Compulsive Skin Picking (face, arms, legs, and body)

[JamesParty]

(THIS IS NOT AN ACNE PROBLEM!)
I have a really clean face and body, I just destroy every piece of it by doing this.

Well here, let me tell you my story. I'm 17 years old, the typical high school teen.I have the compulsion of looking in the mirror and standing there for hours looking at every pore on my face then picking. Then it over turned to my whole body, its gotten way worst since I begun doing this since 1 1/2 years ago. Its been putting me down a lot then turning into depression because I can't wear short sleeves or shorts in public without someone noticing i have multiple scabs, bumps, blemishes going everywhere and questioning me about it. I hate this because I thought it was nothing at first, but when I started noticing marks, scars, bumps and never healing scabs that were left after picking or messing with, its become embarrassing. I miss having a clear/clean body and face, but its like a urge to me. Its like an itch that has to be scratched, if you don't itch it, the urge will grow until so. So after I became aware of my problem, I took my time to see if other people had the same symptoms as me, and I actually found a bunch of people. Well I also found something called Compulsive Skin Picking. Which it is but if you search it up on Google, its more of a mental thing, not a hormone imbalance that a drug would take care of it. I recommend not to take any prescribed drugs for this problem, because I can already tell you NONE will work. Probably just a medication that would mess with your mind or make you depressed. Try these helpful hints that I'm going to be trying out also...

When tempted to pick, care for your skin by applying a moisturizing lotion instead.

Cover or remove mirrors if they act as a trigger and get rid of all implements such as tweezers and pins used for picking.

Consider the use of artificial nails to make picking more difficult, it may work for some.

Wear rubber fingertips or cotton gloves whenever possible if you feel the urge to pick.

Try replacing some of the sensory aspects of skin-picking with a more desirable alternative. For example, keep an object by you that you can manipulate (squeeze or pull) such as a soft rubber ball.
( I play with a rubber band around my wrist to occupy my hands when the urge comes.)

Keep your hands busy with something else such as a puzzle or knitting.

If you bite the inside of your cheeks try eating crunchy snacks when you feel the urge to bite.

Reward yourself for making progress with some kind of treat.

As you gain more confidence gradually begin to expose your hands, arms, face or legs to others starting with family and friends. You will no doubt benefit from their support but at the same time the negative consequences of engaging in your habit will be increased.

If all fails, get advice on skin care. If you have a skin complaint see a dermatologist.
(I went to a bunch of doctors and all they give you is acne cream or something along that lines. Most of the doctors won't understand until you explain every little detail of you problem that your having so they can get an idea of whats happening.)

[segarneratx]

I have devoloped CSP, compulsive skin picking oddly enough at age about 22. I'm 25 now. It started as a mundayne thing i would do while doing more normal daily activites in the bathroom, and turned into very quickly, subconsiosly, started in the bathroom at say 11pm and not getting out of there from picking for my record at 8 hours. I am a recovering IV Drug User, I was addicted to both heroin and cocaine. I haven't used either in probably 3 years on heroin, and 3.5 years cocaine. I currently also have other pysciatric disorders, such as, PTSD, Terrible Anxiety, Paranoia (Everyone is out to get me type feeling), and of course Depression. I have on my mom and dads side opiate and or opiod addiction, benzo or barbituate addiction and even Stimulants, but mainly Alcoholism. I oddly enough, hate alcohol, the taste, the high, everything about it. Also my mother lost 2 older brothers who were killed at young ages of 19 and 23, 2 seperate automobile accidents, both killed in South Padre Island Texas, by drunk mexicans with no liscences or anything. One was decapitated immediatly by the windshield, the other on lifesupport as a vegtiable in a coma and eventually past. So alchol too wasn't really an option. My mother hates alchol and people who use it, which in my extended family on my dads side, my moms side are dead or non existent, all drink daily multiple times, and take pills with them, such as Valium, Vicoden, Darvocet, Neurontin and etc. My mom and dad have no smoked pot, so they claim and never drink or claim to have ever been even intoxicated. So for there son to be a junkie, they had no clue what to do with me or a clue on what i was going through. So i was just shipped off to rehab after rehab for about a year and a half, in different ****** towns in TX, seeing no family or most importantly friends that entire time. I was basically a problem for the family, we have money, so my mom checks Dr Phils advice and sends me to the first rehab she finds not researching it, its procedures, its detoxing methods or anything that is VITAL to your very expensive recovery stay. Anyway, i'm now back obviously and the picking started in that year and a half, when i came down with some bacterial infection on my face, i forget the term, but it was from working for the slimeball who ran the half way house i was staying at, he would pay us **** to go and help him renovate new halfway houses he was building in the greater Dallas TX area. Quick note, the guy who ran the halfway house, was in the pen for 5 years on charges of distributing cocaine, he was driving 7 corevettes before he was arrested one for each day of the week. So he is yet another one of the addicts who is exploiting the recovery industry for a quick buck. To make a long story short i was moving a refridgerator that had been unplugged and had some type of milk, cheese or raw cabbage or something that had been sitting in it, in TX heat, 100 F and above for almost a year. the stench alone, you could smell before you walked into this 3 story house, i helped move it and just from the fridge somehow my face broke out with what i thought was acne but was a viral infection. So i would pick and prod at them to get the puss out to relieve the pain and to hopefully fix it. It got worse and then covered my whole face, it looked like poison ivy and of course i was swollen too. But i was in a Dallas, with no transportation, no money, but i was staying at a halfway house that cost 1400 a month since it was in a prime neighborhood in dallas. The person running the joint wouldn't even take me to a doctor, so finally a week later, my folks picked me up and then i found out it was serius and got some antibiotics and sure enough it went away. But even though it was gone i still had the odd desire to look my best and work for hours on my face mainly, and make it look like somebody kicked the **** out of me, and never could i tell anyone that i did this. I worked as a computer salesman in a store similar to a CompUSA but you actually make commision and a real salary, so customers would see my face and ask if i fell off a bike or skateboard and slid on my chin till the skin came off and scabbed up, I said allergies always. But it was then escalating to the point that people would ask  me why i looked so torn up, and then i started on my arms, and of course dumb ***** who have no brains, thought at one job the scars were track marks. And this would be a welt maybe a 1/4 inch in diameter and its like, unless i was using a like elephant 2 gauge needle it would create that type of scarring. But recently i picked on something in my mouth and it was then got infected and abcessed and i almost, according to the doc, if i waited one more day, would have lost part of my upper lip. To think i thought i was making myself look better and here i'm about to loose part of my look and be disfigured for life. My arms already bear scarring that will take years to go away; I take medication wise, Methadone for my Opiate/Opiod dependence legally at a clinic, and also see an addictionolagist with a PHDs in neurology and psychiatry, it cost 150 bucks, no insuranse just to talk to her, But its worth every penny. I take Klonopin 2mg tablets to just calm me down during the day and also Klonopin meltable wafers for fast action when I have a picking attack. I also take Promethazine because when i get nervous i become nauseaus. Then Tagament for my heartbburn. But i have no diseases like Hepatis C or AIDS. But until last week when i had to goto the ER and a few days before that i for the first time check the net for skin picking and had no idea this was a real SERIOUS OCD like or is OCD type disorder and a wave of comfort finally came over me that i'm not alone. I thought i was just a crazy schizoiid who they would just have to contiunually tranquilize me to calm me down. But i've been doing accupuncture, which has done wonders, meditation along wth swimming. Stuff to keep my stupid *** away from mirrors. I was thinking of even in my personal bathroom removing the big one and just having a small one to use. I put a clock in there too so i can see when i came in, and also set my g-shoch watch timer for 15 minutes, since brushing teeth, quick shave, and some other personal grooming shouldnt take much longer for a man, unless theu are taking a shower too. Anyway i apologize for this thesis of a response but i am soo realized too see other people who suffer this also, thanks for anyone who reads this.

