Compulsive Scalp Picking

I am 28 years old and have picked scabs on my scalp since I was about 12 years old.  Normally I find little imperfections, possibly dandruff or dry scalp, and I pick at it until it becomes a scab.  Once a scab develops, I find myself uncontrollably picking at it, so it usually never heals or takes an extremely long time or another scab to develop to stop.  Right now, I have a total of six scabs that I have created on my scalp.  When I am picking I can't necessarily say that it relieves stress like I have found on some of the other web sites, but more of an obsession that I can't control.  I have been treated for depression and PTSD, but have never mentioned my compulsive picking.  I have been prescribed both Zoloft and Prozac with Klonopin for the symptoms of anxiety and depression, but I still seem to pick at me head.  The kicker is that I also do this in my sleep.  I will literally wake up with blood under my nails.  What treatment options are there other than medication?  Should I tell my primary care physician or should I talk to a psychiatrist?  What are some of the causes of this, could it be OCD?  I don't really have any sort of rituals like you see or read about or extreme fears, but I can not seem to stop picking at my scalp, and although I am not pulling at my hair, I am noticing hair loss.  Any feedback would be appreciated.

[DumbHick]

I just want to mention that is an OCD related behavior. Many folks that have your condition are diagnosed with OCD as well. You should mention it to a psychiatrist if you're not already seeing one.

[Mark1988]

Definately speak to your psychiatrist. A psychologist would help you overcome your constant picking by getting to the route cause of the problem, why did you start doing it? when was it and what happened around the time you first did it? Questions like this would be asked and it's possible you do it as a coping mechanism of some kind. It could be an OCD or it could be described as a simple habit. We're all creatures of habit, drawn towards the comfort of the familiar, it may be the fact that if you found picking your scalp as a coping mechanism in the past then you may have just learnt to do it as you know it relieves you of stress or any imbalance of emotion. There could be some underlying cognitive or behavioral faults that could be sorted by a psychologist that could break the habit. Like you said, it may not relieve stress but it may be as a result of the stressor and this is how your mind attempts to cope with it.

[aggie68]

Hi, My daughter was just diagnosed with trichotillomania.  an impulse disorder in which she pulls her hair out.  In my research, skin picking is in the same catagory.  The treatment for this type of disorder is therapy and medications such as Zoloft and Klonopin.  These disorders are closely related to OCD. Good luck to you.

[DizzyDolly]

Scientific evidence has supposedly found that OCD is a result of a chemical imbalance. Thus medication is usually prescribed to help with the compulsive side, whilst therapy, usually cognative behavioural therapy is used in combination with this to treat the obsession/reason for your compulsion. Prozac can be used to treat OCD, but usually needs to be at a much higher dose before it can take effect. I was told by my doctor 20ml for depression and 60ml for OCD, but it will vary depending upon patient. It's best for you to talk to your doctor about this compulsion, so they can start you on the best treatment option for you, Its very unlikely your doctor will judge you, but if you don't get on with your doctor, I'd go see another one. A doctor that judges you shouldn't be a doctor at all.

[littlemarla]

I am 51 years old and have the same problem as you.  I find it relieves my anxiety and stress level.  It is very strange that something that hurts me also makes me feel better.  I take prozac and a low dose of xanax, but it isn't helping much.  My head it covered with scabs.  I hope you and I find an answer to our problem.  There are many people with this problem.  We are not alone.  God bless and good luck.

[DizzyDolly]

I was searching online the other day about scalp problems cos my scalp looks white and there arn't flakes, but seems like build up. It sounds like you may have scalp problems/build up too. It seems like in picking the build up, you are causing your scalp to bleed. One way you could break the picking is to remove anything there to pick. Have you tried a tar/medicated shampoo? You can find them on shelf and they're used to things like scalp periosis (spelling?) serbaceous dermatitis and dandruff. It wont get rid of the scabs you keep picking, but it may help with the imperfections you refer to.

[brooke1968]

i have had this problem for a year. I thought I had scalp problelms.  I realize that I have created it my self. I can't stop.I hate it. My scalp hurts
so bad. I cant stand if someone touches my head. I dont know what to do. it sounds like a freak telling someone that you can't stop picking. But, I think after I pick I do feel better.

[bp819]

Your description sounds exactly like my scalp picking problem. I am 26 years old but I only started this 3 years ago. To be honest, I can't recall how this all started. it's as if I'm trying to clean/smoothen my scalp from dandruff/scabs with my nails..but it just creates more. I'm embarrased to go to the salon because of the scattered bald patches and newly formed scabs. How do I explain if asked what the scabs are from???

But i understand the frustration and embarassment of it all. My family can't stand it because they think it looks disgusting, which adds to the guilt of the behavior. They don't understand and say "Just stop" but that's easier said than done.  I was diagnosed 4 years ago with severe depression, Bipolar II and PTSD, although I've been suffering from the 3 with symptoms since I was 16 but did not get help until later.

When I told my doctor about my compulsive scalp picking, first she said to "cut my nails" but that does not help. Or wear mittens and a beanie =).....but that does not solve the underlying cause of the behavior itself. It's under "trictillomania" which is compulsive hair pulling even though I don't directly sit there and pull my hair out. The deep picking/bleeding/scab cycle eventually results in a small bald spot.

[RaynaCorynn]

I've had a scalp picking disorder for as long as I can remember. I can literally scratch my head for hours. It almost seems like I go into a soothing trance-like state. I don't even notice the pain until well after I'm done, or the next time that I shower and the water hurts the wounded areas. For me it feels comforting, but I too feel shamed with the yuckiness of this habit. I am aware of the fact that it is a disgusting activity but it seems to be like an itch that I can not possibly help but itch (pardon the pun). I am also obsessed with popping anything that slightly resembles a zit, and find enormous levels of satisfaction when I pop them. I assume these habits are related. It is comforting to know that I am not alone.

[MLE47]

I too have this problem. I have been doing it off and on for over 10 years. I typically do it for a six month period before I force myself to stop, then maybe a few years later I'll find a small bump on my scalp and start the process all over again until I wake up in the morning with blood under my nails or an infection sets in and there is pus. My husband thinks it's disgusting and it is. I have even gone as far as saving all the white scabs. For a period  of time I thought if I cut my finger nails all the way down I wouldn't be able to pick and therefore stop the habit, but I ended up using a metal nail file to get under a scab and then would pull the rest off with my fingers.

I always found it a relieving and satisfying point in my day when I get to finally sit down alone and pick. I have blamed the condition on the bad eczema that plagues the rest of my body but if the scabs did exist because of the eczema it still didn't excuse the compulsive picking. I suggest that you speak with your primary care physician about prescription shampoos or steroids to help speed the healing of your scalp, cut your finger nails, think how bad you would feel if you ended up with permanent bald spots and possibly work with a counselor or psychologist to get to what is really behind all of this.

[lalabirdyyyluvzuxoxo]

I pick my scalp like all the time!!! i dont know why but it just makes me feel good and its fun i guessss, but its a bad habbit cause now i bet without any hair my scalp looks really gross. i do it wen i get nervous i just pick my scalp and pick a big chunk of dandruff or scapl wutever it is and pull it out u oick my boy friends scalp toooo! and sometimes my moms or someone that lets me wen i have no more good scabs to pick off of my scalp

[lalabirdyyyluvzuxoxo]

im 16 years old, and i have been picking at my scalp sience i was about 6 or 7. it relaxes me and usually i dont know that im doing it. i do it in school and when i realize what im doing i feel embarrased because people who see me are probably grossed out when i pull a big piece of scalp out and flick it onto the floor. when i have no good spots that i can pick on my head i pick them off of other people. my boy friend lets me pick his head and i think he likes it and i like it because i just like picking things off of other things(: my mom picks her scalp tooo and i love when she picks my scalp its just so relaxing and i dont really think its weird but i dont think its normal because i dont see a lot of other people doing it but idk it just feels good and its fun

[jimmydoe]

Christi, I had struggled with the exact same problem as you for almost 20 years.  Sometimes it would get out of control and I would get down on myself because I couldn't stop.  I thought it was all about my lack of will power.

I recently contracted a skin fungus on my back and face and in researching it came to find out that my scalp condition was associated with the yeast Malassezia furfur.  My doctor prescribed a pill that women take for yeast infections.  The medication combined with alternating use of Selsun Blue and Head & Shoulders shampoos has eliminated my problem.  For the first time in 20 years my scalp is clear and I don't have the urge to pick at it!  I have determined that it was not a test of my will power after all;  I simply had an infection that was never properly addressed.  

I know there is a lot of misleading and unhelpful information out there on this difficult to discuss topic and I hope this helps you to have a clear scalp as well.  Best of luck.

JD

[jimmydoe]

P.S. here is some supplemental information on the subject http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seborrheic_dermatitis

[sammysduck]

Wow! This is the first time that I have googled "Obsessive scalp picking" and I have to say, it is amazing to see how many people out there have this same obsession. My obsession is really bad. I pick and pick and pick. Especially when I am reading or watching tv. I get in a total ZONE. It is so soothing to me. I guess it is stress that causes me to pick. I have picked for years and years; since I was about 8. (I am now 26). I pick so much that when it is time to wash my hair, it burns. But I love picking my scalp after I have washed my hair. That is my favorite time to pick. It sounds weird, I know. My husband says I look like a monkey, always picking at my head the way I do. I try to stay cleear of wearing dark colors cause of the dandrif I create. I usually wear white shirts or light grey so the dandruf doesnt show up. I found that when I would wear acrylic nails that I would stop picking so much. Acryllic nails arent sharp enough too pick the way real nails can. It is less satisfying for me. I do suffer from depression and anxiety and am currently on 20 mg Lexipro and .5 mg Klonopin. But it doesnt help my obsession. I cant say that I am ashamed of this obsession. I really dont care if anyone knows. It is just a part of who I am ( I know that it is not normal!) However I dont go around anouncing that I have this obsession.
I figured that I couldnt be the only person in the world who does this, but seeing just how many people there are that have this same strange obsession makes me feel a little less weird!
PS- I was picking the whole time I was reading through all of these posts and I am going to continue to read on and pick on!

[weasley]

I do this too! I even collect the scabs. Euuuuuuuch. I don't know how to stop this awful habit. Head and shoulders shampoo doesn't help, on the contrary, it makes my scalp even dryer and more tempting to pick

[Kathy919]

I started picking my scalp around age 10 - I am 22 now - and never knew until today that there were others like me!  I have never been diagnosed with depression, but I'm a nervous person in general so it wouldn't surprise me at all if I had a mild form of anxiety disorder.  It really amazes me that I can be picking my scalp and not even notice it.  It's a gross habit because I do a lot of picking while I lay in bed before falling asleep, and my sheets and pillowcases get dandruff all over them.  :(  The other major time I get the urge to pick is while looking in the bathroom mirror.

I completely relate to what others have said about a trance-like state that occurs while doing this.  I remember my mom and grandma yelling at me for it as a kid, but I really couldn't stop.  

Has anyone had any success quitting this habit without drugs?  I have found it helps to keep my nails short, or to paint them so that I don't want to mess them up.  I have been able to stop for periods of a few months, but always start up again, usually after or during a particularly stressful event.  I really want to stop this, not just for myself, but because now I am seriously grossing out my husband!

[WhoDatCreole]

I'm surprised there are so many with the same condition as me.  I've had it since I was a child but have progressed now to pulling whole leathery scales from my scalp that I've caused due to the irritation.  It itches, then I dig into it.  Sometimes, I would take dental sticks to loosen the thick skin.  Now I have balding spots.

As I am afraid of taking psych meds to control this, I have to consciously tell myself not to do it.  Now I'm wearing 3 tracks of weave in my crown area.  I'm so disgusted at myself.  But I found that applying thick acrylic nails helps me control the nasty habit.  Also, when I see how I damaged my hair has become with a very patchy crown but near waist-length hair overall...just so disappointed.  The acrylics are back on my nails now.  If I don't scratch, it won't itch later.  To transition, I massage gently with a soothing hair oil and pamper myself.

[ben712]

I have recently dropped out of uni and although i have always picked at my head it has become obsessive over the past few months. It has come to the point were i cant control myself from doing it in public, until the skin bleeds, it stings when i am in the shower and i only stop when my arm aches from being upright for so long. I'm scared that i also have depression as i have very low self worth and choose to sleep in the day and stay awake alone all night. I was wondering if the head picking and deppression could be linked?

[iamapicker86]

im 23 years old i thought i was the only person in the world that does this!i constantly get headaches bc my scalp hurts so bad! on the crown of my head i have a huge bald spot with a houseshoe shaped scab thats bigger than a quater!!!!i cant stop picking it burns in the shower i pull out the hair to get the scab or the hair normally comes with it!everyone thinks its nasty  and wish id stop!i do it all day and everyday i zone out and i pick to were i make faces kick my feet,etc..i want to find a way to stop somekind of medication im on prozac and an add med. but what makes it stop!!!!

[picksle]

I too have the same problem. There are many on this site comparing picking procedures but few solutions to what is clearly a serious condition for all of us. Has anyone any positive, constructive advice? Has anyone had any medical, psychiatric help? Is there any good practice to be passed on? In short, can anyone offer any suggestions as to how I can stop this debilitating, disgusting habit, please?

[snips85]

So I have had this issue for years. Since I was a little kid. I had bad cradle cao as a baby, and then again in middle school. I just have ALWAYS picked my head. My mother always yells at me, "stop picking your head". The fact is that I don't even realize I'm doing it anymore. And I pick my lips too. I mean I dnon't look like a freak or anything. In facet im a 25 year old hairstylist. I've always judt thought it was normal. Until now, I feel like I never wanted to aceept that I have a disorder.

I recently this year was diagnosed with adult adhd. And I was put on a 20mg a day dose of adderal. I'm not sure thats made a difference with the picking, although great for my adhd. So it def gose in spurts, sometimes I have nothing and others like now, my head is covered in scabs. I believe I do have some sort of ecsema (eczema) or phoriosis, Because my ears are always dry and scabby. But anyways I always have flakes and dryness around my hairline. And recently I have made this giant scar in front on my part that is loosing hair. Im a hot mess, but no ones else knows I do it. I havent ever even told my shrink. Im going to now though, I just dont want to be on other meds.

As I am sitting here right now I am picking, last week I even looked in the mirror and picked a scab with a tweezer, that **** is bad.

I have also read in the hair world, that mineral build up in you tap water causes a build up on the scalp and then that could be what is being picked. Any way, good luck to you all, I hope you find a solution! :)

[boss55]

Hi,

I basically have the same thing going on. (I'm in my mid 50's and it started when I was around 12-ish) There are periods when I stop for a month or two (without realizing it). But usually it's all the time. I haven't sought help for it, and I was surprised that it is so prevelant (sp). Let's hope we can get this under control. But as we all know it's close to impossible. Thanks for listening.

B

[Girl121187]

I have since I can remember always picked at my head. I don't do it to the point of pain but I will scour my head with my nails until I find something to pick at. I will do it and not even realize it until later when my arm is tired. I think it is a gross habit to be constantly picking at my scalp. Does anyone know why some people do this? I would like to stop but it is something I do when I'm stressed, deressed or bored. I would love some answers!

