Scalp Picking :/

Posted November 28th, 2009 by eclipse77

I am fourteen years old and I pick my scalp. I am really not sure why I do it, sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it. It doesn't itch and it doesn't gross me out when I touch it. I have like three or four medium/large sized scabs and I always pick them open and it's very VERY weird... but I actually sometimes eat them. /: I honestly think I like the feel of picking off scabs and that painful feeling when they come off. I really need to know why I do this and how to stop it! Also, clear liquid stuff comes out when I pick for a long time, its not to the point were I'm getting bald spots, but I do pick a lot. Is there any others like me?

On December 26th, 2012 menaceatplay said:

I also pick my scalp to the point I dig into my scalp to get to the scab so I can eat it. I eat all my scabs and find great pleasure in pulling extra skin off if I can to make my scabs bigger and longer. I scratch my self usually my arms to make new scabs. I have no idea why I do this its just been put down by the medical profession as self harming. I suffer from anxiety, depression and agrophobia and have been since I was aged 12 when I had my my first serious attack of anxiety I am now aged 47. I was given medication at the age of 12 and my mum was told to send me back to school. I was never given any form of councelling to find out why at such a young age I suffered from such strong anxieties. My present GP believes that it is so deep rooted or in his words buried that the real reason may never come to light.

On December 24th, 2012 traton01 said:

I have been scalp picking for 24 years, I find it very embarrasing, have used every excuse to hide it, I can have anything from one scab to twenty small ones dotted all over, bald patches on some, and then try and blame stress or allergies when my hairdresser asks what has happened to my scalp. I do have periods where I stop for a week or two but it always starts up again. I too eat the scabs, why? I wouldnt eat a scab off a cut anywhere else and would be sick if I see someone else do it. I have cut my nails really short, tied my hair back, rubbed antiseptic cream on them, hoping the taste and feel would deter me, however nothing stops that hand feeling constantly for a bit of scab to peel back and feel the wet clear fluid underneath. My husband and children never ask what I am doing, but they must think its disgusting, I try not to do it right in front of them, but catch myself half way through picking sometimes when it hurts. I am relieved there are others that do this as thought I was just gross, hopefully one day I will stop but cant see how.

On December 15th, 2012 yellowzebra64 said:

My addiction is not that bad since i just started and i am 13 years old, but i started when i realized i have a serious dandruff problem. I would pick and pick at my scalp until i saw little flakes of blood on my finger, wash my hair, and then find the scabs a few days later and peel them off. I think it's weird but i like the tingling, burning feeling when i peel the scabs off and i like to look at it but i don't eat it. At first it was five patches all over the back of my head but now it just one huge spot in the front. It hurts so bad but i can't stop. It bleeds a lot but i like it so much. I don't do it at school i do it when i am bored or when nobody can see me peeling. After i am done feeling around my head for spots to peel and when i am done peeling it burns and itches badly. I wish i could stop.

On September 25th, 2012 iceman said:

Hello I'm 21 years old i have scratch marks on my scalp from picking at my hair is there any chance it will heal , Thank you

On September 19th, 2012 omgeecookies said:

im 16 years old and i pick at my scalp, its something i really want to stop doing, but thats almost impossible to do when you don't even realize you are doing it. whenever i get bored i start picking at it, and now my scalp hurts when i shower and the water hits it. I have to stop because its really starting to effect my scalp but it is so hard to stop!