[feelingugly]

i'm turning 19 soon... and have also picked at my skin.. i get random ingrowns on my leg and pubic region.. and i have an obsession of using an eedle and scissors and digging at them until i get them out..  i have gashes  all over my  my shins that just look like big mosquito bites...
i just want them to go away.. i want to stop, but then when i see one im like hmmm maybe just this one... then i start going and it feels so good to get them out.. but after spending hours in the bathroom i look at myself in the mirror and still feel uglier then i ever felt. i'm tall, skinny...  i could potentially have great legs.. if it wasn't for all the scarring...  i get questioned all the time about it.. it just makes me feel worse and worse.. then i see people with gorgeous  perfect skin and it makes me jealous and want to go at it again....
i just want to stop and have flawless skin, how is it some people get blessed with naturally  glowing skin ,and im stuck like this

[believeinurself]

I am 45 and pick my face, back, neck anywhere I may have an imperfection.  Thank you for having the courage to write.  I think it sounds like OCd but what do i know.  I am on Celexa and Wellbutrin.  It seems to have intensified since I started these medications.  any advice?

[MitzyGalore]

It is such a 'relief' to read your posts as for a long time (3years plus) I have felt like I'm going mad and must be the only person on the planet that picks at their legs / body/ face.
I am trying so hard to stop but soemtimes I start to pick without realising (there is definately a subconscious aspect), sometimes I feel that I actually enjoy picking and that makes me feel guilty. I am too embarassed to wear skirts / shorts as people always ask what's wrong with my legs.
I will often use a needle / scissors to get out ingrown hair and will even end up going over wounds that haven't healed properly - so it takes even longer. My legs are quite scarred and my shoulders are also becoming that way. I haven't been to my doctors yet, I guess I have been worried he'd say I was going mad! I don't really know why I do it - and I have thought long and hard, and I couldn't even tell you why I started. I am finding that will power alone is not working (sometimes for a few days) and I feel like a failure because at the age of 29 I think I should be able to control my actions. I will often tell myself that even if I do pick it will just heal up - which I know is not the case.
It would be good to get some advice from other sufferers, even just to share experiences. A couple of family members know about this but it is difficult for them as they can't understand why I do it; and sometimes they will ask why and all I can say is that I don't know.

[TeeVee36]

I too am a picker.  I have been making sores and scabs to pick my entire life.  Whenever I have a scab it takes forever to finally go away because I seem to not be able to leave it alone and the compulsion is so strong that I can't ignore it.  I have recently been diagnosed with OCD, PTSD, Anxiety, and depression.  I also have been on Paxil for 1 month now which helps tremendously with keeping my emotions even and over all I am in a good mood and no more PMS!  I see someone above who is on meds pointed out that the picking got worse...I have noticed that mine is worse now as well.  I also run my hands through my hair on my head and find myself doing this all night while watching tv and I can't stop and because I can't stop it drives me crazy.  I get tired of doing it but can't stop.  I have read others say how you get almost hypnotized by the repeated action.  I am going to try my best not to touch my head or scratch every bump on my back tonight.  I have been washing my back really good and using rubbing alcohol after every shower but evertime I reach around and feel something I pick it and then strain to reach every little spot and pick it off...

It is good to know I am not alone.  It is part of the OCD which is what I have come to realize after reading other posts and researching OCD.  I don't know why the meds don't help though.  I guess I will mention it to my psychiatrist at the end of the month.

Thank you all for posting!

[helplost333]

Wow I'm not alone!  I too pick at my skin.  The pores drive me crazy and I squeeze them and pick at them, and at scabs or anything that I feel shouldn't be there.  I spend hours in the bathroom sometimes.  It is embarrassing.  I also bite the inside of my cheeks.  I have been diagnosed with bipolar, OCD, borderline personality disorder, depression blah blah blah.  I am on luvox and it has really really helped with my obsessions, not so much with the picking.  I have scars all over and scabs.  It really upsets my husband.  I've been doing it for years used to be a cutter at least i stopped that.  I'm also super fat largely because of the meds but can't live without them ( I get suicidal).  Fun fun!  What a trade off.

[carizmatic1]

wow, my husband keeps telling me to stop picking, and I keep saying "I can't".  I never thought that might actually be the truth.  I pick at everything, but only with my fingernails, never with needles or tweezers or anything, but I also bite the skin on my lips, the inside of my lips and cheeks, and the skin on my fingers.  I guess this will be one more thing to talk to the therapist about...

