. Now I can't seem to quit - and have scabs all over my face, neck, and upper back. Forget wearing cute, breezy summer tops that show off your back. If I do, I have to wear my hair down to hide it, but it doesn't even hide it all. It seems like it is running my life, and I am ready to be done with it. I just don't know what to do - the strategies I used to quit eating my lips and picking my cuticles (lip gloss that tastes bad, nail polish, clipping hangnails, keeping my lips and hands extra moisturized) really don't apply to picking my acne and skin. What strategies have you used to stop? Cold turkey? I've tried cutting my fingernails as far as they would go, but I can still manage to pick anyway. I am so embarrassed to talk about it, but I feel a little less neurotic since I know that others do it too (it doesn't make me feel better - I would never want anyone else to have to go through this!)

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On January 26th, 2013 Ero said:

On September 7th, 2012 headup said:

I've been affected by dermatillomania for about 11 years now and I would imagine you ask yourself "how did it get this bad?" as I do. There are several factors that start this addiction and fuel it, but regardless of what keeps it going, you need to realize one important thing: it CAN be stopped. Remember, it doesn't control you, you actually control it. Subconsciously, there's that voice that tells you that the drive to pick is just too strong to stop. Also, when you start to pick and scratch, you pick to "finish the job" and even out your skin. The first step in controlling this is to be aware that you are doing it and be conscious of your skin. The second step is to simply turn away from picking. This solution may sound overly simplistic, but if you just make yourself aware when you start to pick and then stay calm and exercise control over it, you'll see that this addiction is mostly in your mind... and then your skin will start to heal! I really want to help others; feel free to visit me at facebook.com/kev a delic

On August 18th, 2012 Feebee said:

I wish I had some advice, but I just 'discovered' I have this problem too. Someone on this forum somewhere suggested bandaids on your fingertips. If you are scalp picking when bored or going to sleep, I can see how this would be helpful. If my scalp doesn't heal in the next few weeks by my concerted effort to STOP PICKING, then I will try that. About your acne.....have you heard about the oil cleaning method (OCM)? I just learned about it a few days ago on this forum and implemented it immediately (I'm desperate, but don't like to use chemicals) and I am floored at how well it is working already. You may want to google it and do a little research before you dismiss it, due to your acne which I assume you have oily skin. Seriously. I mean....what have you to lose? Best of luck to you. I sincerely hope you find something that works. Being a picker sucks. Someone asked me today if I have the measles. HA! I only wish!

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