Can Your Child Learn Skin Picking From You? What Parents Need to Know

If you’re a parent and also living with skin picking disorder, you've probably had this worry cross your mind: Can my child learn this from watching me? 

It's a question that can weigh heavily on your heart. You know how challenging this condition can be, and the last thing you want is for your child to develop the same struggles.

While skin picking disorder does tend to run in families, it's not as simple as children learning it by watching and imitating their parents. Research offers a more nuanced and reassuring answer than you might expect. And, there are things you can do to support your child. 

What the Research Actually Says

Let’s start with what science has learned about skin picking. Studies have found that genetics play a significant role in skin picking disorder, with about 40% of the risk coming from inherited factors. In family studies, researchers found that roughly 28% to 43% of first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) of people with skin picking disorder also have the condition, and twin studies show higher rates among identical twins compared to fraternal twins.

While the rate is higher than in the general population, it also means that more than 70% of close relatives don't develop the disorder, even with the same genetic background and often the same household environment. So what else is going on?

It's More About Biology Than Observation

There is no single, clear factor that definitively causes skin picking. Rather, than simple imitation, skin picking seems to be linked to several important factors that can contribute to its development:  

• Stress and anxiety: Many people with skin picking disorder report that picking provides temporary relief from difficult emotions like stress or anxiety. 
• Brain differences: Studies show that skin picking involves specific brain circuits related to impulse control and emotion regulation, not just imitating what you see.
• Genetics: There is a clear genetic link that can make some people more susceptible to developing skin picking.
• Co-occurring disorders: Skin picking frequently occurs alongside anxiety, depression, ADHD and other mental health disorders.
• Personality traits including neuroticism, introversion, and lack of conscientiousness have been linked to skin picking and other BFRBs too.  

What About Environment and Parenting?

Of course, environment plays a role too, but in a way that might surprise you.   

Research has found that people with BFRBs like skin picking report significantly lower levels of parental care and higher levels of what researchers call "affectionless control" compared to those without these behaviors. 

To be clear, this parenting connection isn't about whether you, as a parent, pick your skin or not. It seems to be more about overall parenting patterns such as emotional responsiveness, appropriate boundaries, and supporting a child's growing independence. While it is not clear whether poor parenting actually causes skin picking, the research suggests that parenting style may be one of many factors to consider. 

What This Means for You as a Parent

First, know that if you have skin picking disorder, you’re not setting your child up for the same struggle. On the contrary, your awareness and concern actually put you in a better position to support healthy development.

Focus on what you can control:

• Build a warm, emotionally responsive relationship with your child
• Help them develop healthy ways to cope with stress and difficult emotions
• If they do develop repetitive behaviors, seek help early. Treatment is most effective when started early. 
• Model healthy emotional coping strategies. That includes seeking treatment for your own skin picking which models healthy self-care too. 

When to Seek Help

If you are seeing signs that your child may be picking or experiencing emotional distress, meeting with a mental health clinician can help to determine what’s happening. If your child is diagnosed with skin picking, there are effective treatments that can help, even for younger children. 

The Bottom Line

Your skin picking disorder doesn’t determine your child’s future. Rather than worrying about the “what ifs”, focus on creating a supportive, loving environment where your child can talk about feelings and learn healthy coping skills.  And remember, when you address your own skin picking in healthy ways, you’re modeling one of the most important lessons of all - that it's okay to struggle sometimes, and it's always okay to ask for help.

Parenting isn’t always easy, especially when you’re also dealing with your own condition. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. At Skinpick, you’ll find resources and tools, as well as a team of experienced therapists who can help you manage your skin picking and learn how to support your child too. And online services mean you can see a therapist when it works best for you. When you’re ready, Skinpick can help.

References

1. Monzani, B., Rijsdijk, F., Cherkas, L., Harris, J., Keuthen, N., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2012). Prevalence and heritability of skin picking in an adult community sample: a twin study. American journal of medical genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric genetics : the official publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics, 159B(5), 605–610. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22619132/

2. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12040508

3. Ortiz-López, L. I., Sakunchotpanit, G., Chen, R., Braun, N., Kim, E. J., Aihie, O. P., Spiegel, B. R., Meltzer, R., & Nambudiri, V. E. (2025). Skin-picking disorder: Risk factors, comorbidities, and treatments. JAAD Reviews, 3, 182-189. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950198925000182

4. Grant JE, Chamberlain SR. (2021). Personality traits and their clinical associations in trichotillomania and skin picking disorder. BMC Psychiatr. 21(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03209-y.

5. Valle, S., Chesivoir, E., & Grant, J. E. (2021). Parental bonding in trichotillomania and skin picking disorder. Psychiatric Quarterly. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11126-021-09961-4