[Cherrybalm]

omg i do this too! i reaally wish i could stop its so time consuming i sometimes do it for hours on end and then i dont get my homework/studying done :( i go into a trance and sometimes i forget to blink for a couple of minutes! I have 3 or 4 thinned/bald spots on my head the size of dimes right down the center of my head so i cant even wear my hair down anymore (well, i could if i wear my hair curly) the bald spots grow hair when i stop but that doesnt last for more than a few days...

umm, I started doing this when i was 13  (i'm 18 next friday! ), stopped for 2-3 years and i started 10x worse around 16 (i never got bald spots the first time) i think its because of all the stress of going to college and mild depression/ anxiety etc. when i start thinking i'm not smart enough or pretty enough, or my life's too boring, or that im a failure or something, thats when it starts. the thoughts go away when i pick; but the pain afterwards, x__x i CANT STAND it.

for solutions, the days i dont pick are the days when i write down how ****** i feel in my journal. it gives me the EXACT same empty, relaxed, "clean slate" feeling i get when i pick. only i cant keep remembering to do it xD i'll try harder.
to get rid of the scalps, rubbing an oil like aloe vera, olive, coconut, etc. will remove the scalps with no pain or damage, but i think we're picking because of how we feel inside; we HAVE to fix that first, or we'll pick weather theres a scab or not (i've picked my scalp and MADE my own sore so i could pick it). just my two-cents. if i think of any other solutions i'll post lol <3

[lookinglass2456]

Trichotillamania  is the name of this condition. Very difficult to stop once you've established the habit. It can get much worse, causing baldness and infection, and incredibly debilitating shame. Some forms have actually caused death when the compulsion takes the form of nibbling the root  and eating the hair. I think these hair masses are called bezoars. I advise you to talk to an OCD specialist about breaking your programming. Hypnotherapy, behavior modification therapy, meditation, increased exercise and better diet, anything that reduces the stress that brings on the need to "worry" yourself can be helpful. It does not go away by itself, it can go on for years without being too difficult to hide , making it seem safely manageable and then accelerate. Really. You do not need the pain this can cause you. I've had it since I was a child and it is terrible. Repetitive action digs deep ruts in our brains and it will be far better to buckle down to retraining your stress mechanisms than to let this blight your life.P.S. It is not easy for other people to live with and it is not fair to think it is just your problem. I am very ashamed that my husband and daughter had to bear watching me.

[Princessdaniella]

Any concerns or problems You have are definately worth mentioning to Your psychiatrist that is what they're are there for to speak to about any of your problems and they can not help you best unless you bring these up.
If you have a problem with speaking about this maybe it is best writing it down and taking it in when you do see them
Goodluck

[SisterSarah23]

I started doing this about 3 years ago when I was on jury duty. I found myself sitting in my car at lunch time, over the duration of an 8 week trial, passing the time by looking into the mirror at gray hairs and pulling them out. Then I began to pull with tweezers while plucking my eyebrows. ...Then I found myself touching the balding spot and became obsessed with pulling out the new growths with tweezers.  It's gone on and on.  The spot of course has become bigger and bigger that I have to comb over. I, too, am embarassed to get my hair cut because of it.   I've tried throwing out my tweezers, just to find I'd search for a pair at a girlfriends house or at my mothers, and then start it all over again, or even stop at the pharmacy to buy another pair!

I think the reason I do it is because I've been overly worried about finances, my job loss, my husband's job loss, the loss of our property, health insurance, retirement losses, amongst other things.  I find myself frequently in a trance, spaced out from worry, wondering how bad our situation can and will really get and I have to say I fear for our future.  We've worked hard for many years just to lose everything, and I think that's why I do it. It's almost like a self-inflicting pain or punishment or something.  I think it has to do with the feeling of low self-esteem, feeling our problems are because of me. This has been the first time in my life I've had so many negative thoughts constantly running through my head for such a long period of time. I probably need help, but don't know it.  

Well that's my story.  Thanks for reading!  Best to all of you!  

[suzyqz26]

I have a similar story like SisterSarah23....no jury duty though.  I am self supportive and lost my job way back in Sept.  My unemployment benefits were denied due to "misconduct", which was totally WRONG.  But I didn't have the funds to hire an atty to take my claim any further, and nobody would take my case (either pro-bono or on contingency).  That's when all the picking started.

Since then, I can't get a job because of the "misconduct" being on my record.  Also, I'm way behind on morgage payments (last one paid in Dec), and my FICO score is shot to hell (it was in the mid 700's before all this).  I have been battling this job market, with no results, and constantly picking at my head when thinking about my future.  Seems to be the worst when I'm on this computer looking for work, posting items to sell on the internet, or looking for things to sell at a pawn shop. Plus the fact that my credit cards are all becoming maxxed out because I've been using them for the past 9 months to pay bills and live on.

I have been in my home for over 16 years, and until this job loss happened, was always current with my mtg payments and all my other bills.  Also, I have a dog, two cats, and five birds who have never known any other home bu this one.  That just adds to all of my frustration, and when I think of having to re-home them is when the picking escalates the worst.  This whole situation is so senseless and unfair.  I think I'm taking all of my animosity out on my head!

So I know that for me, it's an anxiety thing.  Just like SisterSarah, I fear for my future and where I will end up.  I have until Aug 1st to figure all of this out.....by myself.  Most of my friends have already moved, and I have no family here in town.  I've never been destitute, but at the rate that I'm picking now, I will be bald and destitute.  

That's my sad story.  Good luck to everyone out there that is suffering any type of loss, anxiety, and fear for their future.  It's hard to stop the picking with no kinda meds or support system.  I have no health insurance to fall back on either.  My so-called life has hit rock bottom, therefore I pick.

[Dlovespets]

i too pick at my scalp.. im not sure that i would say it relieves stress or anything like that, i guess i just dont like knowing that its there & can be removed.. like sometimes im driving & i just keep & keep picking, sometimes i wont turn on  my blinker or things like that because i dont have a free hand, obviously im not going to do anything above & beyond like run a stop sign or anything like that, but really with anything im doing, i have to get the scab off before i can stop. ive never been to therapy about any of my issues & not sure that i want to .. but what ive come to think of is that when i was a child, i had lice for like a year, i have very long curly hair & my mom i guess wasnt interested in getting rid of it, but she is a different topic, any how i used to always pull lice out of my hair & i think maybe i just like pulling things out of my hair because it 'reminds' me of my childhood or something, not that my childhood was something i enjoyed, but i think just being an adult, i maybe in the back of my head want to be a child again.. hope this helps someone.

[serenedream17]

Your story made me cry. I am you. You are me. I thought I was alone, and crazy.  I started in 6th grade, I am a 26 year old female.  I have 5-9 scalp I pick at a time on my scalp.  I have long black hair and cant wear certain styles because my problem will be seen and people would laugh or judge me.
I started med school last year, and the people around me everyday are medically smart and are starting to pick up that my fingers are in my hair pulling out scabs.
If you want to talk you can email me at ***@****
Sarah

[garden39]

I am 43years old and have picked my entire life.  I have small but permanent scars around my chin, neck, upper arms and even legs.  It starts as a small pimple or perhaps and ingrown hair on leg or just running my fingers through my hair on the scalp and finding any "spot" and picking it.  I have always picked my scabs off also.  This has resulted in sores taking forever to heal (weeks) and them 70% of the time leaving a small permanent scar. I've always run my fingers anywhere on my body feeling for the slightest imperfection.  This includes my head, face, neck chin, shoulders, legs, bottom bikini area and even up my nose.  Yep, always got the finger up the nose too (yeah I know, pretty sick!)

I've also always picked my cuticles around my nail beds to the point of having sore raw areas and cuticle scabs.  A few years ago I started wearing artificial nails and have found I no longer pick at cuticles but still the rest of my body.

I do this whenever my hands aren't busy doing something else.  Watching tv, talking to someone else, reading etc.  I've found that I can minimize this by always keeping my hands busy doing something like eating sunflower seeds.  

My husband of 18years is always telling me "stop picking" or telling me I look like a "tweak" someone who does speed or meth.  I've always been an extremly hyper person with a very high/fast metabolism.  Always been underweight and unable to gain weight (at 43yrs I currently weight about 105lbs and am 5'4" tall)

Whats odd is my daughter age 22 does not pick yet my 11year old son is always picking. As if it was genetic.  He always has little sores on his cuticles, picks at scabs on legs that come from an ingrown hair or maybe mosquito bite.  He never has to trim nails or toe nails because they are always picked down to the skin.

After reading about this hear and there over the last year or so on various websites I've come to the conclusion that behavorial therapy and basically self awareness to be always aware of what your doing and attempt to retrain yourself is probably the best thing that can be done.  Realize when your doing and and force yourself to stop.  Maybe engage in something else such as eating sunflower seeds which require your fingers.  

[colleenherts]

Hello folks, I am another who obsessively picks my head until it bleeds, it is not as my family keep asking me, bhecause my head itches, no I haven't got nits/dandruff etc, they are ALL self inflicted, I am not happy until I create a scab that can be picked at mercilessly! I have been scalp abusing since I was about 18 (I am now 46 so I am an expert!) Its started where I would create a scab, the hair would break off, my fingers would enjoy the relaxing sensation of moving my finger end round and round,over the bristle of remaining hair and I would cirle this area until I made it bald, and then pick and pick so as well as that 'attractive bald but, would be the scab that never healed..and unfortunately at that time it was right on my hairline in the middle of my forehead, not great when you are also trying to look fabulous! Nowadays it has a slightly different focus, less the interest in the twisting and feel of damaged hair and more the desperate need to pick at numerous damaged sections on my head, I feel a sense of great pleasure (mixed with sadness) when i find that there is something solid to play with (Gross I know) I pick and pick and move the scab through my hair taking hairs with it as innocent victims and its amazing how this is a NEED not a choice, I have to do it, I feel angry when my kids try and help me by reminding me to stop (despite asking them to tell me!) it feels like my 'dummy' /'soother'..its mine and it is so, so private and personal. I refuse to go to the hairdressers (I am embarrassed), it hurts like hell to brush my hair over the sores, I feel like someone is touching me inappropriately if they 'run their fingers through my hair'..because it has become such a private (although very public in reality) activity. I kind of don't want help because i would miss it so much, but I know its an offensive, ugly, painful and embarrassing (to my kids and me too) activity. I personally am quite well tuned in to the psychological factors, years of anti depressents, and psych' based interventions, lets face it, none of us are fools, we may well be able to rationalise all aspects of our behaviours and make great sense of the process, but...we don't stop, why? Because it is ours, its our choice, it soothes something without a name, it brings shame too... ok maybe not rationalize that well then ha ha. I don't know, I guess I accept myself with the quirks, ok it may suggest some deep and profound inner turmoil but I like my turmoil, I have accepted it and let it feed me in my work and my art (I work with children who are deeply troubled/experiencing issues affecting their lives) Would I accept any of the children or my children displaying this behaviour? Yes I would accept it as a part of the child but indeed I would seek to address the cause and attempt to seek the resources to help the child... the difference is, that at this point in my life, I know who I am and my own idiosyncracies, in some ways I need to embrace these to understand and accept other people without judgement.. I didn't have an opportunity for early intervention to address my issues and reshape me from a square peg to a mainstream perfectly shaped 'one'..(and although this was actually quite terrible, I am now glad :) If it is debilitating and creating a barrier to your life I would always advise seeking help, especially to the younger OCD 'picker' or whatever .. but I would also say love yourself and those quirks and allow your experiences to become positives when seeing the world as a place where every single one of us has a story and is an individual. Be well xxx

[sparkle28]

I'm 28 as well and just started with this. I didn't really consider it as OCD at first, having just chalked it up to the increasing hot wheather which makes my skin {and scalp} really itchy from all the sweat but the fact that I can't seem to knock it off makes me question whether or not it could be a compulsive problem. Mostly I end up picking right near the crown of my head and it to gives me this sort of trance-ish like feeling.

It's weird though because it's like, my head feels really gross unless I get all the scabs out of it. I've had issue's before when it came to stress and just isolation in general so a part of me think I might just be substituting one issue for another, less dangerous one.

[Jl224]

I do this too, and when I googled it I was surprised that so many other people have a problem with it!  Mine is usually worse when my hair is longer.  I am a 25 year old female and I have very thick hair that is prone to dandruff.  What I have noticed happens is that my scalp legitimately itches from the dandruff, then when I scratch it I get carried away and want to smooth out my whole scalp.  It can get pretty gross though when it starts to bleed.  I also find it relaxing and trance-like as others have mentioned.  I want my hair to be longer, so I'm going to have to stop this behavior.  I have OCD tendencies in general, but once I become aware that it is a problem I can usually stop.  I also suffer from intermittent anxiety/depression, so maybe these things are related.

[Sherrie9469]

OMG. I can not beleive that there are so many people like me.  I am 39 and have been digging in my head since I was a teenager.  I tend to do it more when I am under stress.  But it is starting to interfere with my normal daily activities.  When I am supposed to be doing homework or working on something, I find myself just sitting there digging.  It is starting to consume me.  I need help.  I now have bald spots in two areas of my head and my family is getting really worried.  I do not have any type of health insurance and therefore can not afford to seek medical help.  I was hoping to get some home remedy to help me stop the digging.

[sam73090]

this is crazy reading all of everyones posts. i too thiought i was alone with this compulsion disorder. i alwasy thought i was just weird i guess. im 20 years old n i can remeber picking at my scalp since about i was in 8th grade. i pick n scratch at any little imprefection on my scalp. ill pick at it until it turns into a scab. then bleeds.. the next day when i feel the new scab from the dried blood makes me pick n dig even deeper. i know it sounds soo groose n i am embarassed about it. its reallly nice to find out im not the only one who does this n im not as crazy as i though. i have alwasy thought i had add n escpeially ocd. im a totaL NEAT FREAK like badddd... i  cant go to bed or walk up stairs past the kitchen if something is out of place or messy. my bedroom n whole house is AMACULATE 247 because i clean wheneve i have free time.i was wondering if my obsessive cleaning was a form of ocd n if so is my excessive scalp picking a form of ocd also? i pick my scalp in bed, when i drive, watching tv, basicaly anywhere when i feel the urge, and when i do its hard to stop, especialy if i like partly pick off a scab i have to finish it, and when i do i feel good as crazy as it sounds even when my head throbs with pain at times. i do feel like i am constantly stressed out and very anxious. if anyone has advice or comments id love to hear them.

[Trinidy]

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

For one thing, this condition is definitely Anxiety/depression linked.

What I found extremely helpful and got me to STOP this insanity once and for all is to take Omega-3 fish oil AND Magnesium and Calcium and Vitamin C (Ester-C) everyday.  Also, I lowered my consumption of sugar since I found aggravates the problem.  I also started working out and doing yoga to help my stress and this I found theraputic.

So to everyone suffering from this, don't feel guilty about this problem! Your brain is hard-wired to not be able to handle stress as well as others, and therefore you need to supplement your body with more of these nutrients.  Just talking a multivitamin is not enough btw.

Here's what I recommend:

1000mg-2000mg of Fish oil 2-3 a day (be careful if you are on blood thinners as this thins out the blood)

1000-2000mg of Vitamin C-buy the Ester-C absorable kind. You cannot over dose on Vita C as it is water soluable.

Calcium/Magnesium formula--Make sure it's Magesium Citrate, Calcium Caltrate, which is the more absorbable kind. If you cannot find this combo then just spring for the magnesium as it is extremely helpful for dealing with stress.

I would splurge on the good, quality vitamin brands which does get pricey but it's worth the health benefits.

Vitamin B complex formula is a good addition too.

Good luck!

[Trinidy]

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION:

For one thing, this condition is definitely Anxiety/depression linked.

What I found extremely helpful and got me to STOP this insanity once and for all is to take Omega-3 fish oil AND Magnesium and Calcium and Vitamin C (Ester-C) everyday.  Also, I lowered my consumption of sugar since I found aggravates the problem.  I also started working out and doing yoga to help my stress and this I found theraputic.

So to everyone suffering from this, don't feel guilty about this problem! Your brain is hard-wired to not be able to handle stress as well as others, and therefore you need to supplement your body with more of these nutrients.  Just talking a multivitamin is not enough btw.

Here's what I recommend:

1000mg-2000mg of Fish oil 2-3 a day (be careful if you are on blood thinners as this thins out the blood)

1000-2000mg of Vitamin C-buy the Ester-C absorable kind. You cannot over dose on Vita C as it is water soluable.

Calcium/Magnesium formula--Make sure it's Magesium Citrate, Calcium Caltrate, which is the more absorbable kind. If you cannot find this combo then just spring for the magnesium as it is extremely helpful for dealing with stress.

I would splurge on the good, quality vitamin brands which does get pricey but it's worth the health benefits.

Vitamin B complex formula is a good addition too.

Good luck!

[redbird613]

I have this problem, too, its gotten worse over the last 6 months for some reason. My hairdresser noticed the bumps and scabs and mentioned it to me. I was embarrassed, hoping she wouldn't notice. I want to get this cleared up before I go back to see her again. I was picking my head while reading, watching tv and driving. I'd wait until a car would go by and then pick my scalp.  When I worked in a cube where lots of people were constantly walking by, I didn't pick my scalp as much. Now I'm in a cube in the corner and I was picking more, because no one could see me.