[mdgirl79]

I have been obsessive picking my face for as long as I can remember. It has gotten worse the past couple years, because I have found good makeup that helps me hide it more, which has lead to even more picking. I have just realized last nite that I need HELP!!! Has anyone had any success with any types of medication or therapy? Any suggesstions would be greatly appreciated. I do not take any other medications or antidepressants, I think I manifest all of my anxiety throught the picking.

[lukester125]

i just thought i'd post because i too have a problem picking.  in my case, it has been my just my legs i used to pick ant even the slightest little scab that appeared on my legs.  over time, my legs became covered and eventually i would rip off half the skin on my lower leg every time i picked off the scabs.  this was when i was about 12.  i am now 17 and only have scabs on my legs when i fall or skin myself.  i dont pick at them so much, but the urge is always there.  it was like a drug to me and i couldnt stop for the life of me.  the urges did, however become less powerful and occured less often.  i never took medication for it, and i never had therapy or anything, it just kinda slowed down when i started thinking about other things.  specifically, i started playing video games when i would get the urge to pick, and then, i would pretty much forget all about it.
recently i found out that my girlfriend has a similar problem and i was wondering how one would go about helping someone with this issue.  i went through it but i never really had real support, just my parents yelling at me to stop.  so what can i say to her to help her out?

[amaya575]

i feel so relieved that there are others like me. i use tweezers and pull out hairs from my legs. i get bumps from it and i can pop them like pimples. that's my favorite thing to do, but i also pop zits on my face, arms, and chest. and more recently i discovered that i can pull out little hairs from my butt (ya, its kinda weird) and thats also something that i do alot. i've been picking since i dont even know how long. it started as just popping pimples and at bumps on my arms. my arms got so scabbed up that i never wore short sleeve shirts. in my sophomore year of high school i tried using my tweezers to pull out hairs on my legs because i thought it would be like waxing them, only one hair at a time. but i started getting ingrown hairs, which i would pop. sometimes i cant pop them, so with my tweezers (which are really sharp) i dig down until i can get to the hair and pull it out. i gave my tweezers to my boyfriend today (lukester1250) in the hopes that maybe that would at least help me keep from pulling out hairs. i really have no idea how to get over this. i've tried but i can only go for a few days before doing it again. if im not doing one thing, i'm doing another. i dont like all the scars that i've put on myself and all the blemishes, which sometimes hurt. is there anything i can do to make this stop?

[puremolly]

Here's my story. My problem started when I was about 10 years old, when I started tweezing my eyebrows and eyelashes. I remember the first time I did it, I was looking in the mirror and just wanted to tweeze the hairs in between my eyebrows. I went too far back, so it looked like I tweezed half my eyebrows off. I also began pulling my eyelashes out, so it was literally bare in the middle. I eventually stopped pulling eyelashes, and thank God they grew back. But I couldn't stop tweezing my eyebrows, and the result is, 18 years later (I'm 28 now), they will never grow back to what they once were. I saw a picture of myself from before I started tweezing, and I had beautifully shaped eyebrows. When I was 11 or 12, I also started picking at the hairs in my legs. The ingrown hairs really bothered me, and I loved tweezing them out. Sometimes you have to take a sharp needle to pick out the hairs without damaging the skin too much. But my legs still get red and scarred, especially when the tweezer can't pull out the hair at the root and just breaks off. This, as you all know, is the ultimate annoyance because it won't heal quickly and you know you're going to go back in there and try to pull it out again before it heals. I've been picking my legs for at least 16 years. I am desperate to stop, but obviously easier said than done. I refuse to wear shorts and skirts, which is tough because I live in a warm climate, everyone wears shorts. I have to sweat and be miserable and embarrassed. WHY CAN'T I STOP??? Why do I do this??? I have never talked to anyone about this. I just picked a couple hours ago, I do it at least every other day. And I always tell myself, this is the last time. Then I do it again and again and again. I have nice legs, too. I'm destroying my legs like I destroyed my natural eyebrows. I have to wear eyebrow pencil everyday to fill in the gaps that won't grow back! Sixteen years folks, and counting. What the hell am I supposed to do? I hope that writing this post will help. Is there anyone out there with any advice? I don't think I can do this on my own.

[SwtSeattleGrl43]

I to pick..I pull the skin off on the sides of my thumbs..I pick at scabs that I make..and at my hairline..I asked my counclior about it and she said it's just a nervous habit..I usually do it when I'm watching t.v..I don't do it in public..it's like u know it's there and u have to do something about it..Good luck

[hurlaroo]

I just stumbled upon this site, and was so amazed to find others just like me.
I have been picking my skin for as long as i can remember, i am 28 right now. I remember being very young 11 or 12 i guess, and standing on my bed so i could get more sunlight from the window so i could see my face batter so i could pick hairs ,pick pimples and scabs on my face. I remember having a scab on my scalp, which was the result of a fly bite, that kept scabbing, and i kept picking for over a year and a half, the SAME scab....like"what the hell". I still pick my face, more that anything, i do pick my legs, and pubic region for ingrowns, and my chest.
My newest thing is inside my ears. I started to just scarpe the insides of my ears with my fingernails, because of some dry skin that had started there. But now im completely obsessed, i do it at work in the bathroom, hoping that a scab has formed, and on my drive home from work, is the best, i pick my face, i dont even need to see what im doing, then i go to my ears again. It even hurts sometimes, but you get past that pretty quickly.
My friends tell me to stop. I can't, i dont think i want to stop.

[Beans101]

I was just wondering...
How many of you smoke cigarettes habitually or socially?
&
How many of you would consider yourselves sexually frustrated since you haven;t got some in a while or a virgin?
This may sound crazy, but I have the same picking problems as many of you do, and the other day I was reflecting on this sole problem.
If we all have smoking in common, then maybe it is the chemicals in the cigarettes that is causing this
&
If we have sexual frustration, or are still proud owners of our virginities still, we might just be searching for that "pleasureable release."
Let me know what you all think about my theory, and if you feel that you are a member of one, or both of these factors.

