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Skin Picking
Wow. If you really think about it... none of us are really helping each other. We are all going through the same situations, and asking each other for advice... but nothing is being accomplished. Is there anyone on this site who has actually OVERCOME this disorder?? Those are the people we should be asking the advice from. I have had this disorder for about 6 or 7 years, and I'm only 21. I have tried everything from cutting my nails off, wearing gloves, trying ProActive (even though I don't have acne), covering mirrors with blankets, and lots more. The only thing I noticed to help was changing the light bulbs to much lower watts. If there is a 60 watt light bulb in your bathroom, you can usually see much more detail to imperfections.... so if you put in a 40 watt, it helps eliminate some extra picking. But I seem to pick at my skin even when not around mirrors. I think the disorder definately has to do with stress, depression, and anxiety... and eventually it becomes an unconscienceous habit.
We all need serious help! haha
March 03, 2008
dear nikki, i have to disagree with you on the point that no one gains anything from asking questions and seeking for advice. after all, skin picking is a disorder without a certain cause and noone really knows why they're doing it. and i think that many people here gained much just by sharing with others and realizing that they're no alone with this problem. as for solutions, i think that the technical things you might do (like the nails cutting and the 40 watt bulb you mentioned) may help, but not completely and not on long term. you need to ask yourself deeper questions, such as "why do You pick?". it's not easy, but once you start exploring the source, you might bump into answers you weren't even expecting, not even from yourself.
March 05, 2008
Oh goodness, ever since I found this site, I've nearly stopped picking all together. I used to pick every day, for sometimes two hours at a time till I just collapsed on my bed and fell asleep from a sad exhaustion. I've scratched for almost six years and I'm only 19. No matter how many times I scratch, I have begun to ask myself... is it getting any better? Six years into this and am I happier with my skin? No, of course not. I'm just stressed everday, trying to avoid people, avoiding work and school, my relationship with my boyfriend. I am truly happy the days I can go without picking. And lately, it has been weeks that I have gone without an episode. If I start picking I try so hard, I physically push myself away from the mirror and just run out of the room to get away. This site has given me hope and I hope I'm not the only one who has been helped. I printed off some of the entries and I keep them next to my bed so if I get the urge, I just read and remember how happy I am when I don't pick.