I think its a nervous habit. I googled scalp sores and found several lotions and shampoos made for healing scalp sores. I just started using it today. I bought a shampoo, condioner and lotion called Zincplex, I don't know if its going to work or not but today I consciously have stopped picking my scalp, I had to stop myself several times. Tonight I have put the lotion on the scabs.   I like the idea of keeping your hands busy, or eating sunflower seeds when you get the urges to pick.

[PK42]

I cried when I started to read the comments.  I have never come across any other person who has this condition.  I thought I was the only one!  I dont know why I started to compulsively pick at my scalp, but i too pick until it bleeds/hair loss/scabs/ the whole caboodle!  I just seem to be addicted to doing something, I have been treated for OCD from a very young age ( 4 years old!).  If what you are all experiencing effects you so much, I agree that you should seek advice from a proffesional starting with your doctor/ councellor etc, and i also believe that it it connected to anxiety and in some cases depression and for others mental illness.  
I have also picked at spots bumps and imperfections, I have also used tweezers to pull out hair follicles on my stomach area to the point where there has been a hole, I know it was not to relieve stress  like some of you have mentioned and even though the pain is bad it creates a trance like state and is oddly comforting. I consider myself to be an anxious individual, I also was brought up by grandparents, and found out just recently that my mother/grandmother and other female members of the family have also had mental health problems and OCD type conditions but sadly most went untreated.  I am currently being helped with my condition as I want "time out " from it for a rest. Whatever you all do , make sure it makes you happy.

[lacey283]

Hello.

I started in 5th grade, I remember clearly the first moment I thought to pull a piece of skin off my scalp, where I was, and what feeling was behind it.

I am now 24.

I can go off for long periods, but when the season changes (winter) it comes back like nobody's business. I am a very sensitive person, both to internal and external cues, and I am easily stimulated, to the extent that I am not that social, as a form of balance. (if that helps to know)

I don't feel debilitated by it to the point that I want to cry. Most of the damage, I fear is not on a level where I am conscious of it. I believe definitely that my self-worth and sense of my social self has been affected by this habit, and when I deeply consider this it does make me sad.

What helps is a spiritual practice or religion. I think that if you have faith in something higher, and you exercise this faith in some repetitive way **  with your body *** (whether through praying, chanting, or meditating or prostrating) then it slowly over time takes away your need to pick.

Blessings for everyone. It's hard to be a human.

[kim1234430]

I also pick my scalp.  It's so uncomfortable to even type this. I also picked my scalp the whole time I was reading.

I was diagnosed with OCD, I'm on Lexipro and Clonazepam (when I need help sleeping when I have racing thoughts that prevent sleep).  The meds help with my obsessive thoughts, but do not help with my compulsions.  My Dr suggested seeing a psychologist who specializes in OCD.

I honestly knew I had OCD when I minored in psych in college...weird to diagnose yourself.

I remember pulling out my hair when I was around 10 years old, until my mother saw the bald spot.  It embarrassed me so much I never pulled again.  I knew at 10 yrs old that pulling hair was an "off" habit , so I used to roll my hair into balls and throw them behind my bed so no one would find them.  My mom did, it was mortifying.  So I stopped.

I began scratching my scalp last year.  It burns in the shower and especially when I dye my hair, to the point I'm almost in tears.  I try to hide my scratching from my boyfriend.  I seem to do it when I'm alone and in bed before I go to sleep when my boyfriend is already asleep so he doesn't see me do it.  It's both habit and calming.  I HATE it.

I lose myself and my time in compulsive behaviors.  Picking my face, cuticles until they bleed and can barely use my hands, cleaning, or anything else I find interest in.  I'm not fixing fringe on a rug or anything, but I am compulsive and obsessive.

They say there are triggers for OCD...thinking back I can't really recognize anything traumatic to trigger any of my OCD issues.  I was told by my Dr that cognitive behavioral therapy is best as a treatment for OCD.

I don't know, going to stop picking today if I catch myself.

[shoelover]

Ditto. I have anxiety and mild OCD - cleaning, organizing, planning, perfecting, balancing and... picking my scalp when I am watching TV, browsing the web, taking a test, and driving. It hurts when I take a shower, because some of the skin is a bit raw. It comes and goes, and I've been doing this since the end of elementary school (23 now). I'm gonna try to balance out my diet more, actively think about what I'm doing with my hands, and possibly wear a hat while I'm at home.

[Yentruoc]

Ive been searching scalp picking for a while now, but I cant seem to find anything specific to my obsession. I dont pick because of OCD or anything its like... I pick for the pain. It's completely random too. I'll just be doing homework or something and then I'll start slowly pulling out strands of hair one by one. Eventually it creates a sore spot that I can pick at. And I just pick at it and pick at it and it feels so good. It's soothing like getting a massage. It's pain, but I like the pain, and I feel like such a creeper for doing it but I can't help it. I just like to make sores so I can pick at them because I like the way the pain feels. But I can't find anything specifically for that, that would help me to stop doing it.

[kim1234430]

Pulling hair is a disorder called Trichotillomania.  Here's a link that might give you more information.

http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-126570/Trichotillomania-hairpulling-disorder?q=hair+pulling

As far a causing self inflicted pain, you might want to speak to your Dr.

[youngone541]

Hello Everyone!

I am 15, I have been picking my scalp since 7th grade , so I was 12. I know I am in the lesser number of years picking, but I have about 2 or 3 really bad spots on my head that I pick untill I bleed.

I have a feeling it's an anxiety thing for me, I am outrageously shy, and I think that could add to my anxiety.

When I touch my scalp, it really hurts, but I always go to pick it! If I have picked away all the scabs, I have this almost sticky liquid like substance that comes out of the scab, and then it starts to bleed.

I have told my mom that my head had hurt and that mabye we should go to the doctor, but she just said I think you are ok, so I am stuck in a rut, I would go to the doctor if I could, but I don't think my mom realizes whats going on. What should I do? Do yu have any advice for me and others with this scary habit?

THANKS!

Best wishes to all! :)  

[charliebee762]

i am so so glad i came across this on google... i too have the exact same problem, it started just over a year ago in my first year of university when i was 18 and it's got progressively worse. at one point last year i had a bald patch just smaller than a five pence coin which i could no longer hide and my friends are like 'why can't you just stop?!' it's because when i pick the scabs, bits of hair come out with it and that;s how the bald patches form.

at the moment i've got about 5 scabs which i try so hard not to pick but especially at night i just can't resist! i haven't been able to have my hair cut for over a year because last time the hairdresser commented on my scabs and it was so embarrassing! i literally don't know what to do about it although it is quite reassuring to know i'm not the only one out there...

i think it must be kind of stress-related and i'm tempted to talk to my doctor about it but i genuinely can't think of a particular reason why it initially started... who knows really but i would love to not want to pick!

[cadet24]

I'm 20 years old and I have been picking at my scalp since I was 6 or 7. I remember it started because the school I went to had a really bad lice situation one year. My hair was so long (it went past my butt) and it was so bad when I got it. My mother did most of the work, as being a 6 year old I had her do everything. However, I did start picking at my head because it itched terribly.  I ended up having to have most of my hair cut and that took away alot of the problem. We finally got rid of the nits and I was lice free. It only took a few weeks or so, but at that age it felt like forever. Ever since then I have been picking at my scalp, out of habit I guess. I was never diagnosed with depression or OCD but when I was 14 I had extreme panic attacks and I was prescribed Lexapro. I took that for about 2 years and since then I haven't needed it. I haven't had a panic attack in a few years, but I still have somewhat anxiety every now and then. I hate that I pick at my scalp incessantly. I try to hide it from everyone around me, in fact this is the first time I have ever opened up to anyone about this. I really hope I can find a way to stop. It's gross, it hurts, and it makes me self concious.If anyone has advice, feel free to give it. It does help to read from so many others who have this same weird problem. Thanks for opening up.

[Pammyann23]

I am 50 years old and and I started picking my head when I was about 12 and had an abusive mother.  I mainly just had one place at the very crown of my head that I picked. When I married, it went away and I thought it was over.

I developed  fibromyalgia about 5 years ago. I started picking my head again last year when I was on a med that made me nervous.  I discontinued that drug after 6 months but still pick my head and have developed about 6 places that I pick without even thinking about it..  It burns when I wash my hair and I have tried all the medicated shampoos and such.  It recently got much better when I was on vacation in Florida for a week, but now that I have returned to my everyday life, I pick again, so it seems stress related to me.

What is sad is my 18 year old daughter who is freshman in college has started it too  UGH!

[JoLeenLives]

I have really given this problem some thought in recent weeks, to try and understand the reasons why I have this habit, not the cause, anxiety etc, but why I actually pick my scalp, this is what I've worked out...

Unlike spots and scabs on the rest of my body, I know I can pick the scab on my head and it wont be immediately obvious to everybody that I've been doing it, I can get away with it, for a period of time, it means I can do something that feels good and there's a sense of naughtiness and freedom about it.

The scalp is tight fitting over the scull, there's not much flesh there, the spots don't get bigger and bigger as quickly, they will hang around for months and months, giving me the joy of being allowed to pick at my scabs without it actually causing any pain or massive bleeding... lets face it, picking a spot on my face would only last for a few days before it would be impossible to continue!

When I caught chicken pox and the spots on my body were scabby and intensly itchy, the desire to pick them and relieve myself from the ugliness and terrible itching was beyond belief, I wasnt allowed to pick them, Mum said no, but the ones on my scalp, I can pick, nobody can see them, nobody can tell me not to do it!

I went to the hairdressers after an intense few months of trying to stop and within 24 hours of having my hair cut, I was free to pick away again, it is most definately because other people and more importantly I myself cant see the raw scabs as they are hidden in the hair so that makes it 'ok'.

I feel a sense of 'acheivement' once I've picked a scab off my hair, even a sense of 'facination' if the the scab comes off with a single stand of hair still stuck in it... to me that suggests I am really lacking in sense of challange, acheivement and facination in my day to day life.

It sounds awsome, I love the sound of my fingers against my scalp, i love the feel of my fingers running through my hair.

I feel like a bad person if I have a scab on my head, it feels unatural, it feels as though I have to get rid of it to be perfect, of course long term it leaves bald patches, which arent perfect either.

For me, I'm going to try giving myself a HEAD MASSAGE, I think it will give me the pleasure of hearing the sounds of my fingers against my scalp, it will be relaxing and it will help the blood circulation in the scalp which not only helps heal the scalp, will also improve the condition of my hair and my mind.

It may increase the dandruff, which is basically just dry skin and that's ok! We are supposed to get rid of our dry skin, its dead and not much use clogging up the pores on our scalp!

[misskit]

I got bored and Googled this subject randomly tonight, surprised I didn't earlier. I'm usually in-the-know about things like this, so it really shocked me that so many people out there do this, even to worse extremes than I do/have and I didn't know!

I read most of the above stories and noticed a lot of them involved the habit starting in the preteen years, which is when it did for me, too. I'm 22 now, soon 23. I don't see any specialists or take meds, and the problem isn't as bad as it used to be when I was younger, thankfully. I used to pick off scalp scabs then pull out the hair on & around the wound, I never could say why, it just felt good and relieving after I did. The picking is much more satisfying when I draw blood, I think because then I know for sure it will form another scab to pick off. Also, I have to smell or/and lick my fingers when I'm done, especially when I draw blood. I wash my hands about once an hour, so I'm not concerned of the whole sanitary bit of that part. I still do this but no longer pull out my hair- maybe my vanity serving me well? I tend to only to do it in private now, I used to do it in public also. Kids would stare at me in class, and I knew it was gross, but I couldn't stop until I was sure there were no more to pick. If I was home, I'd rush to put astringent on the picked off scab and found comfort in the slight burn and sting of the alcohol on the wound.

Obsessive skin/hangnail picking is much more extreme of a habit for me, I used to use my teeth, but noticed it wasn't as effective as a nail clipper and just caused more damage, so I only do it with a nail clipper now. I find myself in a trance-like state in the midst of this activity, and when I look back up, I'll realize that 30 or 40 minutes have gone by without even noticing and my neck and back have gone stiff from spending that long hunched over. Now, the skin has thickened to the point where I consider it unattractive to leave it alone, so I feel even more that I have to slice it all off until it is smooth and raw. I take my clippers everywhere and get crabby if I've forgotten or lost them. It started only around my nails but the habit has extended to include the entire fingertips and the skin on the undersides and sides of my fingers now. It's very annoying, there are certain things I can't do with my hands now (like opening a soda can) because my fingers are too sensitive and fragile. Thankfully, I don't really drink soda anymore but you get my point on how annoying it is to not be able to do normal things like that!

I still don't think my habits are as extreme or damaging that I need immediate medical help, just thought I'd share my bit, too! I don't know why or what it stems from- I actually have experienced no major traumas in my life, never even lost anyone close to me, so I'm very much baffled.

[cutebutphsyco]

I was reading this and I cried..I started picking my head when I was about 13, Im 23 now, so it's been about 10 years (OMG(((((() I go in trance when I do it. I know it's gross but I like to smell my fingers after picking and even to chew on scabs (ewwww) I thought I had a kind of scalp disease but I've tried all kinds of shampoos and scalp lotions and they don't help. I spend about 2 to 3 hours a day picking my head. I was diagnosed bipolar too. I also have the tendency of cleaning, organizing and perfection. I really wanna stop picking my head but I just cant((((
Did you all notice that we stared doing this when we were kids or teenagers? I wonder why...
Anyways, I'm one of you guys, hopefully we'll find the cure!

Lydia

[nicejenny83]

Yup, I've got this too.  I started when I was six and now I'm 27.  I remember where I started picking...I was in my older half-sister's car riding on the way to see her family's new apartment.  I remember itching and getting thick skin pieces off my hair, which led to a sore on the top center of my head.  It's been scab over, pick, inspect, release ever since.  The most common spot I have had a sore was top and center.  At one point in time I had a small scab collection.  I actually have two sores going right now.  I could stand for more (having a bad year).  I have the trance thing as well.  I've been in treatment for anxiety and bipolar disorder for years and I'm on meds.  I'm so glad so many other people have shared about this problem...health professionals need to cash in on this one! hehe

[Joel99]

Mammalian grooming behaviour run amok. I notice more women posting than men.  I wonder if that is merely a reporting bias or actually indicative of the frequency of occurrence.

In any case I am in my sixties and have twirled hair and rubbed my head since age 5 and before.  The location, intensity, and frequency have changed continuously over the years being mostly a minor annoyance at worst.  I am grateful for that given the extremity of the problem for some of the posters.

I am fascinated by the different nuances of experience that people have with which I can identify.  Some aspects are more intense than others. There is a "thumb sucking" feeling I associate with rubbing and a vague trance like feeling too.  I also have some feelings of defiance connected to it from people (my mother and exe) saying "Don't rub your head."  

I wound up at this site because in the last 9 months the head rubbing progressed to an intensity I have not experienced before with picking, digging and using fingernails in new ways.  During this time my elderly mother who I had looked after for the better part of a year and half, dwindled and passed away at home in the way she wanted without a lot of medical intervention. So it seems understandable that it might have worsened in intensity. I do want it to go away now.  My mother passed away in December so enough already...

One of the most acerbic moments of taking care of her and yet strangely satisfying (not really strange when I think about it) was the sharp response she drew when she told me to stop rubbing my head which she had probably not said to me in at least 50 or so years.  I quickly and firmly said "I will rub my head anytime I want to. Thank you very much."  She was taken aback but seemed to acknowledge the validity of the remark and I felt a deep satisfaction.  I did not harangue or say anything further about it and we carried on levelly for the remainder of the day.

And the head rubbing has gotten more intense and occasionally painful. So I guess I did not get off scot free for my rebellious outburst.  I laugh when I say that but there seems some truth to it.  

I think that reading all of this is going to help me let go of this behaviour.  It is clear to me that it is not a "personal" failure but a neurological/ behavioral phenomena shared by anxious types.  It is something of a comfort to know one is not alone which I already knew but being reminded in detail doesn't hurt.  

