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Compulsive Skin Picking (face, arms, legs, and body)
(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.)
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.)
So glad to know I'm not the only one. I thought I was. I'm 29 and have been picking for many years. Started with my face, then my legs, then chest and so on. I look for every pour that may have something in it! I even pick at the stubbles on my legs. I found the hair closer to my ankles pop out of the pour in a way that intieses me. I can't stop once I start and spend countless hours doing so. Low cut shirts show the top of my breast were I've made many dark spots. I can't weare shorts or skirts because of the dark scars and new red marks. I have 4 boys and I'm very busy but my anxiety kills my self image. I have a beautiful body and I should show it off but I am embarrassed. I have tried so many things to occupie my hand but nothing worked. If I don't pick something I see on my body I go into a panic attack. My kids are now noticing this behavior. I used to hide it but can't any more. I'm ashamed, embarrassed, and lost. Not to mention sweating myself to deth because I have to wear pants all the time. I'd love to be the other moms in their cute cool outfits sitting at the soccer and baseball games, or to go swimming. Thank you for sharing. I don't feel so alone any more!
Yep. My problem exactly. I honestly thought I was the only one too.
Basically, picking any little bumps I see, etc. I get red sores everywhere I picked but just tell myself that ill look better in the morning. Then I wake up, and it's not completely healed and im afraid to go out in public and be seen
I picked my arms the worst. They get very red, and they are bumpy. I don't know how to cure it, or how to relievve the redness, except that when I rub the skin, the redness goes away for a while, I'm guess that the picking had ruptured tiny veins that allow blood flow, so the blood just gathers up wherever I once picked at them.
I'm so mad at myself, and im scared to go short sleeved now. Im trying many creams on my arms and nothing seems to be working.
If anyone knows of a good cream or natural remedy for my problem, please comment on this chat.
Thankyou, and god bless all of you who are going through this problem
P.S. I have stopped picking completely because of my arm problem. It finally got to my head. Honestly, I want to pick every second of the day when I'm at home. Especially when I'm in the bathroo in front of the mirror, seeing any kind of blemish. I'm on the road to recovery, I just hope to god that I haven't permanently made my arms red and bumpy foreverrrrr :(
Basically, picking any little bumps I see, etc. I get red sores everywhere I picked but just tell myself that ill look better in the morning. Then I wake up, and it's not completely healed and im afraid to go out in public and be seen
I picked my arms the worst. They get very red, and they are bumpy. I don't know how to cure it, or how to relievve the redness, except that when I rub the skin, the redness goes away for a while, I'm guess that the picking had ruptured tiny veins that allow blood flow, so the blood just gathers up wherever I once picked at them.
I'm so mad at myself, and im scared to go short sleeved now. Im trying many creams on my arms and nothing seems to be working.
If anyone knows of a good cream or natural remedy for my problem, please comment on this chat.
Thankyou, and god bless all of you who are going through this problem
P.S. I have stopped picking completely because of my arm problem. It finally got to my head. Honestly, I want to pick every second of the day when I'm at home. Especially when I'm in the bathroo in front of the mirror, seeing any kind of blemish. I'm on the road to recovery, I just hope to god that I haven't permanently made my arms red and bumpy foreverrrrr :(
Yep. My problem exactly. I honestly thought I was the only one too.
Basically, picking any little bumps I see, etc. I get red sores everywhere I picked but just tell myself that ill look better in the morning. Then I wake up, and it's not completely healed and im afraid to go out in public and be seen
I picked my arms the worst. They get very red, and they are bumpy. I don't know how to cure it, or how to relievve the redness, except that when I rub the skin, the redness goes away for a while, I'm guess that the picking had ruptured tiny veins that allow blood flow, so the blood just gathers up wherever I once picked at them.
I'm so mad at myself, and im scared to go short sleeved now. Im trying many creams on my arms and nothing seems to be working.
If anyone knows of a good cream or natural remedy for my problem, please comment on this chat.
Thankyou, and god bless all of you who are going through this problem
P.S. I have stopped picking completely because of my arm problem. It finally got to my head. Honestly, I want to pick every second of the day when I'm at home. Especially when I'm in the bathroo in front of the mirror, seeing any kind of blemish. I'm on the road to recovery, I just hope to god that I haven't permanently made my arms red and bumpy foreverrrrr :(
Basically, picking any little bumps I see, etc. I get red sores everywhere I picked but just tell myself that ill look better in the morning. Then I wake up, and it's not completely healed and im afraid to go out in public and be seen
I picked my arms the worst. They get very red, and they are bumpy. I don't know how to cure it, or how to relievve the redness, except that when I rub the skin, the redness goes away for a while, I'm guess that the picking had ruptured tiny veins that allow blood flow, so the blood just gathers up wherever I once picked at them.
I'm so mad at myself, and im scared to go short sleeved now. Im trying many creams on my arms and nothing seems to be working.
If anyone knows of a good cream or natural remedy for my problem, please comment on this chat.
Thankyou, and god bless all of you who are going through this problem
P.S. I have stopped picking completely because of my arm problem. It finally got to my head. Honestly, I want to pick every second of the day when I'm at home. Especially when I'm in the bathroo in front of the mirror, seeing any kind of blemish. I'm on the road to recovery, I just hope to god that I haven't permanently made my arms red and bumpy foreverrrrr :(
This describes me exactly! I really thought I was the only one out there. I feel weird and everyone I run across tries to associate it with drugs! It's awful! I've always picked but now at 26 it is really really worse with association to the same problems. I realize there is more to learn out there and it's not just me. One thing that does help though is finding something to keep my hands busy and to stay out of the bathroom of course. Try scrapbooks, writing, or cleaning, these seem to help me and keep things off my mind :)
I just got done sitting infront of my mirror by the window so i have day light to pick my face...there is only one spot on my face that i pick and it has been there for months and months, because i just cant leave it alone..it scabs up in the morning and when i need to get ready and put make up on i have to pick the scab off so i can put my foundation over it cause it looks worse with the scab on, then when i get home, i end up going upstairs and picking the scab off of it and going after these white things, and im pretty sure they are my pores, my satisfaction is that i pull out these pores and see how big each one is and then i put them on my little mirror...i know that sounds extremely bizzar...but that is what i do and i think i have a major infection because it feels like i have an abscess around the area, i dont think its just scar tissue...i found neosporin with a pain relief in it, and it really helps, but im trying my hardest to let it heal, but everytime something gets me upset or triggers me, i go after my face, even though something might not even be wrong, i still find myself infront of the mirror...i need some advice, i try to keep my hands busy with something else but i know that i have it on my face...and once im done i will leave it alone for the rest of the night, it usually wont be touched till morning, and all i do is take the scab off...i dont go after the pores, cuz i cant be late in the mornings for where i go...but i have had this problem for years, and i cant make it go away...it really ***** and i hate people staring at me or asking me what happened to my face...
What you want to do is seek out the help of a psychologist. Tell you mom to take a look at the following web site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatillomania
This is a real disorder with a real name and it can be treated with the proper help. Have a sit down with your mom, look at the site, and then make plans to see a child psychologist. Make sure they have experience with Dermatillomania and the ways it can be treated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatillomania
This is a real disorder with a real name and it can be treated with the proper help. Have a sit down with your mom, look at the site, and then make plans to see a child psychologist. Make sure they have experience with Dermatillomania and the ways it can be treated.
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