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Claire1984 , 15 Sep 2012

Scalp & Ear Picking

I'm sooo relieved to find I'm not the only one! I was sitting and my computer, peeling skin off my head, and decided to google it just to see what came up... and here I am. I've had psoriasis for about ten years, maybe just under, and during that time I have picked non-stop. It's on my scalp, behind and inside my ears, and on my forehead against my hairline. Usually there's no trigger or anything that makes me start. I just find my hand creeping up and feeling for the dry, rough skin. I rip it off in patches, sometimes these pieces of skin being over an inch long. If I've recently picked and it hasn't had time to heal, I'll just scratch until my shoulders and hair are covered in bits of white skin like dandruff. The thing is, I do have a steroid cream that is amazing and really clears it up. When I use it my skin, although still red and patchy, is smooth and soft and there's no hard skin to pick. But I'm terrible at remembering to put it on! My family are always telling me to stop. Usually yelling things out like, "Stop picking your nits!" to try to embarrass me into stopping. But of course, it doesn't work. I'll just stop for a while, then go to my room or the bathroom and finish picking in there. I've never felt the urge to eat the skin... but I can't stop picking it. It happens all the time, whatever I'm doing. I do it a lot in bed before I go to sleep and just after I wake up. My bedroom floor is covered in flakes of dry skin and I have to make sure I sweep it in case anyone sees. Sometimes I'll have picked off all I can, and I still can't stop. My skin ends up bleeding and sore, and sometimes just weeps clear fluid. I'm terrified I'll get some kind of disease or infection from it. I really really need to remember to keep putting the cream on, but I'd also like to be able to just stop picking regardless!
5 Answers
olivegreen
September 17, 2012
Take it from me, just using the cream more often won't make you stop picking!!!! I picked the same areas as you-scalp and ears particularly. Over the years, it's moved on to any scab or sore I've had anywhere. Arms, legs, bum, feet, face, anywhere. Keep researching and find a way to quit that works for you. Some people see a Therapist, although for me I'm trying to quit myself first. Good luck, you can do it!
olivegreen
September 21, 2012

In reply to by Claire1984

I agree with you, I'm not all about having to get therapy. I haven't yet....hoping to quit for good this time and never have to go that route because I don't really like talking about myself, especially to a near-stranger. BUT--there is no shame in seeking help when you need it. :)
Markcook
September 18, 2012
I was feeling very bad reading this. But psoriasis is a skin problem that a human suffer. But how did u manage it from ten years? Are you not having a treatment?
Claire1984
September 20, 2012

In reply to by Markcook

I have the steroid cream. It's just I forget to use it. I don't think it will ever really heal... the cream just helps get rid of it temporarily. If I stop using the cream, it comes right back.

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