[Maya16]

I didn't know that there was such a thing as OCD for picking your body, Im nearly 18 and Ive been picking my legs, thighs and now arms for about 2 years now, I thought I was the only person, I'm glad to know there is a name for it, when I stop picking I can't stop, I can go for hours picking my legs, I've got scabs all over my legs and have to cover them all the time, I hate the fact that I have to do this as all my mates go out wearing dresses and skirts, I really dont know what to do, has anyone got any advice on what to do? I'm going uni next year and I want to stop this! I hate it! :(

Maya

[Maya16]

I dont smoke and Im not sexually frustrated, i really dont know why I'm doing this, it gets me so down..any solutions? thanks

[1lilhousemom]

For me, it's more of a feeling of "Cleaning the wound". To me..the crusty stuff is just gross and has to go away...but then once it's gone, I'm so disgusted with myself for making it bleed. What can I do to stop this?

[ghhg]

-take down or cover mirrors with newspaper/ductape if mirrors are the instigator

-rubber band on wrist at all times, snap before, after, during picking (as much as possible, will make you think about what you're doing and associate it with pain)

-try being on the phone or with somebody when in bathroom (if mirrors are the instigator)

-if it gets really bad or you want clear skin for an event, stay with someone or go on a vacation or be very busy (cut out opportunities to pick)

-get a pet. rats will happily sit on your shoulder. good luck picking or feeling depressed/anxious with a cute thing snuggling, sniffing, or tickling you. a dog, especially lap dogs, will follow you everywhere, also will be a distraction

-it might help to keep all blemishes/perceived blemishes covered with an opaque mask

-write about each picking session after it, notice what your thinking about, what causes them, and what times sessions occur at. change your routine to keep these times occupied, avoid mirrors, etc at these times.

-when your disgusted with yourself after a session, think about other things and good thoughts, put on a mask and go to sleep. your skin will calm down when you wake up.

-talk to a close friend about it

-find a psychologist

[ivan_elbisivni]

i don't have skin picking problem....i  have hair plucking problem...trichitillomania its called.
i have hormonal problem because of which i have excessive body hair..it can be taken care of by waxing or epilating but i have extreme hatred with my body for that....its okay to wax and all but i always my skin was clean and clear like others
i just hate to see hair on any body part except my scalp

i start using tweezers or my hand every chance i get

i don't use mirrors....so can't remove them.but what do i do about my eyes which scan every inch of my skin..........come hell or hay..i have to pluck

my therapist told me start learning to delay it and gradually it'll work
its worsened.....................

i have ruined my underarm skin.....i am tired of wearing long sleeves all the time even in scorching tropical season of india!

need help!

[cat371]

I have been squizing my face's pores and pulling the hair from my legs for 15 years. I have found two solutions:
1- because i was picking my pores, i developed or aggravated a terrible rosacea that i have around my chin. now i know i have to take antibiotics if i squize my pores around the chin so i do it a little bit less.
i also found useful removing any light around the mirror so i can't see the pores.

2 - for my legs, i did the laser for permanent hair reduction. i am still doing the treatment so i still have some hair. however, because the treatment costs a few thousand dollars and if i pull my hair again it will make my hair growth back, i don't pull my legs' hair anymore.

however, now i became obsessed with my split ends: i cut them with a scissor and i can't stop for hours. today i hide the scissor... let's see if it works.

Everytime i am facing a stressful situation, even if it makes me a little anxious, i start having these compulsive behaviors. So as a solution i avoid stressful situations and i asked my husband to help me with this.

Also, i started to do sport. It relieves stress. I go swimming so i do repetitive movements for a long period of time - in some way these repetitive movements are similar to my compulsive behaviors.

[cat371]

Another solution that I found for stopping pulling hair from my legs and that worked for about a year (since an event that gave me some anxiety happened) is the follow: I created an image of myself like the person i wanted to be. in my case it was the image of a confident and rational professional who always does the right thing, is efficient, etc. I adapted all my behaviors to this image. I created a very specif image of who i wanted to be and i imagined all the actions that this person was doing. so every time i started one of my compulsive behaviors i thought about my ideal me that i was becoming and then looked at the behavior i was having.
the image of myself and the behavior were contrasting so much that i stopped the compulsive behavior.

[teach313]

I, too, pick my face (only) and it has now caused severe scarring and marks. I am totally disgusted with myself after I do it, and especially when I have to deal with covering the damage I've done. But as many of you stated, I still have the urge to pick! I've been able to conclude that it occurs during times when I need CONTROL over something. For example, if I'm angry with my boyfriend and alone at home, if my job has been incredibly stressful and the tasks have overwhelmed me, or if my apartment clutter has reached a point of "where do I begin cleaning this" THAT'S when I decide to head into the bathroom and pick. I've given myself the infection Impetigo on multiple occasions within the past year...ho the hell am I going to stop?? I'm beautiful and I'm making myself look disgusting :(

[hauntedautumn]

I have been frustrated with my picking obsession for 34 years.  I pick cuticles, scabs, pimples, ingrown hairs, I can't wait for a sunburn to peel...and its not even just me, if my husbands sunburn is peeling I am compelled to peel it...  it drives me crazy...it drives him crazier...I have stopped for a little while and then I start again...it's nice to know that other people have similar problems.  I just wish there was something to help long term, other than just distracting myself from the urge or medds...any suggestions? I would dearly love to stop finally!!!

[teagirl]

i am 41 and i cant stop either i willbeg myself to please stop and then i find myself at the next mirror for sometimes hours.  have been late for work and other thing , mainly trying to cover up the damage i have caused.  and oh my god taking a shower after a pcking session it hurts.  so until i can stop how do you all cover up your distruction.  please help!!!!

[tiredofthis331]

I pick at my skin. My face, my legs, my arms, at times even the skin in between my breasts. pretty much any "harder" surface. so not really my thighs!

I have dark spots all over them. it's been 5 years since the last time i wore a skirt, shorts or short sleeves! It bothers me so much.it was amazing how reading the comments here felt like I had written them!

I find that pick at my skin mostly at nights, when I need to brush my teeth and take my contacts off. I can't cover the mirror since I share it with my sister. I find that it helps if the mirror is placed far away from me though. like if the sink cabinet area is really wide. although I have even found myself climbing up and sitting closer to the mirror just to pick.

I tried a lot medications... i don't really have pimples or anything. I bet I could find something to pick at on angelina jolie's face too!

