[Phoenix_1]

How do I break this awful habit? I have sores on my arms, fingers, shoulders, legs, and acne on my face that I scratch and pick. I am 59 years old, and yes I still have acne. I wear a lot of makeup on my face and I'm ashamed to let others see my body. I remember when I was a kid I picked at sores and mosquito bites and my mother always yelled at me to stop picking. I chewed my nails to the quick until I got false teeth. Now I keep my nails really short but it doesn't seem to help.
Will anything work to help me stop?
What have you tried?

[Travelinglady]

Have you talked to a therapist and/or a dermatologist? So far no one has indicated any experience in this area, as you see. Sometimes it takes awhile to get a response, though, so please don't give up!

[cybermember]

I went on an antipsychotic for other issues and the skin picking just so happen to stop as well.

[BlessedRhiannon]

I went on medication for anxiety, and the skin picking has nearly vanished.

In addition to the meds, some things I found helpful are working with a therapist, having things around to occupy my hands instead of picking, and some aspects of DBT and mindfulness.

[Ineptitude]

Medication can be very effective, although it had no effect on my skin picking. I've just had to be very conscious, and any time I get the urge to pick I try to find an activity that keeps my hands busy.

For a while I actually put a rubber band on my wrist and just snapped myself any time I had the urge to pick, and eventually the urges subsided a bit. My picking was primarily focused on my hands and forearms, so I started trying to pamper them a bit, giving myself manicures and applying lotion multiple times a day, etc. Another thing that helped was fake nails, they make it really difficult to effectively pick anything!

I also hid the things I use to pick, no more razor blades or exacto knives in my bathroom, and nail clippers are only for use in trimming my fingernails and toenails. Out of sight, out of mind!