I wish I had an easy answer especially for those who have "it" significantly worse than myself.  It sounds perhaps silly but there is truly a "take a really deep breath and relax... you are okay." kind of response needed. I was a nurse for many years and so I can locate this on the hierarchy of suffering and as bad as it is... trust me there is much worse.  best wishes

[Marihell]

It scared me to see how similar this comment is to my situation.  I started compulsively picking at my scalp around the time my parents got divorced when I was 8.  I have PTSD and have also tried Zoloft, Prozac, and I'm currently on klonapin. The more scabs I leave, the more apt I am to pick more.  When I was in elementary school, they sent me home for having big, bloody, scabs on my scalp all the time. They said it "just isn't normal" and told my parents to get me help...which they never did.  One doctor diagnosed me with impitago because of the weird patches of skin missing from my scalp.  


I never thought that this was an actual medical condition, until tonight when I decided to look it up on google.  My dad mentioned having something similar once, and ever since then I've wondered if there are people like me that compulsively pick their scalps all the time.  I remember taking dance and acting classes when I was really young, and the whole time I was there I would just pick my scalp because I have really bad social anxiety.  I would forget all the dance moves and get the worst part in the play, just because I was more focused on picking my scalp that paying attention on what to do.  

At one point it got so bad that the whole back of my head was one big scab and it was scary to look at for me.  I've always known it was something psychological...even when I was 8 or 9 I knew I didn't for some psychological reason....

Thank you all for sharing your stories... It makes me feel a lot better to know that I'm not the only one out there.

[Speld]

I just went to the doctor today for the same condition. I thought I must have some skin condition which wouldn't heal up.  However the doctor said it was self inflicted and told me to stop doing it!! It started about a year ago when my son went to live abroad (which really upset me) and then I had a lot of stress at work. Everytime I am stressed my hand goes up to my head and it's really difficult to control. I see now that it is a form of OCD and self harm. I have never experienced anything like this before and I am over 60 so should know better.
Comforting to know you are not alone though.

[Heidiegirl]

I'm 36 and I've been doing the same since I was little. My mom does it, and used to scratch my head when I was little (which was sooo soothing!), I do it, and my son does it (hereditary much)? I'm on effexor and kolonopin for anxiety as well, but I don't think this class of drug helps. I did try a matrix brand shampoo for dry scalp, and it subdued my picking by keeping my my scalp moist with few things to pick at. I kinda wish I didn't do it, but at the same time, it's so relaxing.

[LittleAlita]

im going to try this

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-info/treatments/habit-reversal/

[charwills]

i have this problem too, is it connected to depression and OCD? as i have just recovered from depression but i dont think im over it,
pivking my scalp until it bleeds is normal for me, it relieves stress and i now have two bald spots and am only 16 :|
is here anyway this can be cured as im so embarassed :( i just cant stop ...

[silknailsgalore007]

I'm a 49 year old barrister and I pick my scalp in the ways you all described.  It probably starts as a trigger from stress but soon becomes compulsive.  When I was 11 or so I used to pull my hair out.  The small sharp pain was part of the pleasure, as was staring at the bulbous root on the end of the hair if you got it whole - the feeling of this coming out was particularly satisfying.

Yes, it is gross, but we are complex, and like monkeys and also chickens will pull our feathers or fur out when stress levels go haywire.

I had a very complex childhood.  My mother was an alcoholic who was generally absent.  I do remember being a young girl and being aware that mum would often scrutinise my face on contact visits and squeeze away at anything she considered an imperfection.

I do find that acrylic nails are very effective at allowing the whole scratch-itch-scratch-sting-scratch-bleed-omg too far until the next time cycle !

I'm convinced that this is self-harm, but as many of you have said, in a place where generally we can't be 'found out'.  If you think of the secrecy, it's sad to think of the loneliness, even though I agree that the trance-like fascination\revulsion can be extremely soothing.  Soothing from what, we might ask ?  The answer might tell us why we do it in the first place.

So all the best to all of you and thanks for sharing.

I'm going for a full set of silk extensions !  Please don't be mean to yourselves, whether you pick or not ... my hunch is anyone picking already has alot of covert pain ... and that the digging is in some ways an attempt to clear that out.

lol x

[slp123]

I'm sitting here crying reading this and upset that i've waited about 20 years to find out i'm not alone.  I'm 27 years old and have started picking my scalp since elementary school.  I didn't have a tramatic childhood so i can't comprehend what triggered this habit.  i always just thought it was a habit i cannot break.  i have been seeing a therapist for over a year now to work out my "anxieties".  i tend to get lil panic attacks and get overwhelmed at stressful situations.  however, even after all this time, i have been unable to share this habit.  every time i go there, i freeze up and become to embarrassed to admit it.  lately, i've noticed my hair getting much thinner and started to panic about that.  while trying to consciously control this habit its definitely gotten worse.  like others expressed, i get in a "trance" and cant stop.  i find it pick more when watching tv and driving.  in the winter i tend to keep my gloves on while driving which helps. but that's not helping me now that it's summer.  i desperately need a haircut but can't get myself to call and make an appointment because i get nervous she'll say something.  what i would like to know is - has anyone stopped and seen the hair grow back?!  i'm also wanting to start a family soon and really want to control this before i get pregnant.  i'm afraid theres like infections untreated that would do harm.  i also don't want my future children witnessing and picking up this habit.  any suggestions to get through this would really be appreciated.  we are all in this together and i want to quit SO BAD!!!!!! HELP!

[Idontknow87]

I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this. I've been scalp picking since I was about 15, maybe younger. I'm 24 now. At its worse, my scalp was bleeding and full of open sores. I had to wear a hat so that I wouldn't pick. Even the hair dresser noticed it.

Myself, I pick as a habit and also I pick when I'm stressed. It started when my parents divorced and never quite went away. It brings me to tears to even talk about it or admit that I have this problem.


I'm on Paxil and while it helps my depression/anxiety somewhat, it doesn't stop the picking. I used to pick my face until it bled. :(


I apologize for my post being all over the place....I just needed to get it out. To relate to someone who has btdt.

[mrsjones12]

I had no idea. I felt so alone and like a psycho. It's been about a year since i started picking and digging scabs n myscalp. I thought it was drug related i was on oxycodone. I was also diagnosed w depression anxiety ocd at ten. I work at a salon as a cmt n my hair is destroyed from this compulsion. Sad to know there are others w this problem but good to know im not alone. I know i need help i just don't know if there is any for me. My nails are cut n filed.  I also pick n pull at my toe nails until they bleed. I have almost no nails on my toes n it hurts terribly sometimes waking me up throbbing.  I feel sick, like there's something seriously wrong w me. It's embarrassing and painful but i don't know how to stop

[danebenxi]

Same case with me!I noticed that I've been picking my scalp for months now. I developed scabs on my scalp. At first, i was just concerned with my dandruff, which i often occurs unto my scalp. Then, i started to pick on my dandruff using my fingernails, which i don't want to cut short for the purpose of scalp picking. The dandruff/flaky scalp turned into scabs. Once in a while, I would sub consciously pick on my scalp and eventually, it becomes a scab. I am not yet into a stage where I could see blood underneath my nails due to this behavior but I consume most of my time picking into my scalp. I'm also having gradual hair fall. Currently, I have about 6 scabs in my scalp and I don't know if it there's bald spots on it. I don't know yet. My scabs never heal because I pick on it every other time. I'm afraid of the effects that it will cause me. I'm more afraid to lose my hair. Does this also mean that I have OCD? Perhaps it's because of anxiety and depression. I just don't know. I need some help. :(

[roheke220]

I am so surprised to see how many other people pick their scalps until it bleeds.  But yours caught my eye because you mention transe-like feeling.
I go into a trance, if I start when I'm driving I can easily have an accident.
I completely space out during the picking.  My arm will ache but I'll keep picking.   I guess it relieves my anxiety and really really calms me!!!

[BloodOrange]

Man I never knew so many people have the same compulsive habit like I do. I  
had this habit since 10, I'm 21 now. It's been there most of the time. I don't normally scratch that hard, but yeah like most of you I find a dandruff and pick pick pick till it comes out, sometimes it itches too. But I make sure it doesn't bleed. When I was younger I remember on a few occasions I drew blood. Hurt like he-l, I fight this habit like he-l too.
I use head and shoulders and some oil nourishing shampoo. Works ok. When ppl tell you to just stop a habit, it's irritating but they mean well. So I do. This is just one of my other compulsions that I have.
I'm sure you OCD head pickers out there are picking as you read. Me too,
but do it ever so gently. :)

[AntoineB]

Wow, I can't believe that there are so many other people who do this! I also pick compulsively at the skin around my fingernails and toenails, and at the skin on my lips and face. I'm 24 and I've been doing all of this since I've been a teenager.

I dye my hair an unnatural color, and the dye stains my skin for a little while. I do this deliberately, so that sometimes I can manage to stop picking because I can't see the scabs on my dye-stained scalp. Nevertheless, I constantly use toothpicks and metal nail files to scratch at my scalp and my fingernails are always stained with blood. I have the little round bald spots too, and it's always a challenge to part my hair so that no one can see the scabs and bald/bloody spots.

My wonderful boyfriend always gets so upset when he sees me picking at my scalp, because he knows I'm harming myself. Sometimes he tries to (gently) physically restrain my hands by holding them away from my scalp, but when he does that I get so unreasonably angry. It's the most powerful feeling: my scalp seems to tingle and itch, and I feel like the scabs are ten times bigger, just sitting disgustingly on the top of my head. There's a corresponding feeling in my hands and arms-- they seem to tingle with the urge to pick at my head. I'm fairly even-tempered in most of my life, but at these times I get so angry that I'll say anything, whether it's mean or falsely placating, just so that he'll let go of me and I can pick at my scalp. Only then do I feel soothed.

I've tried taking Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Halcion, and a host of other drugs, but nothing really seems to help, unless I merely sedate myself into a stupor where I just sleep all the time. I cross my arms across my chest when I sleep because I'm less likely to pick at my head then. Obviously, that's not a very good or sustainable lifestyle. Now I don't take any prescription drugs except for a bit of Xanax now and then-- I more usually drink whiskey to calm my nerves.

[judyt57]

Just a general comment to everyone out there...I pick both my scalp and my face, and sometimes anywhere on my body I can find a little hard bump to scratch off.  It seems to go in cycles for me.  I'll pick at my face until it has a dozen sores on it, and then let up and weeks or months later I'll start in on my scalp.  My scalp is particularly bad right now and I'm panicking a little since I have to have my hair done by a professional next week for my daughter's wedding.  I'm trying so hard to stop and let it heal for this week, but just can't seem to.  One previous time with things got this bad that I had attacked my entire head, a Dr. gave me an antibiotic because he said my head was undoubtedly infected from all the sores. It seemed to work for quite a while, so that's a tip for you to try.  I already take antidepressants for depression, but may talk to my Dr. about types and dosages that would also address the picking.  Good luck and love to all of you.  

[JGF25]

It is a good idea to talk to your doctor about the scalp picking.  It is a symptom of OCD and a lot of these types of compulsions have become habits and the habit needs to be broken.  There are ways to combat this.  A psychologist can teach you some cognitive behavioral techniques that will hopefully aid in reversing this habit.  Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about what he/she thinks would be the best course of action.  I don't know if medication alone will do the trick.  

Also, there is a book that I read called Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani and I found it to be really helpful.  It is about being your own motivator to stop these types of habits.  

Best of luck and with some professional help I really believe you can stop doing this to yourself.  

[TheOutcast]

I used to do this a LOT. I think ever since I was about 12 years old... And my forehead  was already receding by the time I was 13. It was HORRIBLE. My hair used to fall out, I used to find SOME satisfaction in scratching my scalp to.. IDK, feel those crusty itchy parts? I never fully understood it. I HAVE managed to reduce it though. But my hair still falls out even if I've managed to not scratch that much. I'm 20 years old now, and my forehead is about an INCH and a half  above the "normal" hairline and I have bald patches too.

I really don't know what to do. I have never talked to anyone about this. My parents don't even realise what's wrong and they probably will never assist me in getting any treatment. I'm pretty much a social outcast. Always have been.. mainly because of the hair loss factor, I used to cover it up all the time and used to freak out when someone would notice.

I don't even KNOW what the problem/disorder/whatever is here.. but I know hair loss is caused my different things, and I'm not sure what my case would be, or what the treatment would be other than a hair transplant. It's just SO depressing.

[JGF25]

Please read the post before yours.  

You are so young with a whole life ahead of you, do you want to walk around feeling this way forever?  There is no reason to.  I'm not sure why you think your parents would not help you but it obviously is very upsetting to you and as a parent myself, I would do anything to make sure my children were not suffering.  

So if you need their permission, then you need to talk to them about getting treatment.  You can start with your regular doctor (maybe during a physical it could be brought up) and go from there.  

As far as being a social outcast, are you isolating yourself because YOU feel awkward about your hair loss?  A lot of the time what makes us worry, other people really could care less about.  I married a man with hair and 22 years later his hairline is at the back of his head.  I really could care less.  He is still the same person I love!   We don't win people over with our looks, we win them over with our personalities.  So change your outlook on life, get some help with the hair loss, and start enjoying life!  

[jessicalgray]

i have this also. I can just be sitting there and catch myself doing it not even realizing it sometimes. And as far as getting on those medications they do not help. I have been on a few of those medications you all have listed and still continued to do it the same as when i am not on medication. I hate that i do it because i too have scabs that i have created because of this that i will sit there and pick at until it bleeds :( i hate it...

[JGF25]

Jessica, when you catch yourself you have to make yourself stop.  It is a habit and habits can be broken but it will take some work on your part.  When you catch yourself, take your hand away.  Make yourself do it.  I know it will be hard but you can stop this if you do some self-coaching.   Yell at yourself if you have to.

[sb9886]

i also have this problem. im only thirteen and ive been doing it for a year now. i havent told my parents, its too disgusting.  i will pick at any bump on my scalp until it turns into a scab. then i will pick the scab, when it reforms, i pick it again. i didnt know there was a name for it , i thought i was the only one. it is so gross, my scalp will start bleeding and the scabs are so embarrassing, but i cant seem to stop. i always do it when im bored. ex: reading , doing homework, watching tv, on the computer etc.  my mom and grandmother both have anxiety and depression. neither have OCD. sometimes i also pick at the small bumps i have on my arms.


please help

[JGF25]

Hi and welcome to the OCD forum.

As you have already read above I'm sure, this is not an uncommon compulsion realted to OCD.  Do you feel like you are picking because if you don't you will feel anxious?  What if you just left it alone, would it keep coming back into your mind?  If so, then you really need to tell your mom so that she can get you some professional help.  It does not mean you are crazy or anything like that.  It just means that you have developed this habit and it will be hard to stop on your own.

You have already said "it is so gross" and the "scabs are so embarassing" well that is just the start.  You can develop hair loss from this as well.  So until your mom can get you into see a psychologist, try to pay close attention to yourself starting to do this and then make yourself stop.  I know it will be hard, but you have to just say "enough."  If this causes you anxiety, you can do a breathing exercise where you take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it for 5 seconds and count this out in your head, and then let it all out through your mouth.  Do this until you are calmer.  Then keep vigilent about catching yourself when you start to put your hands to your head.  

Best of luck and make sure to let your mom know so she can get you some help in dealing with this.  

[lisa256]

Hi People

Wow....isn't it amazing (and kind of reassuring) that so many of us can relate on this subject....been there, done that, thats for sure.....

the human scalp seems to have an amazing ability to heal though....I once had a bald patch the size of a ten cent piece from compulsive picking....and when I finally left it alone (cos there wasn't anthing left to pick)..amazingly, the hair grew back.  

I don't really pick anymore (still like to comb off any dry skin though, but not to the point of an excavation like I used to).  My partner has quite a bit of dandruff sometimes and I offer to 'get it out' for him (for my own satisfaction) with the comb, but he says 'you're not a monkey' lol

I recommend the following supplements to curb the compulsions:
Inositol powder and or NAC (great for OCD-type issues such as these)
Vitamin b6 (P5P form)
Magnesium & taurine (calming)
Zinc
Ester C
Omega 3 fish oil
These will help soothe your mind....and  probably help heal your skin too

I get mine from iherb (now it sounds like an ad....lol....but it's not...buy your's anywhere....just try em and you'll see). If you can't afford them all, start with the inositol, magnesium, p5P and taurine

Hope you can all feel better soon and escape the vicious cycle of picking and unsightly scabs.

