Online Test

Find out the severity of your symptoms with this free online test

Netalyia , 17 Aug 2012

I really need some help

Hi there, I am on here because I need some help. I am 23 years old and I am pretty sure I have a serious problem. Ever since I was very young maybe 5 or 6 I have been biting my nails and picking my toe nails. When I was little I actually chewed the nails off of my toes. Over the years I developed a habit of obsessively looking for and pulling out my split ends in my hair. I always have to pull them apart too and don't stop until I find one I am satisfied from. Around the same time I started doing that I began to pick the skin off of my heels because it is very hard and easy to take off. It gets to the point where I only stop because 1, there is no more skin to pick off or 2, I made myself bleed. When I bleed my heels hurt for days after. I also have a habit of getting toenail clippers and pinching the skin on the back of my fingers. Not really sure what the name of it is, I guess the "backs" of my knuckles where the creases are. I pinch so that I have skin there to pick off. I also have the tendency to clip the skin right above my finger nails. If I don't have clippers I use safety pins or needles to pick my skin. Another thing I do is obsessively look for black heads on my body. I have to squeeze them until I am sure they are cleared out which is to the point that I bleed and they scab over. Never on my face though I don't want people seeing them. I can spend hours doing these things and when I am done with one or can't continue with one, I move on to another. I honestly never thought that there was actually a name to this and that other people did these things too. I have very bad anxiety and never really linked any of this, other than my nail biting, to it. I actually came across this website because I think I have an infection on my heel from skin picking and I was looking for a way to get it better. Too much info? lol If anyone has any advice for me please let me know. I am a Mom and don't want my son to grow up seeing me do this and develop his own habits.
8 Answers
Feebee
August 17, 2012
Why do you think your heel is infected? I find, for myself, infections clear really fast when I use tea tree oil. If it were me witha heel infection, I would start by hot Epsom salt foot soak. Then I would dry it off carefully and dab some tea tree oil directly on the wound. I know they say not to put tt directly on skin w/o a carrier oil, but I do anyway. Then I would cover during the day and let breathe at night. Hope this helps. Good luck with the healing!
Feebee
August 17, 2012

In reply to by Netalyia

Yuck, that sounds infected all right. Definitely soak in hot water with epsom salt. I think above all that is going to be the best thing you can do. That sounds painful!!!!
little-love
August 27, 2012

In reply to by Netalyia

I started taking pictures of myself in hope that it would help me. After I had a picking episode I would take a photo of it and then take a picture everyday after that so I could see the healing process...it sounds weird, but it did work to some extent. I would also take a picture of myself on a good day so that when I wanted to pick I would look at myself and it would remind me that there is nothing wrong with my skin. It would make me not want to ruin myself as I would have a picture that would physically show me what would happen if I did, because I would always think in my mind, it ill be different if I pick this time, my skin will look fine, but the picture would stop me :) I also do it as I base my artwork around my dermatillomania xxx
Netalyia
August 18, 2012
Can anyone tell me anything? I don't know what to do from here..I don't have insurance to see a doctor or a therapist. And I CAN'T get any.
Kitcat
August 27, 2012
I pick(ed) my heels to the point of bleeding and being too sore to walk on. I got a pumice stone for the shower and grind on them in there, that satifys me as there are not the cracks to pull open anymore, and then moisturize them. I only really found one thing that helps in lieu of therapy and that's acryllic nails, short ones, like fingertip length filed flat with smooth edges. It changes the sensation, and it no longer . . I don't know. I just know my picking and skin are way better when I have fake nails. I have learned it cannot be press on nails, as they seem to amplify the "brailling" bump seeking behavior. I too worry my constant picking and searching for things to pick will wear off on my DDs as well. I also have added exercise to my daily activity, and cut down on processed foods and drinks, as they seemed to exacerbate my picking.
Kitcat
August 27, 2012
I pick(ed) my heels to the point of bleeding and being too sore to walk on. I got a pumice stone for the shower and grind on them in there, that satifys me as there are not the cracks to pull open anymore, and then moisturize them. I only really found one thing that helps in lieu of therapy and that's acryllic nails, short ones, like fingertip length filed flat with smooth edges. It changes the sensation, and it no longer . . I don't know. I just know my picking and skin are way better when I have fake nails. I have learned it cannot be press on nails, as they seem to amplify the "brailling" bump seeking behavior. I too worry my constant picking and searching for things to pick will wear off on my DDs as well. I also have added exercise to my daily activity, and cut down on processed foods and drinks, as they seemed to exacerbate my picking.

Start your journey with SkinPick

Take control of your life and find freedom from skin picking through professional therapy and evidence-based behavioral techniques.

Start Now