[amyp300]

I have dermatotillomania - skin picking. It drives my boyfriend crazy...he's started slapping my hand when he sees me doing it. I do it mostly on my face, but also on my back and a little on the scalp. When I was little bit my fingernails and all the skin off the tips until they would bleed. Then I started biting the inside of my cheeks, I still do that as well. It's frustrating, I don't know how to stop and I can't explain the impulse to do it to someone who doesn't suffer and understand...

[Skeezyks]

Hello amyp300: I'm sorry you are having so much difficulty with this. I've had some similar sorts of compulsions all of my life. Every time I would manage to break myself of one, I'd come up with another. I don't really have any useful advice for you I'm afraid. But I send hugs your way with the hope that you will be able to find deep peace within.

I have it too. My ex just used to tell me off for it but I think he knew it had a purpose. I just don't know what it is. It is worse when I am stressed. It's been really bad today. I have no one in my life now so I don't care but I do try to hide the scabs on my face with make up. My chest doesn't matter really. It isn't healthy but if it helps then I don't see why I should stop. I have no motivation to so I know I won't and never will now.

[Nike007]

Greetings. I'm not diagnosed with it, though I do meet the criteria, except possibly length. I only do so when stressed and not everyday. I only pick my scalp, but it's gotten so bad once that my scalp was bleeding for like 15 minutes and I had to put a paper towel on my head to clean up the blood (ay).

Best things in my opinion are:
-cut nails! The easiest and most effective thing in my opinion. You can't pick as well with short nails
-wear gloves. You can't pick with gloves on unless you use tools.
-for scalp, wear a hat. Not as effective as gloves, but is better. You will try to pick, with little success though.

I also suggest going to do therapy. I know why I do mine and for me, it's linked to social anxiety and stress and boredom at times. Therapy should help you figure out what to do by someone who is trained.

Hope this helps .

[Moose72]

I'm wondering if this would be part of this? Just recently, I've felt there were little bugs on me, but they turn out to be little bits of skin that I pick off everywhere. I did just cut my nails off. Doesn't help. Actually, it makes it easier. It started Saturday night when I felt like tiny bugs were on my crawling around. I think this is a side effect from Wellbutrin, but the little bits of skin are real. Anybody got any ideas?

Originally Posted by Moose72

I'm wondering if this would be part of this? Just recently, I've felt there were little bugs on me, but they turn out to be little bits of skin that I pick off everywhere. I did just cut my nails off. Doesn't help. Actually, it makes it easier. It started Saturday night when I felt like tiny bugs were on my crawling around. I think this is a side effect from Wellbutrin, but the little bits of skin are real. Anybody got any ideas?

It sounds like dry skin. Get some spa gloves, body wash and lotion. Take a shower using the body wash and gloves and exfoliate your body carefully but thoroughly. After you towel off, apply lotion. Do this daily until there are no more flakes of skin or itchiness. Gold bond makes a good lotion for itching. If you are able to take benedryl, it can help a bit with the crawling sensation. Good luck!

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

It sounds like dry skin. Get some spa gloves, body wash and lotion. Take a shower using the body wash and gloves and exfoliate your body carefully but thoroughly. After you towel off, apply lotion. Do this daily until there are no more flakes of skin or itchiness. Gold bond makes a good lotion for itching. If you are able to take benedryl, it can help a bit with the crawling sensation. Good luck!

Its not skin. I can see the little things I pick off. It might be a skin tag, but its not plain skin. Scrubbing it wouldn't help I don't think. The crawling is from Wellbutrin and I think its gone. Thank goodness- it was maddening! If it comes back and is really bad, I'll try the Benedryl but

Possible trigger:

that's what I majorly OD's on a month ago and spent time in the regular and psych hospitals

Thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by Moose72

Its not skin. I can see the little things I pick off. It might be a skin tag, but its not plain skin. Scrubbing it wouldn't help I don't think. The crawling is from Wellbutrin and I think its gone. Thank goodness- it was maddening! If it comes back and is really bad, I'll try the Benedryl but

Possible trigger:

that's what I majorly OD's on a month ago and spent time in the regular and psych hospitals

Thanks for your help!

You should probably see a dermatologist. I'm sorry you are dealing with this and for what you have been through. I find attarax more effective than benedryl but it's prescription only and they are suppose to work the same way. Stay safe.

[staceyharding]

Hi amyp300. I too, also suffer with Dermatillomania, it rules my life. I mostly just pick my scalp, but I have sores all over my scalp and pick and pick until it bleeds. I get some sort of satisfaction from the pain. I have tried to stop picking, but I get really angry and OCD if I don't do it.
My doctor says that skin picking is a form of self harm and is closely linked to anxiety.
The only thing that helps me to stop doing it is cutting my nails right down or getting acrylic nails done. For some reason, I can't pick when I have acrylics, but other than that - I don't know how to stop doing it so any advice would be great.

[BrowseAfterMidnight]

I think I have Dermatotillomania too. I have not been diagnosed with it, but I meet the criteria... I pick on my face and sometimes chest and shoulders before bed almost every night. Recently, I have started picking on my scalp as well (mostly during the day). I hide the red spots and scabs on my face with makeup and I am ashamed to go out without it when my face is pretty bad. I think I pick on my skin more when I am stressed or anxious.
My mom hates it. From time to time, she notices how bad my face looks and makes remarks about how I should fix it...
The only thing that I have found to help with the picking is cutting my nails. I also use different skin care products to help my skin heal...
I had no idea Dermatotillomania was a thing until I came on this forum. I thought I was the only one with this weird obsession... It's great to know that I am not alone!

