I didn't even know that face picking was a problem like this. I have been face picking for years. Needless to say just a small pimple on my face lasts months because of my constant picking. I've tried to stop but I get SO aggitated when I'm trying to force myself to stop. I even do it without realizing some times and than I see what I'm doing mid "pick" (gross I know) and I'm pretty much yelling inside my head telling myself to stop but I just can't. I continue until there is nothing left to pick. Every one says my face will get scars but I have been lucky enough to not get any. Yet.
I try to pick at other places on my body, I'm even relieved when I get a small nick on my leg or arm. It gives me something to pick at when I start on my face, yet it's still not satisfying and I end up at my face in the end any ways. I have a mark on my arm that I have been picking at for years. It's a freckle/mole that I picked off when I was about 11 and of course it left a little scar but when I get too stressed and need to pick something I go for that if everything is gone from my face.
I don't have bad acne at all, if I would stop picking at my face I know it would clear up fast. I just can't.
I have other signs of OCD, for instance as soon as I walk out my front door and lock the door I HAVE to go back inside to make sure the stove is turned off and the hair straightner is unplugged. Even if I haven't used them. If I don't I will be extremely uneasy until I get home.
I got to the point where I was on my way to the doctors and got 1/2 way there and knew I didn't check the stove but I was running late so I tried to push it out of my mind. It didn't work so I had to turn around and go all the way back home (my doctor was about 30 minutes away) just to check and make sure I didn't leave the stove on. And I didn't use the stove that day and I knew I didn't.
I wasn't aware however that skin picking was related in any way until now. Until today and this thread I thought it was just a bad habit.