I find that I mostly do it when I'm really stressed, or angry.
Sports really really do help. staying away from the mirror helps too.

I also try wearing long sleeves and pants at home as well so I don't get a chance to pick at them. Little lighting helps too.

I tried laser hair removal, but I pick at the loose ends of hair on my legs regardless!
I really wish I could stop it. I also bite the inside of my cheeks, but I had no idea it was sth that could be related.

It's so hard to do things. i love swimming but can't go. I have a great body but can't show it off.
The lights have to be off for me to even let my boyfriend touch me. and every morning I ave to wake much earlier than him to cover my face with make up again.

sigh

[muddgirl22]

I also have a skin picking obsession that comes in intervals of about a month apart. I have been doing this for about 4 years now, and it started out just picking blackheads that I wouls get around the time my skin would change from PMS. I use to bite the inside of my cheek from childhood to around 20 something. I am 40 years old now and just recently got diagnosed with MS. I also have Bipolar disorder and ADHD. Over the past few years that I have started skin picking, I have fallen into a ritual that gets my skin infected and I can press on my skin and create a bump filled with pus giving me another thing to pick. Now I have picked so much that I have about 5 or 6 episodes where I think I am pulling some type of parasites out of my skin. I can take a piece of tape and rip it off of my skin and wait about 3 seconds and see these little white hairlike things come out of my skin by themselves. I finally got my mom and my daughter to see these white things emerging from my skin but I still have never taken anything out of my skin that is alive. I have started with my scalp also and on a couple of occasions I swear I have found lice. My family gets so embarresed and I dont know what to do to stop these episodes. I get so bad I think I see little worms in carpet,and a couple of times in my food. I am very scared and I have never contemplated suicide, but when is there a breaking point? Any advice anyonef?

[nicki311]

i am 23 and have been picking at my skin since i was a kid. i quit when i was a teen and then after some short lived drug abuse 5 yrs ago i started again. i pick at my face my arms my legs and buttocks. i cant quit. its embarrassing to me and shameful. im lucky though that my skin doesnt scar very bad. i would have beautiful skin if i could just stop doing this. most of the time i dont realize im doing it. i wish they would do some more research on this. i am very aware of my problem and ive cried countless hours about it but still i dont stop. i cant stop. i hate it.

[SoWhatHappensNow]

I thought I was the only person in the world that did this haha,
It's become such a time consuming habit, I stand in front of the mirror for up to an hour and a half just poking at my pores etc...i do it to my back too, see my skin is fine, average teenagers i guess, and it would probaly be perfect if it wasnt for this effing habit...
I've been biting the inside of my cheeks for YEARS! Once again, I thought I was the only one that did it.

if I feel the urge to do either of these things I just feel this pressure builing up inside of my, starts off at my hands and my head and spreads out further and becomes more intense, like energy dying to be unleashed...and once Ive dont it I can breathe easy again....Annoying...
Those tips are quite good, Im gonna get a stress ball tomorrow (:

[worriedmom1528]

My 10 yr old DD just started this about 1 week ago.  We were on vacation and all of a sudden my husband and I realized, if she wasn't playing with her silly putty or on the computer, she was picking at her skin non-stop.  I also noticed that she stopped reading as much as before, so I started handing her her silly putty, allowing her to use the computer as a distraction, and/or reading with her.  She has a tendency toward OCD and is ADHD, and we have BiPolar and depression in our family, so much of what I read above is not surprising.  I also see the agony many of you are suffering with and I worry for my DD.  Thanks for the advice and the best to all of you....

[gemmamisty]

I'm so shocked that this is an ocd! I have been a compulsive skin picker and scratcher for about 20 years! I have had other things that i know are ocd related like, compulsive armpit washing-strange i know. I know where that comes from though, i get convinced i smell and it dosn't matter who tells me i don't or how many times i just can't stop by will. It seems to fade by itself but i don't know how. The skin picking gets worse at times but is always there. I scratch my skin till it bleads and it looks like a big graze on my leg/arm. I can pick my skin for hours and hours, i pick the skin on my face,neck, back, legs, arms and scalp. I know i'm usually looking for spots that don't exist but when i pick i have a feeling that i want to get rid of any dirt or yukkiness under my skin, i have a feeling of disgust with it. I even do it to my partner sometimes, which is awful! I have a lot of small scars because after i have made my skin bleed i still squeeze or pick it until it becomes quite a large area of -well-mess. I have a big old history of mental health issues (i have bi polar but only diagnosed with episodic major depression) so i guess this one has been overlooked. I have to say though it is really good to know how many people have this apart from me and that it's an actual ocd, i thought i was just yukky.

[laff77]

Hi all, i have a picking and scratching tendancy too which worsens when i am nervous, stressed, tired and not eaten well (think too much sugar and caffine sets me off).

I suffer from anxiety and depression but fairly mild. I am not prescribed medication and have been seeing a counsellor weekly for the last 8 months.

Recently my scratching and picking has got worse so discussed it with my counsellor who asked when i tended to do this.
I pick to satisfy a 'wanting to feel clean' feeling, think i have it in my head that i need to get rid of any spots/bumps and picking/scratching will help when actually it doesnt!
I also pick and scratch when im nervous and my counsellor asked if i may be doing it as fight or flight preparation - which i think could be the case. I think too much when talking to people and realising im overly concerned that whatever i may say may come across wrong or offend. I need to stop this but it's not something im consciously aware i am doing (well i notice while doing it but start without realising).

Hopefully will carry on working this out and stop but have a feeling may take some time as have had this habit since i was about 12 and I am now 32! Will come back with any breakthroughs..

Good luck everyone and thank you this forum is v.helpful    

[nursebecca]

I've had mild OCD my whole life, mainly just a neat-freak.  But it never occurred to me that my addictive habits could also be a form of OCD, until I started reading this forum.  I've been picking at my arms and face since I was a teenager (I'm 36 now).  I did suffer from acne in college and went on Accutane, which miraculously completely cleared up my skin and scars!!  But as I've aged and recently had a hysterectomy, my skin problems have come back and now I'm more of a picker than ever!  And I'm starting to scar, which has made me feel completely mad at myself.  I can not stop.  I also chew the inside of my mouth, which as a result of the grinding of the teeth, has caused receeding gumlines.  So, I wear a night guard as much as possible to try and stop the chewing.  I do notice that when my pimples on my arm and face clear up in the summer from sun, I stop picking so much.  But when I am tired or stressed, I will sit under a light and pick my arms forever!!!  