On September 15th, 2012 gingersnappcarr... said:

I'm 12 and I have this thing where I pick at my scalp and I eat my flakes. I know, very disgusting and I am very ashamed of it. I started when I was 7, I think. Its getting way too out of hand. Like, I will rub(not to hard, though.) my scalp and I will look at my fingers, and if I see white flakes, I will eat it. Its very disturbing to me and my family and my friends and I tell myself almost every single day, that This is the day I will stop. But, I don't. When I was 6, I accedently got toothpaste in my hair and I picked at it and ate it. thats where it all got started. :( I use to eat my scabs but I taught myself not to do that anymore. I guess its selfsteming... but It needs to stop. I'm capable of giving myself very dangerous diseases. :( Atleast I know I'm not the only one. :(

On August 30th, 2012 Noah22898 said:

well im 14 now but it hasnt gotten as bad as to me getting bald spots but im glad to know im not the only one

On August 5th, 2012 nicellide said:

im 11 yrs. old and ive had scabs on my head since march. rite now its the beggining of august. i always picked them when i was bored or not paying attention. last nite my dad gave me a haircut that was short, and when he did he found out that on top of my biggest and most picked scab... there was a bald spot about half the size of a dime :( now the method that i use when im anxious to pick a scab i say to myself: bald spot, bald spot, as if not wanting to get it worse. its helping me not pick my scabs!

On March 5th, 2012 Steven 02780 said:

Ok I have had numerous medical issues and 2 years ago was the worst where i was hospitalized for almost the whole year, It started as a hot spot where I started scratching my scalp and then using my nails make a lip on the skin and tear the piece off, hopping it would be long and wide. After a while when I was laying ib the bed with nothing to do I would pick at my scalp and pull any and all skin from the area. I ended up with a bald patch at the hot spot and i just kept going and going and one day I was tested for ringworm because of the circular patch f missing hair. It came back negative. I ended up with self control to stop picking and I have hair where the hot spot was. A month ago I was sick at home and fell asleep, when I awoke I had a bald patch on my scalp again . At first I looked at it and it looked like a Kerion which is associated with a fungal infection (boggy raised spot a reaction of the skin to the fungal infection). I went to my Dr and again no infection, I washed it thoroughly and used T-Sal to breeak up the dried blood and any build up. 2 days later I ended up pulling the top layer off the patch of missing hair. It came off easily and it was a big piece which was amazing (no photo sorry) which reveled pink new skin, it had little bleeding and I restarted picking at the new area now. I now have a bald spot where this happened, I had to shave the area so I could clean the skin surface and get al the stuble of the scalp. I now am obsessed with the spot I use a knife and get under the top layer and push it up untill it comes up. I also use hot water and alchol to clean the knife before I use it, woried about catching something, also use T -Sal to soften the scalp skin which makes it easier by loosening up the keratin protein which gives the stratum corneum it strength and its cohesion. I would like anyone who can give me suggestions to stop quitting since I am on the Federal Medicare which dose not cover this as a medical issue (psychological), my wife told me today I was obsessed with it and she cant deal anymore. So anyone please you thoughts and experiences whould be greatfull. Thanks in advance Steven

On September 19th, 2012 omgeecookies said:

my first suggestion would be for you to make someone hide all knives from you, then i would go to a therapist and talk to them about it!

On March 5th, 2012 Maddison7575 said:

I'm 13 and I've done it for 2 years now and I have been worried about it for a wile now. I'm inbaresed about it and It all started when I was in the store and put my hand on my head and noticed I had bumps on my head. My mom thought I might have cancer but she found out it was just sores. So ever since then I scratch my head until clear liquid comes out. And then till my fingers are covered in blood. I don't know why I do it and I'm scared... But now wen I got to school everyone noticeses it and asks what happend to it. I make up some lie like my dog bit me or something:) but it's gotten way out of control. Im starting to lov the smell it gives off and sometimes i eat it..t. It's soo weird. Its scarring me and I'm afraid to let people play with my hair or get my hair done because I'm afraid there going to see it and freak out. I tried cutting my nails and it didn't work I always find a way to. Can some one please tell me wats wrong with me, and if it's any disorder... Please and thank you. I'm afraid to show my mom to she might take me to a therapist or something.... Please help me find out wat it is cause I sometimes scratch till I get ligh headed. And i like the pain that it gives off... I'm afraid I'm never going to stop and it's might kill me, loosing to much blood. I have about 5 spots I do it at. Please help... Thank you!

