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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.
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Avatar universal
Me too.  I won't go to the hairdresser with bumps on my head.  It takes months to clear it up if I can, then I might go.  But my hair is long and I usually cut it myself.  It would be nice to have it styled or layered though.  Its so hard. Maybe if I can clear my head up I should reward myself with a nice layered cut! That's a great idea.  Maybe in time for summer.
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Moonshadow53, your original comment also broke my heart.  I'm 55 and female and have been picking at my scalp for years now.  I truly believe it's stress related.....everyone posting here seems to share a common thread with regard to stress.  I haven't had my hair cut since July and I'm itching to get another trim but I'm embarrassed my hair guy will see my latest picking damage.  I'm in dire need for a cut, but I'm waiting to heal.  Here's one tip I can offer anyone on this forum with accelerating the healing.  Use cold tar shampoo and/or dandruff shampoo religiously for a week or two.  It helps dry the scabs. The trouble is keeping ourselves from picking off the healing crust plates that scab over.  It's a vicious cycle,I know!--also I've used straight up rubbing alcohol directly on the area. Yes it burns, but I'm trying to dry out the entire area faster.  My scabs tend to last about 6 months.  I too pick and even pluck the hairs within the scab zone, with a tweezer. I look to see if the roots look infected.  It's really insane.  I also have eczema on my arms and shoulders from time to time. I'm in Los Angeles, where it's bone dry all the time.  Never ending battle. Dry, itch, scratch, scab, dry, itch, etc....I think I've left scar tissue at the site of my latest gem. I can feel the previously plucked hairs growing back like stubble.  But the pattern seems irregular.  I may have caused permanent scar tissue.  I find faithful use of the tar shampoo helps seal the wound sooner, and any further picking usually is just scaly layers without blood.  God this is gross!
Avatar universal
I've been picking my scalp since I was 12 years old and I am now 62.  Depressing, isn't it?  I've stopped for a few years at a time but always get back at it.  At time I've realized that I have been keeping the same scab going for at least a year! I enjoy looking at them in the mirror.  The bloodier the better.  I do have OCD, I was diagnosed with a mild for of OCD years ago, but I think its getting worse.  For example, I have to reload the dishwasher to my way of doing it if anyone else messes it up, which is not usually the case because I do the cooking and clean up afterwards, but others might put something in it during the day.  I freak out when things aren't done the way I think they should be done.  I have a ton of stress, caring for my mom, living with her and my brother and his wife.  We are all disabled.  I shouldn't be caring for my mom, I don't have the stamina and I am in a great deal of pain.  I started caring for my dad but that was killing me, then he fell and broke his hip and is now in a nursing home.  It was a natural change to just caring for my mom, which gets harder all the time.  I have money problems, legal problems, etc, etc.  Its all too much.  I want to quit picking so much, it makes me cry and only adds to my stress.  My head hurts, I'm afraid people will see the sores.  I put antibiotic ointment on the sores at night and a dab of medicated powder to cover them during the day, to make them less visible.  It works good.  I'm certain I'll feel healthier and more positive if I could just quit.  I can start to quit, but then that urge is so great to pick.
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This comment absolutely broke my heart. You are one strong lady and you inspire me. I feel so sad for you that things are so hard for you I hope things have gotten better. Good luck x
Avatar universal
I'm guilty of this too. It starts with just a normal itchy scalp for whatever reason...a tickling loose hair, dandruff or whatever. I have really oily hair and always want to run my fingers through to get it all off.

I know this isn't exactly an option for you ladies, but what solved it for me is to pretty much start from SCRATCH (har har). In the summer I just shave my head bald. I rub the hell out of my head afterwards and notice all the dried skin buildup and scabs and crap. I get some good oils and etc etc and just massage my head with the time is typically pick the hell out of it. R helps because there's no loose hair neusance, there's no dandruff, and I can actually see the scabs and damage and let them heal. Once my scalps treated like this I can come to grips with refreshing with proper hygiene and routine brushing and etc. when I have long hair I guess it just drives me mad. I hate loose hair and dandruff and crap.

For you girls, something this helps me not post as much is make a conscious effort to use the palms of my fingers instead. Run my fingers through my hair like a comb and only agitate my scalp. It soothes the itchiness and clears out some of the dander. My head gets itchy just thinking about it. Hold on **Szch szch szch***
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Avatar universal
Im not exactly what you would call a scalp picker but for the past few years, I've  constantly rubbed certain parts of my scalp while in deep concentration or boredom. It;s more of an absent mindedness thing than stress related, although I feel like I do it more when upset. Ill keep rubbing the same spot over and over with one finger until the scalp gets so sore it almost bleeds, or until my arm gets numb or starts hurting. Then ill just start on the other side with my other hand! I;ve always rubbed my scalp since I was a kid (Im 24 now) but since I started graduate school and was put on Vyvanse, it has made it 100x worse. I also did it a lot more often in early college when I was on phentermine for weight loss. Its something I absolutely CANNOT make myself stop doing. I;ll have people in the room tell me to stop and I will for less than a minute but go right back to doing it. BUT I am ordering something I saw online called Pavlok. It;s basically a shock bracelet, but can either alert or give you a mild shock when it senses you are doing something or when you ask it to shock you. The reviews say a lot about how it;s helped with nail biting or hair pulling. It seems pretty harsh but Im desperate to not have bald spots anymore!
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Avatar universal
I started picking my scalp when i was about 10. i'm 57 n have had a few weeks maybe 3 times in my life when i had no scabs. it gives me a lot of pleasure, even tho if i gouge too hard it hurts really bad. i have 5 scabs at the moment. it usually only takes about an hour after picking, then i have a new scab. i love to examine them n if i drop one n lose it, it makes me mad. i also eat them. i know, gross...n congrats to the few who also admitted to eating them. i kinda want to stop, but sometimes i dob't want to stop. i usually do it more with stress n boredom.  someone mentioned  foot  itching powder helped. i don't have that, but i have gold bond medicated powder. i will try that. at least i won't eat them with that on it

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Avatar universal
Just like many of you I thought i was the only one to do this.  Weird to see people describing EXACTLY the feelings I've had for so long -- the weird satisfaction etc.  Glad to know there are techniques I can use to stop doing it.  I don't really like that I willingly hurt myself.  It seems to me it's more of an absentminded boredom thing. I do it mostly when I'm reading.  Must be some kind of self-soothing thing.  I"m on no meds nor have I ever considered myself symptomatic but recently wonder if I'm moderately depressed.  Definitely this picking is OCD! which is hilarious to me because I always tell my husband HE's OCD! (he's a neatnik; I'm not).  Thank you all for sharing your stories -- this has helped me a LOT.
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