I've tried Lexapro and it doesn't really help.  The only thing I can do is try and make myself stop.  Any other suggestions out there??  (cutting my nails does help)

[ocdadhdgirl]

wow i thought i was the only one with this problem i guess not,
i to have OCD axitey and problems with depression, but for a while now i have been picking at my legs and face alot. i will spend a long time just twezzing and picking the hair's out, its getting bad may legs look soo bad like some one took an ice pick to them i need to stop but its really hard. and one mark got infected because i keep picking at it, i allway pop every singel white head on my face and i am making my skin so bad. i need to stop, i didnt relize that this is also another part of OCD, because i have all of the other problems with it as well i guess you can have more than one OCD issue.

[daaazed_confused]

I feel like my life is ruined with my face/arm/leg/hip/back picking obsession. I have severe anxiety and after reading these posts I'm sorry to say it but I was extremely relieved to see that cheek biting comes with the teritory because i felt so alone. It has gotten so bad that i cant even look at my boyfriend anymore without wanting to pick at him! He doesn't even have acne he just never exfoliates so he does get a lot of blackheads which drive me the most crazy. Not like thats an excuse though, they really arent even noticeable to anyone but me. He actually slapped my hand so hard when I picked something on his arm and I was so shocked because I didn't even realize I was doing it. We eventually broke up. Not like I blame him or anything but what does this make me want to do? pick pick pick. I pick at myself so hard that it looks like i have a skin disease when in reality I have amazing skin and I always have. The entire thing is ironic because I am an esthetician and specialize in skin care and can actually make people look pretty good. I don't dare pick at people the way I pick at myself and I really enjoy making people feel good about themselves, probably because i feel like s**t 24/7 and have resulted in not leaving my house and covering all the mirrors. If only I could practice what I preach. I think this crazy habbit started 6 years ago when I turned 14. I am 20 now and recently when my life has become really stressful it has become extremely severe and I am really beginning to fear for my life. Like I said, this pushed my boyfriend away after 2 years of being together. He knew I had OCD but it has never been this bad where I am keeping myself locked in the bathroom for hours. So I have just started seeing a hypnotherapist but our 2nd session is coming up and I fear this wont be able to help, like its more than just mental it is like a mother f***ing DRUG! The worst part is that no matter how much people listen to you, unless you yourself have the same problem NOBODY will ever understand so thank you all for posting. I'm so sorry to hear others are suffering like I am from this awful addiction. Good luck and thanks for listening

[Skaize]

Just when i thought i was the only one with sores on my face as a result of self induced pivking i was definitely wrong....

i never wanted to own up to a problem but it seems i do and in definite need of some help as it is very embarassing and hurtful too when you go out and people see these lesion on your face or an attempt to cover up but look worse than with the sores.

I dont know how to stop and get rid of these either....not sure what creams to use or anthing that will make me stop....my face looks awful.

Its only my face i do it too - no where else. As a kid i used to pick legs and arms too but stopped. I get the urge to pick off the scab/makeup from my face to cover up as i know airing it out will help it to heal only to re-pick at my face thinking it will be better if i do and reduce the lumpyness in my face.

I really want to stop - just dont know how

[metallica7]

I have this! I am 20 and realized for the last few years that I have OCD, and its getting worse. Not like dibilitating, but constant hand washing, germaphopic, etc. I honestly hold my breath when people sneeze around me! Well, the last year or year and a half I have been constantly picking at my legs, arms, and face. I don't have a bad complexion, except for when I pick. My legs and arms are absolutely ruined. I am so depressed about it. I am suppose to be young and enjoying life, instead I have to completely cover up and cant do anything fun during the summer. I am noticing that depression/OCD and skin picking are often related. My family has a history of depression (clinical) so i am very prone to it and have been showing more and more symptoms in the last year as the stress of college has picked up. This is probably the reason for the continued skin picking. I have tried talking to a close friend about it but he never understands. I suppose I can't expect him too because he has never experienced OCD so how could he know? Its just difficult to explain that I cant stop, I pick before I even realize what i am doing. I am so disgusted with myself. I tell myself I will stop because I get so mad and feel guilty after picking. Then i just do it again, its like the cycle of abuse. I am definitely going to log my feelings about it, try to keep silly puddy or something on hand, and take the light away from mirrors. When i am sitting around and have the urge to pick, I sometimes paint my nails because I cant do anything with wet nails! (sorry guys-no help for you) I am mostly concerned now with the scars! I HATE them and honestly feel like they are ruining my life, that may sound extreme but its a battle i fight literally everyday.  Does anybody have ANY new suggestions to get rid/fade them? I have gone to two dermatologists and a skin clinic and they have all said there is nothing i can do to get rid of them. I cant settle for that though, I want my life back! Its summer and I would like to go to the lake, wear shorts, etc. I thought about making an appointment at a skin and laser office. They offer this treatment called Fraxel, but I am not sure it will work on these kinds of scars, the yellowish brown marks that remain, but are not raised. Does anyone know if this Fraxel treatment would help? The consultaion appointment is 75 dollars so I dont really want to go if they cant do anything for me. The treatment is expensive, but honestly, i am willing to pay any amount to get rid of these scars at this point.  Ok, this was a long comment, but any suggestions will help!!!! (I am already using fade creams/cooca butter/vitamin E cream etc. but am not very patient and honestly dont know if the diligence will even pay off.

Alright, thanks and to everyone else out there, I know EXACTLY how you feel! Let's just try to take this one day at a time.

