[LittleMoody]

I am almost 21 and as long as I can remember I have picked, chewed, gnawed, and ripped the skin off my fingers. It's really gross and shameful, (I'm kind of cringing just writing about it) but I eat the skin too. I have tried to think back to the first time I would have done it, what thoughts would have been going through my head that made me think that was a good idea... just weird. I have had to do my best to hide it over the years. It looks worst when my hands are wet, when the rough flaky skin would puff up and turn white. I was on the swim team for 6 years, obviously there was endless shame. I have tried to quit but it's so hard when I don't even know why I do it. Sometimes I don't even know that I am doing it until I notice the blood... I finally worked up the courage to tell my psychiatrist about it and he brushed it off and told me to talk to a counselor. I have a new job selling beauty supplies and I need to be looking professional so that is one reason I need to stop now. I also have a one and a half year old girl that wants to be just like mommy. She already bites her nails. It's very concerning Any help?

[anjelmarie]

I do it too. Have been for years since teenage years. There is a name for it but i forgot what it was. google biting skin around fingernails and it will come up. I saw a bunch of sites for it so apparently alot of people have this problem. I thought it was just me. I don't know how to stop. I can't seem to help it if i see a hang nail or a piece of skin that is sticking out and catching on things i have to bite it off and it just ends up making a bigger sore. My nails will grow quite long but the skin around them looks horrible. Hope you can get some help for your sake and your childs. I don't care anymore.

[phfeadhuva]

Originally Posted by LittleMoody

I am almost 21 and as long as I can remember I have picked, chewed, gnawed, and ripped the skin off my fingers. It's really gross and shameful, (I'm kind of cringing just writing about it) but I eat the skin too. I have tried to think back to the first time I would have done it, what thoughts would have been going through my head that made me think that was a good idea... just weird. I have had to do my best to hide it over the years. It looks worst when my hands are wet, when the rough flaky skin would puff up and turn white. I was on the swim team for 6 years, obviously there was endless shame. I have tried to quit but it's so hard when I don't even know why I do it. Sometimes I don't even know that I am doing it until I notice the blood... I finally worked up the courage to tell my psychiatrist about it and he brushed it off and told me to talk to a counselor. I have a new job selling beauty supplies and I need to be looking professional so that is one reason I need to stop now. I also have a one and a half year old girl that wants to be just like mommy. She already bites her nails. It's very concerning Any help?

Hey

I have a compulsive skin picking problem too. Only, it's not my finger tips but mostly my face, my back, shoulders, arms, tights ..well it's just awful :c.. I just wanted to tell you that I know your pain .. and all the embarrassment...

I hope you will be able to stop soon.