Scalp Picking

[ivette624]

This winter I discovered what my bad habit is called, I had realized that I would scalp pick more than ever. I've had this habit (well that I can recall of) since I was 14, I am now about to be 17. It is not as bad as it was getting, perhaps because I am now much more aware of it now that I've read and done some research. I don't go into details with my friends and family about it, I feel as though it'll gross them out, so they haven't been able to offer much help. When I was younger my hair was not as oily as it has become, I don't know if this is due to constant use of heat styling products, scalp picking, or well both. I doubt I could have OCD, but I've always been inclined to bad habits, when I stop one it's because it would be replaced with another. When I was a toddler/baby I would suck my thumb, also when I was around 9 or 10 (well this is when I remember) I would pick my belly button. I then substituted belly button picking for nail biting, which was around my middle school years. I would always wonder how I stopped consistently biting my nails, until I realize it was because of scalp picking. There are rare times where I still pick my belly button, and sometimes I still bite my nails. Those are not even close to how often I pick my scalp, which is throughout the entire day. I try not to do so around people, I do it so it simply looks like I am running my fingers through my hair. There are times while I am at school and I can't wait to go home to scalp pick, because I try to limit doing so around others. I like to first just rub the scab, then of course pick at it, and then it get out of my hair and just feel it in my fingers. I've noted that to me it feels relaxing, which is why I continue to do it. All this sounds really gross and is really gross, but this feels like the only I can vent about it. I just really want to know if anyone can help, any suggestions?

[genmaximus110]

I have scratched and picked my scalp for about fifteen years. It started with a spot on my scalp that may have been normal dandruff, or it may have been fungal. Who knows, but it's been a long road since. It has always flaked and when I would scratch, tons of dandruff came off. Over the years, the size of the spot has gotten bigger and bigger and obsessive scratching has taken over my life. To me, I've always scratched until dandruff stopped falling. I felt better once it was all off of me, so to speak. Of course, guilt and shame often followed. My skin would be sore and I'd still feel dirty for doing it.

I had tried all the regular shampoos. Head and Shoulders, coal tar, Selson Blue. Nothing worked. I realized most of the problem was behavioral and even tried using a scalp massager whenever I got the urge to scratch. But, itching would always drive me nuts after a couple of days. I am prone to eczema on my torso and even tried Mometasone Furoate Rx cream on it. But I only did a couple days treatment and quit.

I went to a dermatologist and she gave me a sample of Ketaconazole foam. That didn't work. Recently, the spots on my scalp spread to the other side of my head and I really began to feel despair. Something needed to be done.

Recently, I had my eczema cream refilled for my torso rash. I also splurged on the expensive Nizoral Ketoconazole shampoo in the store. I shaved my head and started using the shampoo once a day and the cream twice daily.

I almost cry because it seems to be clearing up. And it doesn't itch anymore and the positive feelings have made me not want to scratch at it and just leave it be.  For the first time in fifteen years, I feel like I'm finally winning this battle.

So, I realize this cure may not work for everyone. But, especially if you are prone to eczema, I urge you to try it. Prescription Mometasone Furoate cream  to treat it as eczema and Nizoral Ketoconazole shampoo to treat it as fungal.

[GiselleLFreude]

What is the texture of your scalp like? What are the scabs that you pick off like? Are the scabs white (or yellowish) flakes of dead skin? Or are they more like dark red, dried blood types of scabs? I ask because for my entire life, I've had what I believed was an obsessive scalp picking disorder. Recently though, I began to investigate whether it was just my skin that was the problem, and not the picking. The scabs that I pick off of my scalp are really just large flakes of dead skin. I would pick them off, and they'd be back in a day or two. (My whole scalp was covered in these plaques of dead skin). I figured the skin on my scalp was just growing way too fast for some reason. I ended up finding out about a psoriasis medication that slows down the growth of skin. I got it (coal tar shampoo. I got the T-Gel kind by Neutrogena) and it's made a TREMENDOUS difference in my scalp! I don't know if I have psoriasis of the scalp or not, but the coal tar shampoo has been super effective for me. I actually have a somewhat normal scalp now! It's so amazing. I'm trying to get the word out to as many people as possible. If your scalp sounds similar to mine, I'd suggest trying a coal tar shampoo! It might not be obsessive picking that's the issue! It might just be your skin.

[forgivenbyhim2001]

You have opened my eyes! I'm 34 yrs old & I've been doing the exact ritual as you. Down to how you get it your fingers and just feel it. Give Brought tears to my eyes because I've been doing it since I was 13. It started when I got lice as a teen. I was so scared of getting lice again that I started picking at anything that felt like a bug...when my dry scalp. Now I noticed that I do it when I'm stressing. With a full time job, part time school & full time parent & wife, I stress a lot. I need to talk to someone. I just don't know who. Thank you.

[qazwsx12]

I use to suck my thumb, up until like age 11 and sometimes I still have the urge at 20. It's embarrassing, but it's all coping mechanisms. I then went to nail biting and scab picking. I use to scratch my moms hair when I use to brush it and braid it because she had really oily skin so I could literally scrape off her dead skin and that was really soothing to me. I then started scratching my own head and would cause scabs sometimes even which would cause me to scratch them more. I now scratch my boyfriends head because he likes it sometimes, but other times I'm physically hurting him because I get lost in such a trance like state that I don't even realize I'm doing it : / I feel so anxiety ridden and like neeeeed to scratch something. I use to have so many scars and scabs and finally my skin looks somewhat pretty, minus the scars, but I don't want to add any more nor do I want to inflict it on my lover.  :(

[NicoleRoko]

I have something similar although instead of just picking at my scalp, I also pull hair out (it used to be eyelashes and now it's my actual hair) but I found that trying to do something else (that requires both hands) when you feel like picking helps me sometimes. I don't know if your urges are stronger than mine or what, but that helps me. For example: I'm texting this on my phone and i'm having the urge to pick but since I'm texting I cannot and I can sit the rest of the urge out.

[xexe]

maybe its trichi.. i have trichi but i pull the hair out.. and eyelashes and eyebrows :(. dont let it lead to that. its even worse and gross! D:
its not as bad as it was.. but maybe its a phase? like the thumb sucking.. and the bellybutten picking. maybe it will go. sometimes people have phases. and things come and go. ive had this since i was 13/14 now though. its just boring D: im 18 now it apears to be worse in the summer i think.. than the winter.. godknows why. x

[more0then0a0virus]

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-OCD-/Scalp-Picking/show/1510433?personal_page_id=2139400

something like this was already posted.... maybe that`ll help...