[srh7789]

EVERYONE:

I cannot tell you what this forum has done for me. I NEVER had ANY clue other people had this problem. I have been made fun of and teased since I was around 8 years old because I just cannot stop. First it was my legs. As time has gone on, I have gone to work on my face and most obviously, my arms. It truly is like I cannot stand to see/feel/know a bump or spot or ingrown hair is present. I will do whatever it takes to get rid of it - even if it causes bleeding, open wounds, horrific scaring and embarrassment. I would give ANYTHING, and I do mean that - to stop. I just can't. My parents give me hell about it. I wear long sleeves EVERY day to work. I know people wonder why. The skin on my back is beautiful. I so wish my arm skin looked the same way. I have VERY, VERY thick black hair. One thing I noticed is that 2 hairs are growing out of almost every individual pore on my arms. Because of this - I always have the urge to pluck out my arm hairs. Well, YOU ALL know what this leads to... small white bumps, the desire to pop them so they are not there, then finally, a scab which you have to pick off, and a never-ending cycle until there is a huge scar and it looks like you were once burned badly with a cigarette. (except it was more like 23,890,798 packs of cigarettes)

I am so embarrassed about it. I mostly catch myself doing it (when I actually realize I am doing it) when I am sitting in the bathroom. My coworkers probably think I have a stomach problem - but I'm really in there picking at my arms! PLEASE HELP. I'm on Zoloft and I have Klonopin for anxiety attacks, but none of this medication treats the picking problem - maybe this is because I have never told anyone about it until now. This is a big relief off my shoulders. Thank you, thank you for sharing your stories and suggestions. I will try everything mentioned above. Good luck... I'm going to throw away my tweezers NOW!

[newsie]

I just realized a few days ago that I do have a problem and suspected OCD. I have been picking since my teens, in the last three years it has gotten way worse. It started with my face, now although I have been able to for the most part control that the rest of my body is way worse. I am afraid to show from my neck down. My worst area is my breasts and thighs. I go to the bathroom and I have to check, have to squeeze until something comes out. I will continue at it especially if it is any other color than blood. I tried stopping being a female and having the marks on my breasts are quite embarrassing. The ones that I have been picking at for the last year are so are finally healing, but now I have about 10 to 15 more that started as scratching that turned to scabs. Wanting to pop others blemishes also has been a big thing. I also scratch my head, I try not to do it in public, but at work when no one is looking I do. I could do this all day. Any little bump I feel I have to get. It doesn't matter where. I am so very lost, but glad that I found this site. I don't have insurance so I am going to continue to try and control it myself. Maybe reading all this will help............

[SwtSeattleGrl43]

I guess I can say I am one of the lucky ones because I don't pick anywhere but my eyebrows and my head..I also have done this as a child..I do my picking when I am watching t.v,weird because thats the only time I pick..I get flakes in my hair from picking and I will take a fine comb and run it through my hair to get the flakes out,most of the time there is still some left there..I also have the habit of pulling skin off my thumbs for whatever reson I don't know..I do that when I am with others or by myself..my room mate will catch me picking and tell me to stop picking..I pick my head daily and I'm sure I have sores and I want to go get my hair cut but I am embarressed to go,as they will see scabs on my head..I have bpd,stress,anixiety,panic attacks and depression among other things..I think I do it just to be doing something with my hands because of all of the everyday bs that comes along and it is by all means a disorder..my Dr. told me and my therapist that there is nothing wrong as I do not pick at other areas on my body,I disagree..I may not pick at everything but I still pick on an everyday basis..Good Luck to you all and thanks for sharing..

[Meggerz1533]

I have been a compulsive skin picker since I can remember.  It started in my early teens (maybe 13)... and I'm pretty sure it all started after the death of my grandparents.  My family life changed, and my mother changed.  Being an only child, I felt trapped and started picking to deal with the messed up feelings in my head.  Skin picking didn't help, and I actually became a cutter.  I was a skin picker and a cutter for almost 10 years. There isn't a place on my body where I haven't picked or cut.  I was diagnosed with major depression at 14, and took celexa for a few years, but it didn't help. It's been two years since I stopped cutting, and I have my own reasons as to why.  

I wasn't majorly depressed.  Sure, I had stages in my life where I was suicidal and depressed, but I'm pretty sure I was diagnosed wrong.  I'm about 90% positive that I'm OCD and have episodic depression. I've done lots of research throughout the past 5 years, and as you all know, skin picking is one of the new mental illnesses and doctors are still trying to figure out why.  Why do I think I'm OCD? Well, after researching all the different types of obsessions and compulsions, I realized that skin picking wasn't my only problem.  I always had to be perfect, and reminded and told when I did a good job.  Money always has to be the same direction, and I arrange everything in an symmetrical order.  I have recently been diagnosed with anxiety and occasional panic attacks, and these are actually some other symptoms of OCD.  OCD isn't just being a germ freak.  

Here's the problem with Compulsive Skin Picking (it's medical name is now Dermatillomania).  It could be a form of OCD, but it can also be an Impulse Control Disorder, which is different from OCD.  There's CSP, Body-focused Repetitive Behavior, and a whole bunch of other ICD's.  The symptoms are different from OCD.  There's also Body Dysmorphic Disorders, which can occur for someone who's OCD.  Look into that, it can be a scary thing. CSP can also come out of being depressed, but almost every other mental illness has depression as a symptom. Honestly, I don't believe too many psychiatrists and doctors understand this, so you have to do research on your own first.  This webpage helped me understand the types of OCD:
http://www.ocd-free.org/typesofocd  
But honestly, research everything and anything, and try to understand for yourself before you talk to your doctor. It sounds dumb, but I was a Psych major in college for a while, and half of those people have no clue what they're talking about.  Plus, every single one of us is different, and what works for me may not work for you.  

So what do we do to stop?  I have stopped in the past.  Without medication or therapy.  I made myself stop cutting.  Honestly, it's our minds and we do have some control.  I met the man of my dreams (sounds fairy-tale-like but it's true), and I stopped picking and haven't cut myself in over 2 years.  I was really really happy, and my job and life wasn't overly stressful.  I exercised and ate healthy food.  And then my man (now my fiancee) went into the Airforce.  I've been without him for over 6 months now, and I slowly started picking again.  Plus my job changed, and I'm the Marketing/FOH Manager of a busy restaurant.  Stress built up, and I started picking again at night.  I sucked it up, and went to a doctor,  and now I'm on Paxil and Xanax.  It ***** sometimes because I feel loopy, but it helps me not think about picking so much.  