On September 19th, 2012 omgeecookies said:

first of all, you wont die from this .... so you don't have to worry about that, i would suggest getting a rubber ball or stretchy bracelets to distract you, i always keep some rubber bands around my wrists that i play with whenever i get bored

On November 3rd, 2011 Whisper said:

I've been picking my scalp for as long as I can remember. I also used to pick my earlobes around my earrings and my acne, but since I stopped wearing earrings and got rid of my acne, I've started in my scalp big-time. Part of me loves it. It's very soothing. I do it a lot when I do homework or watch tv, or when I'm on the bus. I do it more when my nails are short for some reason, so I tend to grow my nails out pretty long. I'm 19 now, and in college. I'm working three part-time jobs and taking classes and paying rent and bills. I've found that I can't keep my fingers away from my scalp, which is why I started looking up my condition. I am so relieved to find that this is a pretty common thing. Now I just have to find a way to stop.

On October 25th, 2011 renagraham said:

I totally agree with everything you said. I have been scalp picking since I was in 4th grade and now I'm 31 !!!! Sad isn't it???? I feel like a loser. It's such a compulsion. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is feel my scalp for scabs to pick. I even do it in my sleep. AHHHHHHH! I can't believe I'm even sayng these crazy things. I never knew that anyone else had this problem. I used to feel good when I only had one scab, I even felt proud of myself for not having more. My mom used to cut my hair when I was a kid and she used holler at me for the scars and scabs. Maybe she should have gotten help for me. I used to pick my back and face too, but now I don't. My compulsion is my head. My scalp hurts so bad at times and my hair falls out and it makes me very sad. I am to embarrassed to get help. http://www.hairandlaserclinic.com

On October 26th, 2011 robertrexx said:

WOW! does this ever hit home with me! I felt like I was almost writing this as I read it....You are NOT ALONE!!!

On February 1st, 2011 chitchat41954 said:

i do the same thing i think it relieves stress for me i find myself doing it when im bored or sad. i eat them also, but its an addiction i like the way it feels when i pick something and the taste of blood. im wondering if this could potentially be a problem and back up in my digestive track or something.

On September 19th, 2012 omgeecookies said:

you probably need more iron in your diet... if you like the taste of blood they sell this drink online that looks and tastes exactly like blood.

On January 13th, 2011 Katie.M. said:

I started picking at my head around the age of 10. I don't know which came first, it or dandruff. I had really bad dandruf all through middle school and high school. It turned into a cycle, the worse my dandruf got, the more I picked. I finally started to use dandruf shampoo. Once the dandruf started to go away, I picked less. That worked for a few years, but I have started to pick at my head again. I haven't gotten as bad as I was yet, but I am afraid if I don't stop soon, it will.

On January 4th, 2011 RRW513 said:

I pick everywhere but I pick my scalp the worst. I get dandruff in the winter so right now I have several scabs. I also have the urge to eat what I pick off, no matter what it is. I know it's gross, but it just doesn't seem that gross to me when I do it. The weird thing is when my boyfriend picks at his feet it really bothers me and I tell him to stop. I think I have this urge to stop him because I don't want him to be like me, but I think it's awful that I want him to not pick when I pick all day long.

On January 4th, 2011 Kay I. said:

I started to pick my scalp a long time ago, I think after I got some sand in my hair around age 6 or 7. It has gone in phases on and off for years. I also pick at my ears and upper back too. I never knew there was a name for the picking until telling my therapist about it a year ago. It is mainly my scalp. For the past month it has become the worst it has even been. I have multiple scabs around my hairline and back of my head. My head is really sore now. I never used to pick until I bled, but now I am starting too. I notice I do it a lot when I am driving, reading, watching TV or trying to all asleep. I started on medication 2.5 years ago for anxiety, it seems to have helped the anxiety to a degree but not the picking. I want to stop, but have no idea how!!! I wish there was a magic pill.

