Notice
The below is a forum entry made by one of our community members. If you want to know more about your condition, we suggest you read the following article written by a mental health professional on
Dermatillomania (skin picking disorder)
Ear picking?
I have been picking the insides of my ears for about 3-4 years. Is there anyone who has experienced this? I would pick until I bleed. Ironically speaking, my ears are currently infected because of my constant picking. Is there a way to stop this? Help!
Hi everyone. I’m having the same issue and I’m really frustrated with myself and embarrassed. Would anyone want to chat sometime? Does this site have a chat function?
I have been picking my ears for years as well so bad I am now pretty much deaf in my ears an get scabs on an in my ears that I now pick I do the same to my head it’s caused by anxiety so I believe so anyway I always have ear infections because of been in an out hospital for it I can’t stop either
Hey, I know that the original post is super old, but maybe this will help someone who finds it or the more recent commenters. Maybe you all know about this already, but N-acetyl-cysteine has been shown in multiple studies to help some people with skin, hair, and nail picking disorders. It’s an amino acid precursor. It seemed to help at first, but I’m still picking really badly now, I’m still trying to figure out the right dose and timing, but it might work better for others.
I have also recently found hydrocolloid pimple patches to help a lot to stop me from picking my face and protect the scabs and let them heal. I go to pick a spot, and feel the sticker, and my brain is like oh that’s a sticker, not rough skin, it’s supposed to be there, lol. It also seems to help to keep the scabs moisturized with a thick balm, so they heal and are protected, but also so they feel less rough when I touch them, so I’m less inclined to pick them off again.
I haven’t figured out how to stop picking my ear canals though, I haven’t let them heal in months and I’ve given myself two ear infections over the last two years. I’m wondering if there is some way to physically block myself like with the pimple patches. Like maybe wear really comfortable ear buds all the time or something? Does anybody have any strategies that work for them?