Kindest regards

Lisa :0)

[lisa256]

Hi People

Wow....isn't it amazing (and kind of reassuring) that so many of us can relate on this subject....been there, done that, thats for sure.....

the human scalp seems to have an amazing ability to heal though....I once had a bald patch the size of a ten cent piece from compulsive picking....and when I finally left it alone (cos there wasn't anthing left to pick)..amazingly, the hair grew back.  

I don't really pick anymore (still like to comb off any dry skin though, but not to the point of an excavation like I used to).  My partner has quite a bit of dandruff sometimes and I offer to 'get it out' for him (for my own satisfaction) with the comb, but he says 'you're not a monkey' lol

I recommend the following supplements to curb the compulsions:
Inositol powder and or NAC (great for OCD-type issues such as these)
Vitamin b6 (P5P form)
Magnesium & taurine (calming)
Zinc
Ester C
Omega 3 fish oil
These will help soothe your mind....and  probably help heal your skin too

I get mine from iherb (now it sounds like an ad....lol....but it's not...buy your's anywhere....just try em and you'll see). If you can't afford them all, start with the inositol, magnesium, p5P and taurine

Hope you can all feel better soon and escape the vicious cycle of picking and unsightly scabs.

Kindest regards

Lisa :0)

[pixynonomous]

i have the same problem... i'm 24 and i've always had dandruff, but the in the last 2 years it started getting worse... i'd get achy spots under my hair so i'd investigate and would find scabby bits. so i start messing with them and it doesn't even make them better they ache more and start getting juicy, which is frockin GROSS! it got really bad a couple months ago i had like, 4 spots at once and then i got these two wicked lumps. they were like abcesses from where it had gotten infected cuz i couldn't leave it alone. i got really freaked out cuz one got SUPER bad n had no hair growing one it, and it was like, right in the part of my hair so i always had to wear my hair in a ponytail or braid (it's too long n fluffy to leave down)
and i finally looked up a solution at that point cause it was in the summer, and it was getting worse cause of the heat.

it turns out i was COMPLETELY doing everything wrong with my hair....
i mean, i felt super dumb as soon as i read the solution.
apparently, i had something called 'scalp dermatitis' and i actually had given it to myself, due to the fact that i already had a dandruff issue, and i wasn't taking care of my hair right.
(you all may already know this, but for the young'uns, or the slow like me XD)

-brush your hair every morning and night. (i actually brush it in the middle of the day too if i can.)

-store shampoo can actually cause dry scalp/dandruff, bcuz it contains alot of salt, so use it sparingly. i use apple cider vinegar (use a squeezy bottle and get it right down on the scalp) and then rub in baking soda(it foams n feels gooooooooood :])and a lil bit of herbal essences to wash it all the way out (the vinegar smells wicked bad, just a warning) an make sure you get all the way down to the scalp, seperate the hairs n everything

-only use conditioner on the hair below the neck... (i DID NOT KNOW THIS) becuz it clogs your pores n sets you up for the scabbies.
if your hair is really long like mine (17 inches) it's very important to keep it conditioned, you wanna treat your hair like you'd treat a piece of silk....cuz once it's damaged, it only gets worse.

-never put up your hair until it's dry past the neck, becuz that holds the moisture close to your skin n nasty fungi/bacteria can roost there n cause the achy patches we dread....nobody likes achy doom.

-if you still have issues with your scalp getting infected, you can moisturize it w/ tea tree oil (also strongsmelling)
{i started making my own pink peppertree extract, i made it by gathering fresh leaves from a peruvian peppertree  n chopping them, then putting them in a cloth bag in super hot {almost boiling} water, weighing it down, and letting it steep overnite. the next morning, you take the bag n squeeze all the oils out of the leaves) it's antiseptic and can be used over your whole body n SMELLS AWESOME!
but try it out on a lil part of your skin first cuz some people are allergic to peruvian peppertree.

- try to always shower after physical activity, especially if you tend to wear your hair up (in a bun, ponytail, braid)
sweaty scalp es no bueno (no good for the un-mexican)

-have clean sheets/pillowcases, and hairbands and brushes. bacteria looooooove the oils that come off our skin and you don't wanna have microcivilizations on all your stuff.... yucks.

i hope that helps youz guys out!

[RavenB]

I started crying reading all these comments... crying out of relief and humiliation. In a strange way, it makes me feel a little better knowing that so many people have the same problem I do!
I can't remember exactly when I started picking at my scalp, all I know is that I've been doing it for a while. I think when I was around seven/eight-ish. So about six years? Maybe, something like that.
But I'm pretty sure it got really bad when my parents broke up after moving back from Australia. That's the only time I can remember picking. I can't remember exactly how it started, but now I still do it as a stress relief and just a plain bad habit. I found it helped with coping with my Emetophobia (fear of vomiting) which got extremely bad due to their break up. Picking helped with getting me to sleep - or rather, keeping my mind off the phobia. Every since then I've just picked my scalp. It didn't matter where I was or what I was doing, my hand would just go up and start scratching at my scalp. At first it was just scratching, and the scratching led to little cuts on the top of my head which I would pick off. I never really realized I had a problem until one day I bleached my hair to dye it. Almost immediately it started burning! I freaked out and washed the bleach out of my hair, crying bullets as I did. The pain was dreadful, but was even worse was what I found it my hands - clumps of hair! This caused me to freak out and cry even harder! After that I realized I need to stop the habit. But I never really did. Whenever I would lie in bed, reading, my hand (almost automatic) would go up and the picking would start! Over time I noticed that the more I picked, the more my hair would come out. This was scary. What was I doing to my scalp?
I've tried ever so hard to stop the habit. It's disgusting, humiliating, and painful (yet comforting) all at the same time. I wish I could stop, but I can't. Luckily I've monitored myself and I try to stop the picking.
I've noticed lately that my hairline is thin and this is probably the most horrible thing of all. I really don't want to be bald! I don't want to be wearing a wig!
I'm scared, really, I am. I do not want to have patchy, balding hair!

If anyone could please help it would be great!
Does picking long term cause permanent hair loss? I hope and pray the answer is no :(

[JGF25]

Keep trying the monitoring.  That is the only way other than seeing a therapist to perhaps get on medication to take care of your anxiety.  You are right in that it is a habit and all habits can be broken if you try very, very hard.  What about wearing a hat around the house?  You cannot pick if you can't get to it.  Kind of like putting socks on a kids hands to stop the thumb sucking.  Give it a try and let me know how it goes.  You can do this.  I don't know the answer about the hair loss and whether it is permanent or not.  But don't Google it because you will get everything from A to Z and it will just freak you out more.  Try the hat and go from there.  

Keep us posted!  

[SSTRYING]

OMG I can't believe all the posts, I thought I was a freak and am so embarrassed by my head sore picking.  I know my husband notices but is too polite to say anything. After reading all these post I think I'm just gunna try and stop cold turkey.

I always think if only I can get rid of all the scabs i wont do it, but its been like 7 years of a constant scab in one place or another, I too get so much satisfaction but disgust from it. If there about to heal I start another one it seems. Right now about 8 sores, and I too feel satisfaction when the shower waters stings. I go into a kinda trance state when Im doing it for a few minutes. When u get the urge u have to do it anywhere, anytime.

I suffer from mild depression and take low dose xanax a few times a week. Looks like this is def a OCD, stress thing.

As I type this Im so tempted to pick WTF.

OK going to have a shower wash my hair and try all day and especially tonight not to pick, if i can just get thru 48 hours.

For girls, try wearing your hair up tight - sometimes that stops me from picking cause my hair will get messed up. For half the day anyway!

Good luck ppl lets just try and use will power and stop this bad habit.

:)

BTW just piked damn!!

[SSTRYING]

In thinking about this I think it starts as stress related then becomes a habit, so today Im going to try wearing an elastic band round my wrist and each time i get the urge going to snap it on my wrist instead to distract me.

No idea if this will work prob end up with an elastic band snapping habit LOLZ

[JGF25]

Distraction is a good idea.  Anything that keeps you from doing it.  And if the elastic band becomes a habit you will tackle that one and beat it as well.  

Have you ever entertained the thought of taking an SSRI or SNRI to combat the OCD?  I think if we take care of the OCD then the stress and anxiety goes away as well.  You mentioned Xanax but that is really a short acting benzo and is not really meant to be taken long-term.  Talk to your doctor about perhaps Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, etc.  I take Wellbutrin and that has helped my OCD immensely.  While I don't have your particular problem, I have a host of others that fall under the OCD category.  The medication makes it so that I can let the irrational thoughts go.  The anxiety, when it happens, is fleeting.  

Let me know how it goes for you.  And good luck!

[SSTRYING]

Thanks for you msg JGF, I have been on Aropax and Zoloft in the past and they worked well as at the time I was not going so well. Then with my doctor weened off those about 7 years ago due to a few side effects and a block in my creativity which was making me more depressed in diff ways.

Im doing ok with everything else and have what I call 'my crazies' under control, its hard and a daily challenge to face to day etc etc. But Im trying!

What I like about the Xanax is the fact that it is short term so if Im just having a moment its will get me back quickly but does not screw up my system too much.  

Im going back to wrk next week after 2 years of dealing with both emotional and physical health issues, so Im hoping this will make me stronger, distracted and more motivated. Fingers crossed!

BTW the will power isnt working too well nor the elastic band, these things are so automated you dont even now your doing it till your doing it. LOL o well trying again!

Altho I have only picked 2 sores the past 24 hours, have not gone on a mad sore hunt where Ill gauge away at everyone of them till they are bleeding and painful. So gross!

You hang in there too, Im glad the Wellbutrin is working for your OCD. Its amazing how the OCD seeps into so many things. - Nasty little bugger!

Take care!

[JGF25]

Yes, I agree...OCD is bad!  Keep the forum posted with your success stories because I know you will have them!  

[ehbouhalp]

I was pretty surprised to find this much on the subject. I remember looking this up maybe 6 or 7 years ago and there was ZIP on the internet about scalp picking...
My story is that I started in elementary school, stopped briefly, started again in high school and stopped almost completely for about 6 years. I use to think what I did when I was younger was borderline obsessive picking but compared to what I started doing now... Hah.
I had stopped cold-turkey up until I got a pixie cut... Then it started again... but like once in awhile - I'd just scratch and feel a slight bump and scrape it off... And then a month later my dad passed away and I guess it's safe to say I went crazy.
I have about 11 sores on my head and I can only stop picking them long enough for them to dry up so I can rip em open again.
If I'm really busy I can put it off for a few hours but as soon as something irritates me or makes me nervous - My hand shoots up and I can't stop till there's nothing left to pick.
If I'm alone and I get really into it I'll make a pile of everything I've "collected" and once I run out of scalp to pick I'll start ripping apart the scabs. I've even gotten up and grabbed a brush and started violent rubbing it into my scalp to try and get more skin off...
If there's a particularly large scab that I just happen to find while running my fingers through my hair I have to stop what I'm doing and get it.
I feel depressed when I pick something and either drop it or lose it in my hair before I get to look at it. As if it was a waste. I've even stopped to look once in the bathroom for one that I dropped.
I don't know what I'm looking for... I'll keep going and going and when I run out, I'll just stare at my loot and then blow it away or grind it up.
I keep thinking of those people that I have severe OCD and eat couch cushions and think to myself... Should I eat this?? That would be gross but I have no idea what my brain wants me to do with it once I've got it!
For the record I haven't eaten my scabs... I don't think I've become that demented yet.
It really pisses me off because I want to color my hair but I feel like it would all burn off because I've massacred my scalp. As for a solution... I have no idea, I'm hoping I'll just switch off again like I did a couple of years ago... But it looks like I might sooner have to run out of hair and cut off my fingers.

[ScooterPiesArmyWife]

I can't believe how many other people are out there floating in the same boat as I am. I've been picking these scabs on my head on and off ever since I was around 11 or 12 years old. I'm now 28. I've been trying very hard for the past week to heal the 3 or 4 that I have on my head with peroxide so that I can go to a salon and have my hair colored and cut. It is embarrassing. I've showed my husband once before and explained to him that I've done this for years, but didn't get much support from him. I'm extremely sneaky when it comes to this and I doubt anyone other then my husband knows I do this. My mother used to catch me when I was young and I would stop, but no one else has ever said anything to me. Before the age of 11 or 12, I used to pick scabs in my ears and on my back. I have several scars on my back and after reading the above posts, I wonder if I have scars and/or bald spots on my scalp too. I was misdiagnosed with depression and Bipolar when I was 15, but have not showed any signs previously at that age or in recent years. I'm scared to death that I will eventually end up like my mother who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia back in 2003 or 2004. I've witnessed my mother on several occasions picking her scalp, her heels, or whats worse, taking a tweezers and digging at her cuticles until they bleed and scab severally. I've read several posts on here and I'm wondering what else I can do? I have no insurance to seek medical help, so I'm all on my own to deal with this. I don't want this to become a behavioral disorder I'm plagued with for the rest of my life or have it turn into something much worse, such as my mother's condition

[afanasy]

I used to have this problem - picking the skin and pulling my hair.  It took hours off my day and left me sore and feeling bad.  It was a condition from OCD and anxiety.   Oddly I went to a homeopath for menopause symptoms (didn't want to take drugs) and she prescribed a constitutional remedy.  This was in 2008 - I haven't done it since.  After 35 years

Find a classically trained homeopath in your community or online - I am living proof it works

[hopeful_2011]

hi everyone. i also suffer from this problem verry much.

my thoughts of the problem...
1. not washing oily hair enough...  go wash your hair...even 2 times a day if you have to. just do it...but with good shampoo

2. bad diet! defieciancys in vitamins and minerals you are not getting enough from...eat right! mainstream media !!! dumb friends!!! dumb doctors!!! fast foods!!! stupid dum family traditions!!! that unknowingly plays a factor in your subconsience mind.

3.over worked! you need time away...long weekend not enough...a bit longer wil do...you need to get away. and rest.
3.1 financial problems...learn how to work with money.

4.swiming in the sea a lot when on vacation helped me with the problem...probably the salt in the sea that heals the wounds from all the scratching.

5. spiritual ...stress...depression... atension disorder...skeletons of the past your mind keeps reminding yourself of ?  lots of words all pointing to the same thing...YOUR INNER SELF.  now i dont care what you believe or your religion is if its not the true christ of the bible of the old king james version.  the only name we as humans can run to for actualy any problem or issue we have.  he is the true healer! go talk to him in your private room or private time about your problems...he know of it yes...but go talk to him about it! go now!   ask him for advice tel him you have no where else to go to. be true to him and he wil stay true to you.

GO AND TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK

prevention is better than healing!

[aasdf]

I pick my scalp too when I was 17 but it is very minor, I guess it is the dandruff that I pick off and sometimes, it would leave a scar which forms a scab and then I pick it off and the cycle repeats. Now I seem to have not such a bad problem, however I started picking skin off my chin. Everytime a thin hard skin like scab forms, I pick it off so that there is only smooth pickskin left and sometimes it bleeds and I keep on doing it so it never fully heals. We are all weird and I guess it might be some sort of stress causing it.

[Nikosingh]

Just trim your nails.....that way you never have worry about making your scalp suffer because as you are picking on it, you are also transfering bacteria into your scalp. My nephew had the same problem except he used to pick his nose until it would cause his nose to bleed and i mean BLEED so one day i trimmed his nails down to skin he cried for few days complaining his nose is itchy but he got over it now...try it i promise it will work.

[In_pain_in_Maine]

Hello!

I also have been picking my scalp for years.  I hate that I do it.  I will catch myself doing it, tell myself that I hate it but not be able to stop.  My hair is thinning and this stresses me out... and as a result I itch more.  I just scratched the hell out of my head and am typing this in pain.  

I feel like I have tried everything but I still cant stop.  I think it is a sickness.  I dont want to take meds and have been to therapy.  I cut my nails, I do everything right.... I just cant stop....  

In pain in Maine.  

