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valentine , 06 Sep 2013

Zero tolerance policy?

Hi All. I'm back after a long time of not picking because I've started it up again. It's limited to my KP bumps on my arms and my bikini area. It's way better than it used to be but after being pick free, any picking feels like failure--even though I know that relapses are common. Anyway, I'm going to try and post here daily for a while. I am trying a zero-tolerance policy per my therapist's suggestion, so I can't do what I do when I tell myself, 'oh, I'll just get this one spot and then I'll stop.' Anyone else interested in coming along for the ride? Today is day zero for me. Hopefull, I'll get to Day 1 tomorrow night. Wish me luck!
64 Answers
hopestartshere
October 01, 2013
Hi fellow journeyers! I haven't checked in here for a while, maybe through guilt because my picking is horrendous at the moment. I currently have thirteen pick wounds over my face and neck and they are pretty awful. Last night i started scouring the Internet for acne solutions because I only pick at blemishes... But then I'd be interested to know what my skin looks like without picking. Inspired by another post I've applied calamine lotion to my sores tonight and praying it doesn't make them even worse as a couple are stinging. Now I've found this forum on my phone, I'm going to check in as often as possible... Maybe come on here instead of picking when the urge arises? How is everyone is getting on? Big love to all xx
valentine
October 03, 2013
Hi everybody, Just wanted to check in to say I've been successfully keeping hands off for the past several days. When I have an urge I am making myself get up, stop whatever I'm doing, switch to another room and get a drink of water or a snack or start straightening up. It seems to be helping to connect the picking to first having to start doing something else. Has anyone else tried this? It's a CBT thing, I think, forcing yourself to do something else for 5 minutes when you want to pick. Fingers crossed that it keeps working....
valentine
October 04, 2013

In reply to by rubberducke

Thanks.Another thing that helps: I have an acne medication that has to dry a bit or it will rub off so I wash my face and arms and apply the medication (Its prescription, called Klaron), and then tell myself I can't pick because it'll mess up the medication which is expensive and I don't want to have to wash off and reapply. Good luck and keep posting!
brey31
October 04, 2013

In reply to by valentine

Hi Valentine, glad you having progress because I think I have tried almost everything and have had very little success with a few things. These are the things I have tried with progress and some success: breathing meditation and letting tension release in stress holding parts of my body like in some kind of falling sensation, single-minded focus on something positive, aerobic exercise when I get the adrenaline rush to pick, journelling using my iphone when ever I am mindful and discover an idea or neg belief that favors the picking, as to the physiological side, I take chamomile tea to calm the nerves, about 3 garlics to decrease the adrenaline rush at nite esp when I get a very strong urge to pick, if a certain small spot itches I add cayenne pepper it causes a burning sensation, I do a detox with apples for the liver, limon water mix with olive oil, and lots of water, I cut off all yeast, all sugar and other stimulants of the nervous sys like coffee, but even though I can control it a bit when I am in an idle state I give alot of consciousness to the pick, I really am not mindful yet of my specific emotional pain is causing me to distract with my skin I was thinking lately but not a 100% sure that it is from low self-esteem, since it seems all psychological issues arise from that even the lack of confidence and depression, what do you think?
valentine
October 05, 2013

In reply to by brey31

Hi Brey, I like your detox ideas. And the concept of trying to calm oneself, especially at night. For me, I think the picking is related to self-esteem...specifically certain perfectionist tendencies and the notion that I have something "bad" in my pores that has to be expelled. Because that's really sort of a lie. People who don't pick know that blemishes and clogged pores resolve themselves with decent cleaning rituals--face wash, maybe an acne cream. And dermatologists will confirm this as well. So I'm trying hard to get used to NOT trying to interfere with nature's course. It's an uphill battle, for sure, but I agree with you that relaxation techniques are important to cultivate.
brey31
October 05, 2013

In reply to by valentine

Yeah I read many blog posts, articles and books including from grossbart, and they say relaxation is the first step, since its kind of a nervous habit, but what follows relaxation is what is more important as they mentioned, because once the mind and body is more relaxed the mind becomes more receptive to accept in the heart the positive empowering affirmations that will change your way of responding to the habit. And that's why I have been journalling for more than a year now, and I have all sorts of negative thoughts that have been running on my mind that I become mindful of jotted down on two notebooks and my mobile, it's just a matter of me getting motivated enough to take action on it each day. And most negative beliefs do seem to come from low-self-esteem and also like desperate thoughts like I want fast results or solutions or when you seem stuck with some problem in your life that you see no freedom from, but they say the worst beliefs come from inadequacy, when you say I'm not enough. I am thinking if we all work on this together and join our minds we can overcome it, since everyone has there ideas and knowledge on this that others might not know yet, what you think?
valentine
October 06, 2013

In reply to by brey31

Yeah, I definitely think that working together, pooling information and tips is the best path to success. I'm having luck keeping hands off and, oddly enough, my KP bumps seem to have gone away now that I've been using salicylic acid pads on them (mine are from Sea Breeze but lots of brands make the same kind. They're located in the acne medication aisle.)
valentine
October 08, 2013
Pick-free this week! Maybe October is a new turning point to me. A big help is that the KP bumps on my arms have gone away. Partly due to the drier weather, I think, and partly due to me using salicylic acid wipes (from Sea Breeze but lots of other brands make them) on my upper arms, where I get them.
valentine
October 16, 2013
Big slip tonight. Have had a week no picking--two, actually--and then my bf went away for business tonight for a week and I went to town. Popped maybe 10-12 bumps on each upper arm. Feel so dispirited. What will it look Iike when I'm in a tanktop at the gym?? I will have to look for t-shirts to wear while this heals. And it usually takes at least a full 7 days when I pick in this area for it to start looking better. Ugh ugh ugh.!!!!
brey31
October 20, 2013

In reply to by valentine

my skin picking has decreased enormously, like its veryyy rare if I even touch my skin, what I realized is to deal with this thing it's not just willpower and being positive, but getting on a diet, like cutting out stimulants of the nervous sys be it foods or chemicals, and eating foods that lower your adrenaline, cortisol and radicals, which all come from anxiety and depression, and while on the diet, try pursue and doing all the things you ever wanted to do, this will help with the depression, and you probably already know about anxiety, thinking positive, exercise, breathing exercises etc, so this has helped me alot, so tackle it both ways psychologically and physically, because change in perspective doesn't happen in the blink of an eye so that's why its good to get on a diet, hope it helps in some way:) don't give up because of this slip you have made alot of progress because even though the new ways you trying to adapt to are not strong enough yet compare to your old ways of thinking and behaving, the progress is still there in you, so be persistent, you will get stronger.
valentine
October 28, 2013
Been pick free since last post. Until tonight. Starting over tomorrow.
valentine
November 02, 2013
Day 4, no picking. Probably helps that I've got a head cold and so am too tired for mirror time...
valentine
November 04, 2013
Day 5 & 6 no picking. Marks gone, skin area totally healed, and, miraculously, the KP bumps are gone too. I guess I just have to keep up with the salicylic acid wipes on the area and Keep hands off if a spot does pop up. Fingers crossed.
valentine
November 10, 2013
Still no picking...KP bumps still haven't returned..

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