On January 1st, 2011 ttiiffaannyy33 said:

I'm fourteen too. I also pick my scalp :( I wish I didn't because sometimes you can see white flakes on my clothes because of it. I pick along my hair line and on the back of my head by my neck. Some things that help me stop is to wear my hair in a pony tail which helps cause picking will ruin my ponytail, clipping my nails really short helps too so I can't pick, and keeping my hands busy helps. I mostly pick when I'm bored or stressed out :(

On January 3rd, 2010 bluexeyes2315 said:

I am seventeen years old and I have just recently discovered that I have dermatillomania. I have been compulsively picking at my scalp since the beginning of last year when I was fifteen. I never thought anything of it because everytime I did it I never realized what I was doing-I just did it subconsciously. It wasn't until today until I finally had the urge to research what was wrong with me. I have bald spots on my head, but you can't notice them because my hair covers them. I have always had a problem with my body image-that I was always aware of. I believe I have body dysmorphic disorder. While I was researching, I found myself in shock when I discovered that dermatillomania or compulsive scalp picking disorder (CSP) can also be linked to body dysmorphic disorder. I wonder how can that be because I never thought anything of my scalp picking-I didn't just one day decide to start picking my scalp because I have body dysmorphic disorder? The scabs on my scalp actually appeared out of no where as little red dots. I had no clue what they were or how they got there, so I began to scratch them off individually. And from there on, the obsession progressed. As the scabs became progressively worse, I became more obsessed with them. I cannot find a way to stop this, it is so embarrassing. Whenever I tell myself that I am going to stop, I find myself picking again. Most of the time, clear liquid comes out and it has a pleasuring smell to me? I don't know what to do. I have really long dark brown hair and everyone tells me how beautiful it is. I love my hair, and I don't want to keep hurting my scalp and leaving another bald spot...what should I do?

On January 16th, 2011 kbennyl said:

I realize that you posted this a while ago, but I am new to this site and your post spoke to me. It is EXACTLY how I feel and what I do. I get little red bumps on my scalp too and then I tear them off individually. From there they just get bigger and I rip whatever scabs they have on them off, and a slightly sweet/musky clear-smelling liquid comes out! At the moment I have 4 good sized scabs on my scalp and 3 of them have no hair on them at all, they are bald spots about the size of a quarter, maybe a little bigger. I was wondering, since you posted this over a year ago, were you able to get help for your scalp and picking? If so, how is it going? If not, has it gotten any better? I am going through a bad phase of picking now and my legs and arms have scabs on them too. I wish I could just take a magic pill and stop. Thanks for listening to the newbie. Hope you are doing well.

On December 19th, 2009 kelmat said:

Hey there, I do this too. I never knew it was a problem until a few years ago when i was getting my hair done at a salon and my hair guy asked me why i had scabs all over my scalp :P I thought everyone picked at their heads until it bled, i dunno it just felt right to me. since then ive noticed myself doing it more and i try to stop but its really hard. i have been able to limit myself to just picking two spots on my head. anyways, youre not alone and good luck :)

On December 13th, 2009 Cub said:

I do it as well :/ i cant help it its actually quite embarrassing as i dont really notice i do it. I dont want to tell anyone that i know because i know they will freak. Its weird. I pick my scalp and get more excited at how big some flakes are and then i love to eat it. Please help me stop

On September 19th, 2012 omgeecookies said:

you could always try to get some sort of object to distract you when you get bored, or always take a hair band with you wherever you go and play with it when you feel like your going to get bored.

On December 13th, 2009 Cub said:

On December 1st, 2009 InShiningArmor said:

Hi! I am 18 and I have been picking my scalp since about 7th grade (but I am really not sure exactly when). I also don't know why I do it, but I know that it has become hard for me to concentrate in class and on homework because I waste so much time compulsively picking at my head. I hate that I do it, but you are not alone. I have found that wearing a hat helps to keep me from picking, maybe you should try it. I know that I pick during homework, so wearing a hat really helps me focus on work and not on my head.

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