[Sara01013]

I am 21 years old and I have been picking my scalp since 3rd grade. It all started when I got lice in 3rd grade and since then I haven't been able to stop picking and scratching at my scalp. I am so embarrassed to get my hair cut or do anything cute with my hair because no matter how I part my hair you can see big red blotches and red scabs. I don't really see it as relaxing and I don't enjoy doing it but I can't stop. I often do this in my sleep too. I remember getting them checked out a long time ago and I was told that they were just pimples but I know that isn't the reason. I take Prozac for anxiety and depression but I still obsessively pick my scalp. It's getting so bad that i'm starting to get bald spots. I can't use medicated shampoo's or lotions because it burns soo bad to the point I cry. I can't stop and I don't  know what to do about it. It is soo comforting to know that I am not the only one. I hope I can get myself to stop soon.

[mimi964]

i also started this around 5th or 6th grade. i think it was after a family friend, who was older than us by several years, explained to my sister that it's "good for your scalp" because it releases the natural oil (it made sense to me). she then had my sister do it for her! they definitely looked like a pair of monkeys grooming eachother. my sister, who didn't know how to say no to our older friend, was thoroughly grossed out and told our folks, who were also shocked.

but the idea had taken hold and i tried it on myself. it felt good and bad at the same time. it stung when i picked, but felt good when i looked for more bumps, like a head massage. then i was intrigued by what i found, like a large dandruff flake, little scabs, or a small chunk of dead skin from my scalp that i would pull from a strand of hair (which i liked to collect). i liked the smell too. i felt like it needed to escape and not be locked in my scalp. and i couldn't stand the idea of a bump getting in the way of a smooth scalp, despite the fact that it'll make it bumpier. like another poster mentioned, i did it to my boyfriend once. at first, i think he liked it because he didn't complain. but one of them must have hurt him because he winced and then asked me to stop. he's the one who mentioned that i have an obsession with making everything smooth.

it became a habit when i was a little girl, picking while reading my sister's magazines. when i found a dark glossy page, i couldn't resist picking and watching white dandruff and scabs collect on top. usually i'd remember to wipe it off, but once in a while i'd forget and as you can imagine, my sister got enraged. when her constant nagging didn't stop me, she would out me in front of our friends, telling them what i do, and possibly showing them the results. the shame worked for a little bit, but when we finally got our own rooms, it came back. i found that i usually did it when studying, so i guess it's triggered by stress. but also since i find it relaxing, i'll catch myself picking when i'm doing something mindless like watching tv. i just zone out.

i used to be good about not doing it in public, but when i moved to a new high school, i found myself doing it and i know it grossed out whoever was next to me. eventually i got better at controlling my urge in public, but i went to town when i got home. senior year, my friend offered to do my hair for halloween and she noticed all the "abrasions" i had. she went ahead and dyed my hair anyway which stung, and the whole time i sat there worrying about what sort of brain damage i'll get from all the weird chemicals seeping into my blood stream. i went through with it though because i was too ashamed to call anymore attention to it.

since then, the times i recall picking in public is when i was in study hall in college. they had these cubicle-like desks. i assumed everyone was too focused on studying for finals and if i was in the far end, i'd let my guard down and resort to some picking (around this time, i also began picking bumps on the back of my arms, and now there are mean red scars for all to see). another time i began doing it in public was at my last job. i was sitting at the front desk, and if we'd close the door between the reception area and the rest of the office, i'd find myself alone like in my own office. once again i let my guard down and started picking. after that,  i found myself doing it while i was mindlessly entering data. a few people walked in on me. most look the other way, but one called me out on it. she wasn't being mean; more concerned.

my public picking is tamer now. but once in a while, if my hair is out, my fingers will be feeling for bumps. i'll try to play it off like i'm just finger-combing my hair, but i'm sure i'm not fooling anyone. those are times i'm conscious of my urge. i'm worried about times i unconsciously do it only because i'm bored and my mind wanders. like during a long commute. that can be embarrassing.

i don't really pick fresh scabs. when i think a scab is old, but after picking the edges, i feel fresh blood, i'll leave it alone. also, if a scab is too wide, i'll leave it alone. i'll worry that it'll leave a bald spot. a fairly new habit now is not pulling my hair out, like from the roots, but fingercombing my thick, frizzy hair, so i amass loose strands between my fingers (which were no doubt loosened from the picking).

what helps me keep picking to a minimum is this: putting my hair up. if my hand automatically goes to my hair, movement will be restricted by my hair-tie and that will call attention to what i'm doing. i'd have to consciously remove my hair-tie just to pick, so i will myself to refuse. cutting my finger nails. another trick that works for me is washing my hair. i know it has the opposite effect on some people, and did for me at first, but a new neurosis kicked in. my hair naturally gets oily a few days after washing. but when i picked, it got oily and matted from blood just after a day or two. and that would frustrate me, since my hair also gets dry from too much washing. and it'd be nice to occasionally wear my hair down in public, which i can't do if i consistently have oily hair. after a few days though, when my hair gets naturally oily, i'll allow myself to pick for a bit before i wash it again. it's something that works for me a couple of days at a time.

you know, while it grosses out my family, i really didn't think it was that big of a problem unless i did it public. but now that i know it's a real condition that many people have, i think i'll be more conscious of it and have more resolve to stop. i mean, the only reason why i accidentally pick in public is because i so freely allow myself to do it at home. also, the loose hair collection really bugs my mom. and my nails look dirty.

[norysue]

I have this scalp picking obsession too.  Next time I see my psychiatrist, I am going to try to build up the nerve to tell her.  I see a psychiatrist because I am ADHD and my family doctor said he doesn't do ADHD diagnosis so he said I had to see a psychiatrist.  I am 36 and I have picked scabs ever since I was a child.  The scalp picking began I would say when I was around the age of 32.  I was diagnosed with depression when I was 25 and been on different medicines for it.  As of now I am on 150 mg of effexor xr a day and 27 mg of concerta (for ADHD) a day.  I don't know what brings it on, I am doing it off and on as I type this.  Sometimes just like others stress brings it on, anxiety, boredom and sometimes for no reason I just find myself picking.  In my mind when I am doing it sometimes I think I will pick the scab off and it will go away, that is probably just an excuse to make myself feel better for doing it over and over.  I have tried so many different kinds of shampoo it doesn't help, even the tar kind and head and shoulders, I also went as far as using the fairy tales lice shampoo and conditioner for whatever reason I do not know because I know it isn't lice.  My daughter was doing this at one time too, somehow she stopped.  I have this old doll from the 70's called baby crissy that she is afraid of and I kept telling her if she didn't stop I would get the doll out and I guess that is partly how she stopped.  She was to the point where she was bald on the top of her head.  She was 7 when she started doing it, she is almost 10 now and her hair grew back.  I asked her how she stopped (other than making her  scared with the doll) she said she kept telling herself over and over I have to stop.  She saw me one day picking and said mom you have to stop keep telling yourself, but it doesn't work for me.  I hope we can all find a way to stop somehow, but this problem doesn't seem to be well known to doctors or at least I don't think it is.  good luck everyone, if I get the nerve to tell my psych, I will post again and let everyone know what she says about it.  And I am so thankful that I am not alone like I have always felt, yet sorry we are all going through this.  Good Luck everyone.

[CC_lover]

So weird I genuinely never thought pulling my hair would lead to scalp picking! Apparently I have depression, but is the OCD? or like  trichotillomania?
Currently at IBT finished counselling in may. Should I bring this up? I mean I'm not really a "girly girl" so I don't care about my hair. I've been considered for some medication like if it's necessary, you think this could give more reason for medication despite anxiety/depression?  Complete trance and tons of hair everywhere without trying. My mum goes mental at me all the time and my sister thinks I'm totally disgusting for it.. Such fun.
Cheers guys I actually feel more secure that I know there are others (: <3

[Laurarose618]

I've been picking my scalp for a couple years without even realizing it might be a serious problem, until my friends started asking me why I'm always touching my hair and my mom said it's a nervous tick. I have a friend who pulls her hair out and I knew that was trichotillomania but I didn't think picking at the scalp was related to that. But I do pull some hair out while doing it and I find that the shower gives me relief when it stings the wounds. Idk what to do about this problem it's so embarrassing!

[Kateklaws]

I know how all of you feel.  I've been doing this ever since i found out i was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis--a major condition of dandruff--just before school started i got that horrible condition and had to go through 3 hrs worth of de-dandruffying my scalp for about 2 weeks. I love the sensation of scratching my scalp and nibbling under my nails for the creamy, chewy, salty dead skin. It's a horrible habit and i have tried stopping several times but it's just so good. I told my parents i have OCD--obsessive compulsive disorder--and they assured me i was "too young" to have it because i am 12 yrs old even though i knew i had it. I am also aware i have trichotillomania--a disorder of pulling out hair

[Kateklaws]

I have not seen patches of hair loss yet but when my hair is oily i can pull up to 10 strands of hair each time. This occurs every other day for my hair is known for getting really oily really quick. When i get out of the shower and blow dry my hair its still greasy. I love when my friends braid my hair but im embarrassed when they go "do you have dandruff?" or if they notice i have greasy hair. My hair is thick that when i pull my hair back into a pony tail, it feels like an actual pony's tail. I am caucasian though and my hair is pitch black even though i consider it brunette and i just found a really light brown strand of hair.  

[helpplz250]

I am shocked to see so many people have this condition...I thought I was the only one!...I know exactly when I started picking at my scalp...it was when I was about 6 years old and had the chicken pox...I picked at some on my head and was hooked at picking ever since (I am 28 now)..I find any bump and pick it off and get a good scab growing which I pick off every day...sometimes it really hurts but I do it anyways....sometimes it bleeds quite a bit....many times I stick the scab in my mouth and chew on it and swallow....I am pretty sure I have severe OCD...I have many symptoms such as this...I also pull my hair out...I try and find a wirey hair that is rough and pull it out and bite off the root...when I was younger, I had bald spots....now I try to not make them but I still end up with a  pile of hair on the carpet if I sit somewhere too long...I also bite my cheeks...I peel the skin off of the insides with my teeth...once again it hurts really bad and bleeds alot but it is satisfying to me....when I was younger I bit my nails untill they bled and I also bit at my knuckles...I dont do this anymore...these things are so bothersome but what bothers me the most are these crazy things I think of...I am ashamed to say this but I always think of horrible things....such as someone I love very much in a terrible situation....its so weird....bad thoughts...I hate them so much...I know I sound crazy but I have read that it is a part of OCD...anyone know what I mean?...this is my worst symptom and I would do anything to get rid of these thoughts....and whats is weird is that all of these obsessive "stress relievers"  such as picking, give me more stress!...and I am pretty sure that I am not depressed.....I dont think so....any suggestions?...anyone in the same boat?

[JGF25]

There seem to be quite a few of you in the same boat and only very rarely do I see that someone is actively getting treatment for the disorder.  You said  you "are pretty sure you have severe OCD" but have you ever been diagnosed with OCD?  If not, then your first thing to do for yourself this new year is make a committment to get better.  Make an appointment with a psychologist.  This has become a habit and you need help to break it.  It obviously is not going to be easy but you have to make the committment to yourself to get better because you are worth it!  

[jenny1508]

I pickl my scalp I get off when i havea  big chunk of Dandruff sometimes i stand in any kind of mirror for hours and i also pick my scalp and while flakes poors down my black shirt and i get off seeing all the big and small dandruff that comes out of my head My B/F says i look like a Monkey I have allot of stress in my life and hes abusive its sick but i always pick my head and take out dandruff out of my head! e-mail i feel alone ***@****

[kaustav28]

Its just an OCD..its a coping mechanism which gets started by itself to get rid of stress or bad situations one has encountered in the past.

[kaustav28]

Its just an OCD..its a coping mechanism which gets started by itself to get rid of stress or bad situations one has encountered in the past.

[kaustav28]

i have got this stuff since i was 12. i have managed to get rid of this thing wid great difficulty. people suffers from such things because of hard upbringing such as physical abuses from parents or from bad peer experiences at school.I'm trying to get rid of this thing and have almost managed to find out the reason behind these OCDs.I'm conducting a study to make sure that bad parenting particularly creates such diseases.I want reply from people who have suffered hard upbringings because of improper parenting.  Hope you people would reply .

[bethbeattie]

Like pretty much everyone else I had no idea other people (apart from my mum, actually) did this until I googled it today.

I only have one spot on my head that I pick at, and its not very large but I pick at it compulsively, it started from a mosquito bite right at the top of my head from when I was about...5, I'm 19 now, and I've found that since going to university it's got a lot worse as I do a very stressful degree. When I'm stressed or worried I automatically go into that trance-like state and can pick for hours, right up until its too sore to touch and bleeding profusely.

I know there's something wrong about it, as I find the more pain I get from doing it the better I feel about other stuff, as I can focus on the pain instead. However that's no excuse, as sometimes I'll be sat in a lecture hall, picking away, when suddenly I notice the person next to or behind me is watching me do it with a disgusted/confused look on their face.

I've never been diagnosed with depression and I'm pretty sure I don't have it, but I do accept it is an unhealthy way of coping with stress and needs to stop. I'm going to take several points of advice found on this thread and try and stop for good. The key point will be letting it heal over properly I think, as I can't remember the last time I stopped picking long enough for it to heal over properly.

[DadsRachGirl]

I have had this problem since I was a kid. I am now 26 years old. I seem to scratch and scratch and it will start out also like you have all said with any imperfection I find on my head and then I just pick away and scratch till my scalp bleeds and I have cuts or scabs. I think it depends on my stress level and if I go to bed with a lot on my mind. I tend to do it more when I am still. Such as being in bed or sitting on the couch watching a movie or something.

Last night was one of the worst it has been though. My husband works graveyard shift and has for about 3 years and I've always been kind of nervous of being by myself at night. So some nights where I am fairly comfortable I won't pick as much. But on nights like last night where I had tons on my mind, couldn't get comfortable, was a little nervous of the night and there wasn't much on tv I scratched uncontrollably and didn't feel much pain till I MADE myself stop for about 10 minutes. I focused on not doing it and had to go take some Ibuprohen because my head felt so painful. When I over pick sometimes I wake up with head aches.

I currently have about 8 marks on my head where they are so tender that I don't dare pick at them. This is always so embarrassing and I just can't stop. The only thing that stops me is when I have acrylic nails on. Because after the first few days when the nails get dull, they won't pick. But then it makes me so irritable that I can't get to my head that I take my nails off after about 2 weeks if I even last that long.

I didn't ever know if this was something that was a disorder till my husband said that he heard it was a sign of mental illness. I thought he was messing with me but maybe not. It's embarrassing but my husband is pretty understanding and sympathizes with me.

I haven't noticed any bald spots. Well... maybe and I just haven't noticed. But I am hoping there is some type of medicine that can help. I am so so glad to see that I am not alone in this.

:) ... :( ???

[farrah772]

Wow it really is comforting to see so many others doing the same thing as me.  I don't know when I started but gosh, what a habit.  And you know that just scratching your head in public is considered uncouth.  So I try to not even touch it if I'm around other people, it's very hard.  My head has this weird shape with this pointy part in the back and I just love scratching there, I don't know what it is.  It almost seems like the point is to get blood under my nails.  I pick off the scabs and pull them through my hair, then repeat the process once the scabs come back.  I also wash my hair every other day so it's much, MUCH worse on the day I don't wash my hair.  I can do some serious damage then and I forget what I did until the shower water hits my injuries, ouch.  I also feel embarassed at the hairdresser but no one has ever said anything.  One thing I really love is when I'm blow drying my  hair, let the blow dryer hit the injured spots until I can't take the heat anymore.  But right before the pain starts it feels SO good.  I'm very undercover with this habit, no one knows about it.  It's my dirty little secret.

[nathanheller]

I cannot say I have ever drawn blood doing this but I am always scratching away dandruff flakes and dry skin from my scalp. The wave of relief that comes with doing this is pretty intense. I also have an issue with pulling out my nose hairs one-by-one with tweezers, again for the same feeling of relief.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this previously, but I have learned to keep my fingernails extremely short...not too hard to do as a guy, I imagine that might be more bothersome for females.