There's a whole ton of things that can be done for CSP.  Of course there's medication, but you have to believe it will help.  Don't feel guilty if you need medicine.  I use to think that being on meds would label me "crazy" or something.  Now I realize that the chemicals in my brain (serotonin and dopamine) are lower than normal.  Paxil is a SSUI (look it up) and puts extra serotonin in my brain.  Makes me feel a little happier.  The Xanax helps for my compulsive and stressful panic attacks.  If you're not into medication, there's Cognitive Behavior Therapy.  You can go to group sessions, or one-on-one therapy.  A lot of therapists recommend keeping a journal of your skin pickings.  Write stuff down as soon as you stop.  Try to figure out why and what causes the compulsions.  It helps to be around people; it's harder to skin-pick.  Covering mirrors can help some people, and throwing away your "tools" also helps.  Exercise does help too by releasing those happy chemicals in your brain.  

So after writing a book for anyone who reads it, my conclusion is: we're not alone.  More and more people are coming out of the CSP closet, and eventually it will be fully understood by all those doctors and psychs.  My life has been a battle for over 12 years now, and I'm just hoping and praying that once I'm back with my fiancee, I'll stop picking again.  I did stop for over a year (my record) while living with him, and his love is stronger than any medicine or therapy, and it overcomes my picking habits.  I still want to take medicine for my OCD and anxiety, because it helps, but I hope the skin picking ends.  

I hope my story and the information I've provided gives help to some of you.  We're not alone anymore, and that feels good.  

[skinpickermom]

I'm 30 years old and I've been picking at my skin since I was a teenager on and off.  The problem has become more serious in the past 5 years or so - I basicaly go crazy at every zit, white pimple, black head or scab I see on my body, so that afterwards I'm left with holes in my skin and when they heal they turn into brown spots. When you have to use concealers on you back, arms and thighs before getting intimate with your husband - you know it's bad!!!!

My plan of action:
1.About three years ago I went to a dermatologist and I had 3 chemical peels (glycolic peels) done on my back, they were pricey - $150 a treatment, but it worked I was able to goin a two piece swimming suit at the beach.  I can't afford to go to the dermatologist again, but I have found this website - www.skinlaboratory.com where they sell glycolic peels (and other peels, but I'm a big fan of glycolic peels). I bought a small 35% roll on bottle for $15 and I was able to use it 3 times, but I used it on my face , whole arms, legs and on every brown spot on my body. It really helps to fade the hyperpigmentation spots (brown spots) and it actually also helps with reducing breakouts. Next time I will get the 50 % concentration though.

2. I noticed that I don't pick as much when I have acrylic nails, because it's difficult to pick - so I try to do that as often as I can.

3. I am going to get hair laser removal, because I notice that I usually pick on my arms and legs, or wherever I shave and get ingrown hairs or those white pimples that usually affect the hair follicle. A very affordable way to go about that is www.triabeauty.com - the first real at-home laser - owesome! It costs $795, but right now they have this easypay plan, whrere you pay $399 as a downpayment and then $66 for the next 6 months. If you make the math,  it comes to exactelly $795 and you don't pay any interest. All you need is to provide a credit card number.
The best candidate for this device though is someone who has white skin and dark hair.
There's another device Silk'n that I'm considering for my legs, because it has a bigger tip, so you cover a big area of your body, like the legs, quicker. The only thing is, this device is advertised as a hair laser removal device, but I don't think it really is. However, people claim they really have permanent result with it, so I'm still looking into it. This one is cheaper, you can buy it for around $500, but you will have to keep buying new lamps for it for $50. The nice thing about it is that it's corded, while the Tria is cordless, so it can happen that it will run out of battery in the middle of a treatment and then you will have to recharge for 2 to 3 hours. I personally have my mind set on Tria for now, because it's the real thing!

4> I'm planning to buy the Thermaclear Acnee Clearing device - www.sephora.com sells it for $149 and they have great return policy if it's not working for you. Like with everyhting i buy, I make a lot of research obout a product, so I really think this will help me a lot, because it will give me the satishaction that I'm doing something about my "problem" - pimples, so instead of picking them I will just zap them with this device all day long!! :0)

All the reasearch I have done and am hoping to help me is above, I hope it will help someone else.

[storminateacup]

Thank goodness - so glad I found you guys!  Just spent about 3 hours picking my entire face, so it's now red, lumpy, sore etc, but when I look in the mirror I just see the bits I missed.  My partner just begged me to stop, said it's not normal to do that!  So I googled, and I found this discussion.

It's nice to hear about others, even though it doesn't stop me from doing it.  I've picked for ages, I get really bad ingrowns esp around my thighs/pubic area, and I will sit for hours with a needle & tweezers, digging at hairs that may or may not be there.  I just can't stop.  If I don't keep busy, I find myself inspecting any accessible area of my body, arms, shoulders, legs, tummy, face, and picking at whatever I can find.  
If nothing else - I want to stop coz I'm getting a sore neck from being hunched over for hours on end!!

As I pause to think about what to say next, I'm attacking my shoulder.  Hmm.

Starting now, I'll make a serious conscious effort to stop!  Well, at least cut down, to start with.

[southkelly]

I'm sorry for the group of you that feel comfort in having  this problem in comon. Try being the other person in the room trying to eat while the picker is picking their scabs from one skin location to another. Not washing their hands because they don't realize they are picking. Or try talking to the person chewing the inside of their lip like there is a bit of meat left on the bone and pretending you don't notice their face is completely distorted. Hey folks it's a form of self mutalation and if you can't stop for yourself maybe you could have some consideration for others around you. It's gross to see someone covered in open sores. Please don't assume others have to be tolerant of this. Have some retraint. If you're going to pick until it's an open sore.... put a bandaid on it or cover it up. Your coworkers and family should be a consideration when you have an overwhelming urge to rip off your skin. Really people, do you know the amount of germs that are generated from skin wounds. Pickers love to tell stories of how their skin got to be in such poor conditions like bug bites, acne, allergic reaction. Does anyone realize when they go to their doctor a doctor looks for an acne pattern? A bug bite heals in a number of days and an allergic reaction has certain characteristics the provider looks for.Be honest and get the help you need. The excuses make you look like your unstable.