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Skin Picking
Hello, for the past 7 years I’ve had this habit or shall I now say ‘addiction’ where I pick and pick at my skin. Im now nearly 18 and I think it must have started when going through puberty, I suffered from spots quite a bit on my face and big time on my back. I used to squeeze them because I could never stand the puss.
I now barely suffer from getting spots on my face or back. But I do on my arms, they’re not your typical white head spots, they’re little pimple type spots, hard to explain. But I sit in the bathroom, where the light is really bright, and pick and squeeze so much. In the end my arms are in so much pain, so sensitive and really red. You would never in a million years catch me in a short sleeved t-shirt, even in the summer, im having to wear light ‘ponchos’ and have to find clothing that covers your arms but still are able to wear in the summer (which of course is hard to find).
It’s usually just been the tops of my arms, and slightly on my back. Im now finding myself picking the bottom part of my arms, my legs (mainly top part) and the pores on my breasts/chest area (and nipples, not nice I know) my legs aren’t that bad, at times they can be, but you would still never catch me in shorts. I also pick at the blackheads on my nose, I can sit and do this for up to an hour and I can pick my arms and rest of my body for up to two hours. I once went for a shower at around 10pm and never came out the bathroom until around 2am.
I then scrub and scrub my arms in the shower until they’re red raw. Because I feel this will get rid of ‘picky bits’ and there will be nothing to pick the next day and ill then cream my body with creams that are for dry skin. But I know deep down this isn’t much help. I say to myself all the time right im going to pick my arms, and this is going to be the last time, and so I make myself believe that and I think oh it’s the last time im going to do this so im going to make sure I pick and squeeze every little thing I possibly can, then the next day and the next day im doing it again. Im sitting here now in a way ‘excited’ to have my shower in a bit, because I just know that im going to pick and squeeze at my skin, I now know there’s just no stopping me either.
I find when I don’t have my acrylics on I find it harder to squeeze, but im your typical girly girl and always have to have my nails done. I do think I have some form of OCD, im not too sure if this has anything to do with my skin picking but im a major perfectionist too. Friends and teachers can’t believe how neat my work is laid out at college, and how perfect my make up and hair has to be etc, and please don’t think it’s me being vein or anything lol. My bedroom is cleaned and tidied to perfection, and I feel the need to tidy and clean the whole house every day before I go out. I also used to pick my cuticles and around my nails until my fingers was bleeding and pluck and pluck at my eyebrows, but I no longer do this. Sorry for the essay, but it would be nice to know if there are many other people out there who are similar? Thank you for reading :’) - Mollie
I now barely suffer from getting spots on my face or back. But I do on my arms, they’re not your typical white head spots, they’re little pimple type spots, hard to explain. But I sit in the bathroom, where the light is really bright, and pick and squeeze so much. In the end my arms are in so much pain, so sensitive and really red. You would never in a million years catch me in a short sleeved t-shirt, even in the summer, im having to wear light ‘ponchos’ and have to find clothing that covers your arms but still are able to wear in the summer (which of course is hard to find).
It’s usually just been the tops of my arms, and slightly on my back. Im now finding myself picking the bottom part of my arms, my legs (mainly top part) and the pores on my breasts/chest area (and nipples, not nice I know) my legs aren’t that bad, at times they can be, but you would still never catch me in shorts. I also pick at the blackheads on my nose, I can sit and do this for up to an hour and I can pick my arms and rest of my body for up to two hours. I once went for a shower at around 10pm and never came out the bathroom until around 2am.
I then scrub and scrub my arms in the shower until they’re red raw. Because I feel this will get rid of ‘picky bits’ and there will be nothing to pick the next day and ill then cream my body with creams that are for dry skin. But I know deep down this isn’t much help. I say to myself all the time right im going to pick my arms, and this is going to be the last time, and so I make myself believe that and I think oh it’s the last time im going to do this so im going to make sure I pick and squeeze every little thing I possibly can, then the next day and the next day im doing it again. Im sitting here now in a way ‘excited’ to have my shower in a bit, because I just know that im going to pick and squeeze at my skin, I now know there’s just no stopping me either.
I find when I don’t have my acrylics on I find it harder to squeeze, but im your typical girly girl and always have to have my nails done. I do think I have some form of OCD, im not too sure if this has anything to do with my skin picking but im a major perfectionist too. Friends and teachers can’t believe how neat my work is laid out at college, and how perfect my make up and hair has to be etc, and please don’t think it’s me being vein or anything lol. My bedroom is cleaned and tidied to perfection, and I feel the need to tidy and clean the whole house every day before I go out. I also used to pick my cuticles and around my nails until my fingers was bleeding and pluck and pluck at my eyebrows, but I no longer do this. Sorry for the essay, but it would be nice to know if there are many other people out there who are similar? Thank you for reading :’) - Mollie
Hey Mollie,
So everything you have described is me to a T. Dermatillomania is obsessive skin picking linked to OCD and anxiety (which I suffer from majorly). When I went to college, I went through the free counseling services and like the previous comment, my therapist practice cognitive behavioral therapy which helped but not enough to make me stop. I'm 23 and have been picking since I was in 4th grade. I pick at everything you have stated and even the "nipple" areas. I do recommend some counseling to help you talk about it. It really helped me get more comfortable about it and I actually wear tees and tanks now. I'm slowly getting better with it but I have days where I spend hours picking at my arms and chest. I just recently got a prescription for mupirocin ointment to put on, and I take zoloft for depression/anxiety. I know it can help to feel the relief that you aren't alone in this. Fun fact, dermatillomania is more common than schizophrenia!
So everything you have described is me to a T. Dermatillomania is obsessive skin picking linked to OCD and anxiety (which I suffer from majorly). When I went to college, I went through the free counseling services and like the previous comment, my therapist practice cognitive behavioral therapy which helped but not enough to make me stop. I'm 23 and have been picking since I was in 4th grade. I pick at everything you have stated and even the "nipple" areas. I do recommend some counseling to help you talk about it. It really helped me get more comfortable about it and I actually wear tees and tanks now. I'm slowly getting better with it but I have days where I spend hours picking at my arms and chest. I just recently got a prescription for mupirocin ointment to put on, and I take zoloft for depression/anxiety. I know it can help to feel the relief that you aren't alone in this. Fun fact, dermatillomania is more common than schizophrenia!
Hellochick, you are not alone! "Dermatillomania" is compulsive skin picking. I do not believe it is an official diagnosis in the DSM used by therapists (at least yet). It is usually compared to "trichotillomania", which is pulling your hair out compulsively (which is an official diagnosis). Most recommendations I have heard is to attend therapy called "CBT" - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Unfortunately I am unaware of any specific meds that treat compulsive skin picking specifically (and I've tried countless meds). I've suffered from CSP for 30 years, and I can totally relate to the embarrassment, wearing certain clothing to cover spots and scars, etc.
Good luck.
Good luck.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
These can be due to irritated hair follicles, cyst or folliculitis skin. Keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. Also please consult a dermatologist to get the diagnosis confirmed.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
These can be due to irritated hair follicles, cyst or folliculitis skin. Keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. Also please consult a dermatologist to get the diagnosis confirmed.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.
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