[smkt7709]

Like other comments, I too have this problem. I think this started when my parents separated for the first time when I was 14 years old. Since then, I have stopped and started but only by will-power. Every time my hand would reach up, and I was aware of it, I would quickly move it away for fear of opening up another wound. I notice it happens when I'm under stress. However, with will-power, I'm able to control it, but right now, I have several scabs on the left side of my head. That is the side I sleep on too... The only times that I do not pick is when I have a strict diet and exercise program or if I'm pregnant! Go figure! I think it might be the vitamins I take at the time. I should get back on those.

[kkk40]

I have scratched picked for many years but now it is out of control. Losing hours of time my scalp has areas that a bald like patch has formed but it is not skin. Lot of the hair has broken off and there is a substance that comes from the scratched area that is like acid it burns forms a patch and hardens. My hair also is sucked under the patch so I want to constantly rub it so it will show ahain. A white film covers my scalp that hardens like plaque on your teeth. Yikes does anyone else have these symptoms? OI wonder if I have reached my immune system or ??

[lvydvys]

i had no idea so many people did the same thing as me. it's weird i have never even thought to look it up. i do it all the time unless i have a boyfriend because i don't want him to feel the scabs on my head or to be grossed out. also when i need a hair appointment because i don't want the hair dresser to be grossed out. i have manic depression. i'm an alcoholic, a drug addict. been treated for bi polar disorders. a HUGE hypochondriac. OCD. take laxatives. i'm all around messed up. so honestly none of anything people are saying on here helps at all. i have been prescribed every non-addictive drug possible. when really all i need is xanax. it helps me with everything but when i told the doctors i buy it off the streets they assumed it was a drug problem when really i abuse worse drugs than that. that is literally the one i don't abuse but oh well. i go to a therapist and all they can do is tell me to do breathing techniques. i obviously have big problems but i had no idea the head picking was to do with it. interesting.

[vred]

I want to say that it might not work for some of you folks.

Start by pouring olive oil over your clean head let it there for at least 8 hours.
when I said pour you better pour it over your head.
Then wash your head starting with warm water and use baby no odor shampoo, let it for 2 minutes and then rinse. Then use a very light hair conditioner and rinse again.
Then rinse your head with very could water at the end.
Dry your head with your towel not hair dryer.
For the folks using gel, I highly recommend the Kiehl's gel if you are not using any is better.
Finally take some relaxing tea or hot glass of chocolate milk!
That it's all! the rest is in your mind
Remember: We control our mind do not let it to control you, and if you think it is doing it, just try to do something that you know it will brake the command.
I would said that the whole thing is a dis-balance cause from nerves and stress, so it blokes certain things that needs to happen in our scalp  in order to have a balance.

[atwoodian]

I have! I picked for about five years, from age 16 until a year ago, and suddenly and completely without any conscious effort, I stopped. It happened naturally. I just didn't feel the urge to do it anymore. I can't give you advice, but just know that there's hope.

[Angie_therapist]

I am a therapist and hypnotherapist in the UK, in Norwich. I feel for all of you with this habit and situation. When I was younger (maybe around age 10, I can't say exactly) for a short while I picked at the crown of my head. It seemed a habit. I ended up feeling anxious, seeing blood on my finger and feeling the 'dip' growing in my scalp. I stopped as I shocked myself out of it.  Looking at my head in the mirror and seeing what damage I'd done shocked me.  

If I could offer one thing, as we know that tension and anxiety go hand in hand with this, practice relaxing as much as you can! Be 'mindful' too. Be aware of what's going on in your body and mind - really listen. What's your thoughts and feelings? what are your hands doing? Breathe deeply, close your eyes and relax all your muscles. Visualise yourself floating and feeling good, free to relax for 5 -10 mins with your hands down at your side. It's a good start as you find something else to distract you that's pleasant and pain free. Lets say the less stressed someone is, the less likely to pick. I wish you all well with this.

If you go to a behavioural therapist/ hypnotherapist, ask what they will do to help you deal with anxiety/stress. A therapist cannot just stop you magically from picking, unless it's purely a habit that has recently developed, with no underlying emotional problems. I am a General Hypnotherapy Registered (GHR) hypnotherapist and would be interested in hearing of anyone who's been to see a hypnotherapist for support and what they got from it.  

[forgiven12]

Hi, everyone.  I remember one of my childhood friends doing this, and I think I picked (no pun intended) up this habit then.  I definitely do this when I'm under a lot of stress.  Anytime I have to concentrate hard either at work, or when I was studying in college, I find myself spacing out while I pick at my scalp.  

I also bite my lips, and I used to bite the inside of my cheeks, it's all definitely embarrassing, compulsive behavior.  I've been in and out of counseling my whole life (for other things though, as I've never mentioned this self-mutilating behavior), but I've never been diagnosed with any kind of depression, OCD, or mental illness.  I really think this is just a habit, like smoking (used to do that too, as well as bite my nails).  Typically, if I quit one bad habit, I pick up another...  

So that's my history.  Here's my idea:  Quit the bad habit, and pick up a good habit.  Instead of "comforting" yourself with self-mutilation during times of stress, find something else to ease your stress that actually makes sense, like someone suggested earlier... pampering yourself.  Start a NEW ritual, because that is kind of what the picking has become.  I liked the ideas that other people had about applying oils to your scalp.  

Keep your hands busy also, maybe keep lotion nearby every place you tend to pick.  I have bottles of hand cream everywhere, at work, at my computer at home.  Everytime I want to reach for my scalp, I'm going to reach for a bottle of lotion, and you know what, my hands will be extra moisturized. I can rub lotion into my hands all day long while I'm working, or studying, or whatever it is I'm usually doing while picking.

I'm going to try this and see if it works.  I already have a good diet and exercise routine.  I take fish oil and viamin B complex.  These things haven't really made a difference for me as far as this habit is concerned though, as the stress seems to just over power all that.  But I do believe in MIND OVER MATTER.  Also, prayer can't hurt. :o)  Good luck to you folks!

[hally74]

Unbelievable that there are so many others who do this! I am 40 and have been picking for as long as I remember. I was always a nailbiter, but that stopped in adult life, as it felt particularly unhygienic. But I simply transferred the habit onto other parts of the body.
My main targets are scalp, feet and lips. I currently cultivate scabs on my scalp and pick them; I have at least two on there that have been there for longer than I can remember - months. I also like scraping and constantly scouring my scalp for dandruff - I make more dandruff by doing this; my fingers know and seek out the parts of my scalp that are softest and produce the best dandruff - and take delight in scraping through it and getting it off and then taking it out from under the nail and looking to see how much dandruff there is there.
I also pick my feet - they are are constantly sore and broken open on the sides from picking. When this gets bad I  leave it for a couple of days and then am pleased to find it ripe for picking again. I pick my toenails - this was very bad - I have decimated a couple of them - picked them out at the root. I leave off them now mostly but used to do this so much that I would wake up in the night with a toenail throbbing in pain and have to take painkillers to get back to sleep.
I have also recently - in the last year - started picking the skin off my lips; it is so satisfying to pull great sheets of skin off - good when they just come off but half the time they rip open the lip at one point and there is blood. Lips heal quickly though, I have learned - because they get a lot of blood.

Writing this out I am ashamed and concerned. Makes me realise that I am frequently living with low level pain - getting up in the morning and my feet sore, lips raw etc
Don't you all find too, that on one level at least - it's very satisfying to do this; and it is also like a way I relate to myself - comforting - I have been doing it so long. I mean I don't smoke, I take loads of exercise and am healthy in a lot of ways..
  I work on from home on the computer and I constantly need to push my brain to focus; which it seems to help with, but then, the 'focus' only last 5 seconds and I am picking again.
It's interesting how if it is low level thing - and not interfering with our lives - we tend not to think of it as a problem or even acknowledge that we are doing it half the time... this is quite cathartic writing it out - but not enough to make me stop picking!

[hally74]

Unbelievable that there are so many others who do this! I am 40 and have been picking for as long as I remember. I was always a nailbiter, but that stopped in adult life, as it felt particularly unhygienic. But I simply transferred the habit onto other parts of the body.
My main targets are scalp, feet and lips. I currently cultivate scabs on my scalp and pick them; I have at least two on there that have been there for longer than I can remember - months. I also like scraping and constantly scouring my scalp for dandruff - I make more dandruff by doing this; my fingers know and seek out the parts of my scalp that are softest and produce the best dandruff - and take delight in scraping through it and getting it off and then taking it out from under the nail and looking to see how much dandruff there is there.
I also pick my feet - they are are constantly sore and broken open on the sides from picking. When this gets bad I  leave it for a couple of days and then am pleased to find it ripe for picking again. I pick my toenails - this was very bad - I have decimated a couple of them - picked them out at the root. I leave off them now mostly but used to do this so much that I would wake up in the night with a toenail throbbing in pain and have to take painkillers to get back to sleep.
I have also recently - in the last year - started picking the skin off my lips; it is so satisfying to pull great sheets of skin off - good when they just come off but half the time they rip open the lip at one point and there is blood. Lips heal quickly though, I have learned - because they get a lot of blood.

Writing this out I am ashamed and concerned. Makes me realise that I am frequently living with low level pain - getting up in the morning and my feet sore, lips raw etc
Don't you all find too, that on one level at least - it's very satisfying to do this; and it is also like a way I relate to myself - comforting - I have been doing it so long. I mean I don't smoke, I take loads of exercise and am healthy in a lot of ways..
  I work on from home on the computer and I constantly need to push my brain to focus; which it seems to help with, but then, the 'focus' only last 5 seconds and I am picking again.
It's interesting how if it is low level thing - and not interfering with our lives - we tend not to think of it as a problem or even acknowledge that we are doing it half the time... this is quite cathartic writing it out - but not enough to make me stop picking!

[miss_vee]

omg i use to be addicted to this too till i stopedf my self...it started to hurt me alot

[carolineeee]

woah. I'm 17 years old, I thought I was the only one...makes me feel so much better to know that there are others out there that are in the exact same position as me! I always run my fingers over my head and when I find a bit of dandruff or a scab, I pick it off. It just feels better when it's gone, like I'm trying to get rid of all the imperfections on my scalp. But by doing this, it actually makes the problem worse, and more dandruff/scabs appear. My parents always shout at me whenever they notice me doing this, so I stop..but then immediately start again when they're not looking. I wish I didn't do this, and it's mostly sub-conscious, but I just can't help it. Sometimes my mum looks at me and gives me in trouble as 'I'm making myself look hideous' but I CAN'T HELP IT.
I think it started after I noticed a bald patch appear at the nape of my neck, and I was soon diagnosed with having alopoecia. So that's when I started feeling through my hair at all the parts that were growing back. But now I pick. And I know that it's causing my hair to not grow back, but I can't stop.   This first happened to me in 2009, my hair grew back in 2010 as I hadn't picked much, it fell out again in august 2010, then up until November 2011, it was fine.. it then happened again, worse. I now only have patches of hair left, and the rest of my scalp is covered in scabs. I don't know what to do.

[Equinoxx]

Wow. Amazing - as others said, it never occurred to me that there could be so many with the same issues. It makes me feel a bit better (sorry) to know that there are a lot of folks out there that have worse compulsions than I do, but the entire time I was reading this I was picking the back of my head.

I started around 20 (33 now) and my parents and exwife were always yelling at me to "stop picking". It comes and goes dependant upon stresss, but mostly it comes more than it goes. I may be getting a bit better though, as I used to have to spots that I picked to baldness on the back of my head. After an immense display of willpower, I stopped picking one of them, and for the last 5 years or so only have one.

It is usually when I am driving or reading that I pick. In fact, it is rare that it has my full attention, it is mostly when I am doing something else, so it is kind of like "distracted picking".

The snotty people at work make snide comments about it, and one by one they have all asked me why I have a bald spot back there, and why I pick it - which tells me it is a joke amongst themselves.

I am somewhat high strung, and worry a lot, thoug I wouldn't say overly. My mother has major nervous issues - she cant drive due to her nervousness - so it may be hareditary, but I can at least take comfort in the realtive minorness of my issues, since I have seen the worse version in my mother, poor thing. She doesn't pick her scalp though, thats "all me".

I have tried trimming my nails to no avail. And yes, I have minor dandruff that comes and goes and dry skin, but that is just the foothold that keeps the habit going. It isn't the dry skin that makes me pick, it is me that makes me pick.

Ah well. We are all %&*#'ed up some how. I'll take a bald spot and embarassing trips to the barber over child abuse or narcissism any day!

[kingdomheartsforevs]

It feels good to know that there are so many people like me, but also, I feel horrible for all of you.
Experiencing this *****.
I'm fifteen, and I've been picking since I was about eleven. Not only is it disgusting, but it hurts. I don't know if the scabs are infected, and my parents don't believe that I compulsively pick, so they won't check.
Anxiety and OCD and depression problems do run in the family, but I have not been diagnosed with them.
I don't know why I can't stop.
Even now, I'm resisting the urge and am instead picking at the sides of my fingers!
This is a horror. At least there are people I can talk to about it. :)

[LexieeMaee]

I read your post about scalp picking and compulsion to pop zits, have you figured out what it is? I do ALL the same things.

[Ihavetopee]

Wow, I'm so glad I typed this into google and read this.  

I found this online:

http://www.trich.org/about/skin-faqs.html

Wasn't sure if anyone posted this link yet, since I only read til July 2010 (I know I'll read them all and most likely pick my way through it!).

My dad does this too, so I think it is partially genetic, as it says on the site.  He thinks its a foreign insect he got from a bird that my old cat ate 24 years ago...oh well.  I think I'll email him the same link.

I saw that one comment about fear of the future, and I think that's when I pick most, and I'm getting a small bald spot on the top right of my head so I have to part my hair over it.  It almost went away but when I started picking again a few weeks ago, it came right back.  Sometimes I stop picking for months and don't even notice!  Then I start again, and usually see the correlation between stress and picking is very clear.  Satisfying sometimes, and stressful when I can't stop, even though I keep saying to my fiance, "I can't stop picking at my head!!!".  

After reading one of these posts, I also decided to try an anti-yeast/hydrocortisone cream on my head last night that I got from the pharmacist (I used to get patchy white skin on my arms that a doctor once said was most likely yeast), so I said I needed cream for that. I showered at 2am last night since I started to get itchy all over my body (no clue why, probably cuz my head wasn't as itchy anymore?), and this morning my head is surprisingly getting better.  In a strange way I don't really want it to! lol.

Anyway, I hope this helps and definitely copy and paste the link I put on here if you want to see that it's actually a condition!  Not exactly the same as the hair plucking one.  

Thanks for reading and thanks to everyone who took the time to share their stories.  Almost feels like a "Scalp Pickers Anonymous" meeting online! lol.  (SPA).  

p.s.  I have Bipolar Disorder, which may play a part.  Usually depressed when I pick.  A bit of OCD (which I used to think was over-diagnosed by doctors), and I think this is part of it.  Obsession: Head feels itchy/I'm stressed out about my future; Compulsion: pick head uncontrollably.  I am now on Cipralex (among my other Bipolar Meds), and it is a really great medication as long as you are on a dose that doesn't make you tired.  It's an anti-depressent, anti-anxiety, and anti-OCD drug (I know, it's hard to believe!).  But it has worked wonders for me, after trying endless meds for 7 years for my Bipolar.  I hate meds, but since I'm from Canada I'm lucky I have free medical to pay for my psychiatrist and meds.  I finally accept that Bipolar Disorder type 1 really does need meds to remain stable.  However, when it comes to the scalp picking, I know it's not just anxiety or OCD since the meds have taken away my other OCD and anxiety related behaviours (that's for another forum...), but not this completely.  So...I guess I'll try the anti-yeast cream a bit longer and try not to be too stressed out.  :- (   Ya right.

[olpez]

I have been doing this for as long as I can remember.  Before this, I would pull my hair out but now I mostly just scratch my scalp until it bleeds and then I pick at the scabs.  I also am somewhat relieved that I am not the only one that does this.  For me, it feels very good and relieves stress.  When I am on a trip, for example, and I can't be alone to do it, I get very anxious.  It only really hit me that it's a problem when my dad saw a bald spot on my head from where I am used to scratching.  I felt so ashamed.. and I still don't feel comfortable with people seeing my head... I haven't been to a barber to cut my hair in like 5 years.. now I just cut it myself.

