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Trumplet , 28 Jan 2013

Do I have dermatillomania?

I have picked for as long as I remember. When I fell off my bike for the first time and scraped my knee, I remember picking at it. It almost got infected. I forgot what stopped me. Anyway, so me being a tomboy, I got lots of cuts and scratches. Especially because my bestfriends were rough-and-tough boys. Almost every cut or scratch I got, I picked at. I didn't stop until I bled. But not like the emo kind. I was sometimes stressed and it got worse. But I always picked. I've tried to count my scars but stopped at 73. And that was just my waist down. Since I have hit puberty, I have had acne. I can not stress how much I pick at my acne. In the morning for about 2 minutes, then my mom walks by. I quickly pretend to do something else but my mom just says "Stop picking" as she walks away, not caring. She loves me, but she's ignored my picking habits. So then I continue for a bit. I usually pick 10 minutes in the morning. Then I put on my coverup and foundation. At school while I'm focused on work, I catch myself rubbing my hidden scabs. Sometimes I even pick. I resist as much as possible but it bothers me SO much the fact my skin has a little bump. When I get home, I've rubbed my makeup almost completely off. (Gosh... Even know as I'm writing this I'm rubbing my forehead!) When I get home, I look in the mirror and pick for a while. When I go to brush my teeth for bedtime, I stand an inch away from the mirror and pick for a while. By the time my mom comes and yells at me for stalling, my forehead, nose area, and chin are as red as a tomato. I wear a hat to bed so I cover my forehead when I walk to bed. My mom and step dad don't notice. Again, they still love me, they just don't notice. Then I go to sleep. I knew I had a slight problem with picking, I just didn't know that there was a medical term for it. I found the term a few days ago and have had a deep discussion with my best friend via email. She didn't understand my problem. I didn't expect her to. So I researched it further. (Gosh... Still picking...) I later found this forum and decided to vent. I feel a little better. But I want to know. DO I HAVE DERMATILLOMANIA? Please... Tell me... -Jasmine
4 Answers
Trumplet
January 28, 2013
I also forgot to add that I used to bite my nails painfully short. Something has made me stop though. Now I have reasonably long nails. But I still chew the skin around my nails. Usually until there's bare skin that stings or until it bleeds. -Jasmine
ashleenb09
January 29, 2013
I'm not a doctor or anything but I think it sounds like you have something like it. I literally just started looking this stuff up and I've been picking since I was like 3 (I'm 21 now). I think another name is chronic skin picking? I dont know. But I totally know how you feel and it definitely is nice knowing other people do this too and that I'm not alone. Your day sounds a lot like mine too! Everytime I go to the bathroom I'm always checking my face and arms. My hands automatically go to my back during the day and start picking at everything from little bumps to old scabs. Hope this helps! -ashlee
Trumplet
January 29, 2013

In reply to by ashleenb09

Next time I go to the doctors' office, I will consult my doctor. Now... How do I talk to my parents about this? I've looked for hours on the Internet of how to talk to my parents. I haven't found anything useful. Have you talked to your parents about this issue? If so, please help me...
Trumplet
January 29, 2013

In reply to by ashleenb09

I also took a test. You may be familiar with. It's the OCD Center of Los Angeles. (http://www.ocdla.com/dermatillomania-compulsive-skin-picking-test.html) I choose 20 out of 23 items. I am fairly sure I have dermatillomania. Sadly.

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