Clearly, this is an OCD condition.  And like others, it is also linked to other mental disorders.  I have been diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder and eating disorders.  I also drink A LOT..when I'm alone.  I am on wellbutrin and lamictal for the bipolar and it had been working well.  I still scratch my head, but not as often as before..mostly because I am conscious about people noticing.  I have seen a number of psychiatrists/psychologists and I am gradually realizing that this is a chronic condition.  It waxes and wanes along with your moods and when your conditions peak... when you feel bad and stressed, you scratch more.

I just hope everyone here can at least manage this condition.  I know it can get really bad, but from my experience, the bald spots go away as hair grows back in those places.  Good luck

[Heidiegirl]

I think it's ok to pick. It feels nice, and if you keep you nails clean, ok.The scalp, I learned in microbiology, is one of the least bacterial spots on your body. So far I've been doing it for years and have never had an infection. I'm talking 20 years! My boyfriend even scratches my head sometimes and it feels divine! Don't be so down on yourself for being you, just enjoy what you can in this short life!

[TheRealMe1216]

I have been picking at my scalp since I was in junior high, although I can't pinpoint when or how it started. I do it when I'm bored, tired, stressed, happy, mostly unknowingly but sometime I'm aware. I'll tell myself "STOP IT!" but it's like my hands aren't listening to me. I had a girl who suffers from OCD as well who was a cosmetologist and she would cut my hair, but for personal reasons I can't go to her anymore

Reading all these comments makes me feel relieved that I'm not alone.

I am diagnosed with OCD and being treated for it with Zoloft and for the most part it works great, except to the picking. I'm up to 150mg and I'm afraid to go any higher. I wish I could just tell myself to stop but obviously it's not that easy. The problem isnt just my scalp although that's the longer running one.

A few years ago my skin did this dramatic change (it decided to be sensitive) and my whole body broke out in this rash/pimples. Soon I was obsessively popping everything, thinking of I pop it it'll be gone. Now I have scars on my upper back and bottom.

I would give anything to be normal.

[Grama4]

Like most of you have expressed, it is a kind of relief to see so many other people suffering with this, only because you finally realize you are not alone. I am 65 ! have been suffering since childhood with depression, and quite a few OCD symptoms. I never realized I had clinical depression untill my Dad passed away, and I became overwhelmed with feelings that I couldn't handle. My Dr. suggested I go to a psychotherapist. Best thing I ever did for myself...wished I had done it sooner....I was 40 something! After years of intense therapy and trying different meds, the therapist who was a Wonderful man, helped me emensly, I relived years of different kinds of neglect and abuse, and just plain hurt. I learned how to see it and deal with most of it with his help and with meds. The one thing, sadly, that I could never bring myself to tell him about was the scalp picking! It was such a Painful, Embarrasing, Debilitating subject for me, that even though I trusted him, I couldn't do it. Now,,at 65, and going for years of off and on keeping this awful secret, I have decided to make another appointment with a psychtherepist. (Have lost contact with the first one :-(    ). I did finally tell a Dr. about it when I lived accross country for a while. He was very kind and told me it wasn't my fault. That it was a brain disorder. The brain wasn't telling me to STOP doing an unatural act. He prescribed Abilify, along with what I was already taking at the time for depression. I have to tell all of you, that it did WORK !! I couldn't believe that after a few weeks I noticed that I had just stopped picking and making those awful sores and being ashamed and not getting my hair done and all of it !!  Now, for the sad part. After years of relief, I had a very hugh surgery, called the Whipple procedure. My meds kind of got all screwed up , I was hospitalized for 3 wks, rehab for 3 wks and home recouping with help for 10 months. Somehow,,it has returned. I am picking again and spend hours, reading or watching tv. and it just starts and I have no control. I also have to say that in the last year, I started having uncontrollable tremers in both hands. I was even diagnosed with Parkinson's,,which turned out to be false. I was told to ween off the Abilify,,and the shaking stopped. Now the problem is ...what do I take for the scalp picking???  After reading all of your posts,(it's 3:am) and picking most of that time, tomorrow I am definately calling for a referral to try desperately to Stop This Painful habit. Thank you for listening (reading )

[itsok0]

i hear this i am goin through it too, i thought i was alone! omg i m so glad im not but yes i do too.

[BBBA]

Wow. So many people have the same problem as I do. I actually have a problem with picking hair off my eyelashes, eyebrows, and off my scalp and I am pretty sure it is not out of depression. I also have developed one scab  (I let the other one heal) and I cannot stop picking at it. I am actually just 12 years old right now and I have been doing this since 11, a year ago. I haven't stopped and I can't! Fortunately, I don't do it in my sleep. For a long period, I stopped pulling my hair and picking at my scalp and replaced it with another habit. I was picking the hair off my arms. That wasn't bad, actually. It's not like anybody notices, and most people just shave off that hair, so I felt comfortable doing that. But eventually, I got back to picking my hair and scalp. I am not sure if I want to go to a phsychiatris (Dunno how to spell that) or go on a medication, so every time I notice that I am either picking my eyelashes, hair, or scalp, I immediately turn to my arm and start picking at it. The only way I can think of getting rid of a habit is making a new one. I think the reason I keep doing this is because I like small pains. I dunno, maybe I just like subtle pain so I just keep on picking. I can't talk to my mom about this. She may have noticed when I was 11, but she hasn't noticed now, and I feel too guilty to tell her about this. I'd rather have support from a stranger, oddly enough. I would also like to know if my eyelashes would grow back...Because my school is going to have my picture taken for the yearbook in a few days and I am freaking out about it. Staring into the camera is something I don't want to do. I don't even make eye contact with anyone, but thats not due to my eyelashes. I don't make eye contact with anyone period. I've been doing that since 9. Any help? Please?

[42andTight]

I've been picking at my scalp since I was little, I am now 43 & still do this. I have seen a psychiatrist for depression & told her & she put me on many antidepression pills, none worked. I wish I could stop, its been going on daily for 30yrs now. My Mom also does this, she has sores on her scalp & all over her body. She does have OCD, I wonder if this is hereditary.
I don't pick at my skin just my scalp. Hope we all can find a cure....

[Sulphur]

I'm 17 and have been having this problem for probably 7-8 years. I've had the same scab throughout those years, and have only developed new ones to pick at over time.

Mine are mostly on my scalp. However, I find myself picking between the folds of my ears too... which is gross but the odd rough-crusty texture is amusing.

Like many of you, I do it subconsciously. I have put some thought into it and I do believe this behaviour was initially triggered by an event that happened when I was very little. I vividly remember the time I had head lice. And even when they were gone, I would search my head for the eggs and anything that was white and small I would crush between my nails. I thought everything of that nature in my hair was an egg. So that's why I run my hand through my hair and pick off lumps with my nails... and then flatten those lumps to make sure those "eggs" would die and not born to reproduce.

In addition I have this tendency to pull out my hair when I am stressed. Generally my eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair. With that said, when I smooth the lumps from my scalp, I also pull out hairs. So I've noticed an increase in this scab-picking hair-pulling behaviour when I am stressed because my hand gets a bit oily and that frustrates me further.

I've told my GP about this and he referred me to a few specialists to "swab" or check the section of skin to see if there's anything particularly harmful or significant about it. I feel like my GP has misinterpreted it to be something physical, when it probably is something psychological. I've already been diagnosed with narcolepsy after a very long and tedious process, so to see another specialist or two just burns my parents' wallets.

Ah, what to do? What to do?

[bananarama94]

Sorry to beat a dead thread, but I just had to share that I too pick my scalp, pull my eyelashes, eyebrows, and occasionally pubic hair. I have done this for as long as I can remember and I was diagnosed with PTSD when I was 13. I have been on antidepressants and various ssri's etc. for years and they do nothing to help my condition either. I have been in therapy since I was 7 years old and never mentioned it to my therapist or my doctors. If you have found a way to break the cycle, please let me know.

[SuggestSolution]

Dermatologist gave me antibiotic to be taken once a day with the largest meal of the day that had no dairy eaten at that time. Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg.   Olux-E (Clobetasol propoinate) foam, 0.05% to be applied in PM & AM to scalp wounds.  It comes out like mouse, so use sparingly.  She gave me samples for this along with shampoo as they are both expensive & no insurance. The shampoo is to be used 2-3 times per week. DHS Zinc Shampoo, 2% Pyrithione Zinc. So happy to have finally faced needed help & she told me that it is a very common issue that turns into a habit. Because the med's and her incouragement that they would help & I needed to be aware & alert each time I started to put my hands up. Said to use flat finger or hand if they go up there and gently rub & remind myself I want to heal & stop doing this. Hurray out of guilt & pain. Also I carry a worry stone EVERYWHERE and start massaging that between my thumb & pointer finger, it helps me alot.  Peace to all.

[Whojackafibby]

I am curious. I also have a scalp and also body scab picking problem. I am wondering if anyone else has a spongy scalp. My scalp has always been very spongelike.

[Laurakins]

I search my scalp for little bumps or tiny scabs to pick. But it's not severe like others have described. If I am a week away from having my hair colored, I will try to stop picking until after it's done. I've learned that if I don't, it hurts so bad when the hair dye touches the spots. I know they say the only way to stop a habit is to stop doing it. Lol. That's worked with little things I used to do so hopefully I can break this habit. Good luck, everyone!

[RoseScarlet]

Hi Christi797,

I had this problem off and on for 10 years, and stress did indeed make it worse.  After reading and reading and trying everything under the sun, I found something that works for me.  I had read of many causes for the problem, from OCD, to stress, bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.  Then one day, I was literally scratching my head for an answer when I noticed a common household item--spray disinfectant--that had a label blurb that said "Kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on surfaces."  Hello? So I spritzed some on an itchy spot and it quit itching.  After a week of using it, my itchy spots are nearly gone, they don't itch and they are not inflamed and sore.  

I did look up the ingredients on the NIH website, and the spray I used has no health hazards associated with it.  http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

So, I'm saying, problem solved for me.

Rose

[Sulphur]

My head hurts so ******* badly right now from picking the scabs on my head. It feels so sore all over. What the hell am I supposed to do when it's like my fingers have minds of their own? I don't want a psychiatrist. I'm already too troublesome to my parents... I don't want more medical attention... haha. My head... throbs.

[JGF25]

Do you only pick your scalp in private or do you find yourself doing it out in public as well?  

If it is at home, I have recommended that people try wearing a hat or actually put socks on their hands because you can't pick if you cannot get to it.  Also keep your nails as short at possible.  Lastly, a poster on here once said that she sits on her hands whenever possible and that has helped her to control the picking.  This is a habit and all habits can be broken, you just need to find something that will work.  

[imtryingtochange]

I thought I was so alone with this disgusting disorder. I twirled my hair out of the womb (had lots of hair) and was a thumb sucker. Thumb and twirl, that was my soothing past-time.  Fast forward to end of high school and I had been twisting and pulling that I created two bald patches larger than quarters, one over each ear. The hair in those areas are now white, which began when I was in high school as well. I am a redhead, so go figure, it stands out.  As I read these posts, I scratch, pick, scratch, pick for over 35 years...it's origin for me is anxiety for me. I have received close to 20 yrs of therapy for a myriad of childhood traumas, been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and only at the end of the last therapy stint (about 4 yrs) I noticed my psychiatrist pulling her eyebrows or eye lashes...and I saw that SHE does this too. I mentioned that I stopped pulling my hair one day, I just stopped.  And she asked, "How did you do that" I just stopped, I said. But that's not totally true... I go back and forth, pick until I bleed and the scabs are deep, or pull my hair--mostly and almost exclusively, when I drive. My car looks like I have a golden retriever living in it...with white hair!  I notice when I like my hair, when I like how I look, I am more secure and less anxious and can have weeks where I don't scratch but pull and twirl.  I drive about 90 miles a day, so that is a lot of damage time available to me. I have worn gloves, cut my nails, put my hair in a bun, braided my hair, short, long, doesn't matter, I can't stop. Trying to 'control' the problem doesn't work. I use DHS shampoo, I cannot use Aussie, it inflames my sores which hurt like crazy in the shower. Sometimes my head hurts so bad, it's just throbbing trying to heal. I feel like such a looser, like an outcast.. to make it worse, I am in the midst of a divorce after 37 yrs of marriage. As I re-read this, I notice this has been going on the entire time I've been married...now, that's an epiphany....wow, didn't make the connection till now. I'm in my mid 50's, a professional, an educator and highly creative. My mom was a twirler, my daughter is too. So, fixes? sometimes topical antibiotics helps soothe, olive oil massaged in my head helps, and mostly, when I'm making art, I NEVER touch my head. I just don't have the time!  No one can help me, but me, at least I believe that. I do take Cymbalta, and other meds for other conditions, and I can't say it helps. Most ironic, I realized I live in the same city as the National Trichotillomania Center http://www.trich.org/   I am too ashamed and too humiliated to seek real help.  Why are so many of us like this?  

[Oldpicker68]

I found thaat placing a tiny needle or pin in the area that I scratched will relieve the desire to scratch and some how relax me. Only once did it draw blood, that scared me for awhile but try not to do it near that area again. I think it is like acupuncture that most find relaxing. I don't know how clinical it is but found it works for me.
I had pulled my hair for 30 yrs and now in my60's don't want to go back to that habit.

[maisymac]

I've always been a picker or at least since early teens/puberty. I've picked the hard skin on my feet till it bleeds and once had to have antiboitics for an infection it created. I try to keep this down by using a pumice stone or similar so there's nothing to pick.
Currently I'n experiencing seborrhoeic eczema at the nape of my scalp, under my hair at the back. I use chemical straightener and it has exacerbated the condition. I once had treatment from my GP who told me it was a fungus. Nizoral shampoo I used then and maybe pills to treat the fungus. I think it's dreadful that people are being treated with antidepressants or anti- anxiety drugs for this. I was on citalopram for a while, for stress when my mum was dying and the side effects when I decided to come off them were so severe, I'll never take them or anything similar again- they also made me gain weight!
My grandmother was a depressive and also suffered trichotillomania as referred to on this site. I wonder if hair pulling and scalp picking can be genetic?
I've just looked on a site for seborrhoeic eczema published by National Eczema Society and it's very informative about treatment etc. If I can't get it under control with emollient and H45 (topical cream with hydrocortisone 1%) I'll go to the docs again for whatever treatment I was given years ago. Nizoral shampoo can be bought over the counter but I bet it dries the hair out. Meanwhie I'm determined not to pick- it definitely perpetuates this condition. If all else fails I'll wear gloves and drink copious amounts of wine till I pass out!!

[facingmyproblems]

About a half hour ago, I finally convinced myself that I have a problem with picking my scalp. I'm sitting on my bed, watching tv, and compulsively picking and scratching my scalp without even realizing it. I have been doing this for about a full year now. I'm in such a zone, just like many of you had written about. I finally googled "scalp picking habit" to see if there was ANYONE out there that maybe had the same problem.. and I am SO RELIEVED that I'm not alone! Just reading all of your comments has made me feel so much better to know that I'm not alone in this uncontrollable obsessive behavior.
I am 23 years old and diagnosed with anxiety disorder and depression. @maisymac I was also taking citalopram (celexa) for 3 years and about 6 months ago I noticed it just stopped working for me. My anxiety was terrible all over again, to the point where I didn't even want to cross the street by myself. I went back to therapy and now have a psychologist and a psychiatrist. When I went off of citalopram, I too had a terrible reaction. I was basically confused and manic about everything. I am now taking effexor and finally have my anxiety and depression under control again (besides the scalp picking).
I have noticed that I sit in my room and watch tv and waste so much time just picking at my scalp. It's hard to stop once I get started. It has gotten so bad that I started collecting all of my pickings in a small box. I know it's disgusting but I can't help it. I don't know why I do it. This morning, I actually picked at my scalp for a while and ended up being late for work because I had no sense of what time it was until I snapped out of it. I decided I am going to finally admit my problem to my psychologist tomorrow at my therapy session and try to get this behavior under control. I would have never had the courage to admit this to anyone if it wasn't for reading all of these amazing comments! I am going straight to the store after work tomorrow and buying some medicated shampoo. I am also going to start cutting my nails very short. I think its finally time to get this under control. Thank you for the inspiration :)