[AutoSerene]

I feel y'all. I have it too, primarily on my scalp, but sometimes any facial blemishes too. The only thing I can suggest is covering up your hands and the areas you are prone to scratching whenever you can, for example when at home I'll sometimes wear a hat and gloves. And remember, you're not alone .

[mugwort2]

I can somewhat relate. I pick my lip. The urge to pick is so **** strong. I understand the feeling. Realize it is an irrational impulse.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I've bit/picked my lips for years, and picked at my fingers, around the nails and where the callouses are from the guitar. I often just use nail clippers, although of course never on my lips! I don't pick skin anywhere else. I also do it more when I'm anxious, like right now, my anxiety is really high because of a huge OCD trigger. I came across this thread. I don't really know about dermatillomania, aside from it being about skin picking. That's my experience. I've often bit or picked my lips to the point at which they bleed and swell a bit. I have to actively try to stop and put Vaseline on them, but of course I go right on back if I get super anxious, or once it's cleared up.

[Eclecticdivergent1]

Originally Posted by staceyharding

Hi amyp300. I too, also suffer with Dermatillomania, it rules my life. I mostly just pick my scalp, but I have sores all over my scalp and pick and pick until it bleeds. I get some sort of satisfaction from the pain. I have tried to stop picking, but I get really angry and OCD if I don't do it.
My doctor says that skin picking is a form of self harm and is closely linked to anxiety.
The only thing that helps me to stop doing it is cutting my nails right down or getting acrylic nails done. For some reason, I can't pick when I have acrylics, but other than that - I don't know how to stop doing it so any advice would be great.

I have battled with skin-picking my whole life... the only way I can have decent looking skin is when I have acrylic nails and wear them long. I can't pick or scratch myself open with the acrylic nails My granddaughter bites her nails to bleeding so she and I have acrylic nails now! We are hoping this will help us stop our picking/nailbiting habits.

[Nobodyandnothing]

I pick my hands and arms. This isn't dermatillomania, is it? I showed my hands to my psychiatrist and he didn't seem to be surprised. I have scars but I can't seem to control it and my hands look awful but I don't pick my scalp or face. Thank you for answering my question.

[Nobodyandnothing]

Can anyone answer my question regarding my picking behavior (above)? Thank yiu

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by Nobodyandnothing

I pick my hands and arms. This isn't dermatillomania, is it? I showed my hands to my psychiatrist and he didn't seem to be surprised. I have scars but I can't seem to control it and my hands look awful but I don't pick my scalp or face. Thank you for answering my question.

Greetings. By definition, yes, that is dermatillomania. It just depends on several factors. Like, you said that scaring occurs, which I would presume that there is blood or cuts of some kind, which is one of the criteria. It has to impact your functioning level, so if you do it enough that you aren't able to be at a "normal functioning" level, then yes. So if you don't feel this psychiatrist have accurately considered your situation, I suggest you get a second opinion. No one here can diagnose you though. Also, my criteria for dermatillomania is not to its remembered fully so I may have missed stuff. Anyways, hope this helps

[*Laurie*]

I agree with Nike007.

[Nobodyandnothing]

Thank you Nike and LauraBeth.

[Fireweed]

I have this too- I didn't know this was even a thing until I read about it a few years ago. I've been embarrassed about my scalp and hand picking habit forever (started picking my fingers when I was a kid). I've never understood my compulsion to keep doing it, even though I get mad at myself for doing it.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Fireweed

I have this too- I didn't know this was even a thing until I read about it a few years ago. I've been embarrassed about my scalp and hand picking habit forever (started picking my fingers when I was a kid). I've never understood my compulsion to keep doing it, even though I get mad at myself for doing it.

It's a way to deal with anxiety. A troubling way.

[rechu]

Originally Posted by IchbinkeinTeufel

I've bit/picked my lips for years, and picked at my fingers, around the nails and where the callouses are from the guitar. I often just use nail clippers, although of course never on my lips! I don't pick skin anywhere else. I also do it more when I'm anxious, like right now, my anxiety is really high because of a huge OCD trigger. I came across this thread. I don't really know about dermatillomania, aside from it being about skin picking. That's my experience. I've often bit or picked my lips to the point at which they bleed and swell a bit. I have to actively try to stop and put Vaseline on them, but of course I go right on back if I get super anxious, or once it's cleared up.

I do that too when I am stressed or anxious, lips or sometimes a cuticle if it is loose. I should probably try to stop.

[Eclecticist]

No one’s posted in a while. But this thread spoke to me. I too meet the criteria for dermatillomania (excoriation disorder), but I haven’t been officially diagnosed for it. It’s an embarrassing habit that I’ve never really talked about with anyone.

I squeeze my clogged pores (or what I think are clogged pores) all over my face, chest, arms, and sometimes legs. Sometimes it’s just before bed, sometimes it’s just before doing something stressful like work, or school, or an appointment.

I’ve been doing this for years since puberty when I started developing acne. My skin picking habit was very bad then. I would literally sit in front of a mirror for hours trying to get every last one I could see. I just felt so compelled to do so. The pain from picking was strangely satisfying.

I’m better about it today. If I do pick, I don’t do it for as nearly as long. But then again, maybe it’s just because my acne isn’t as bad as it was then.

Now that I have a better understanding of my body and its needs, I take some measures to keep my skin from becoming too bad:

I make sure to wash my face, or take a shower and scrub with a salicylic acid cleanser directly after picking myself. It seems to help the redness and swelling go away a little more quickly. I have a theory that this is because the bacteria that was pushed into the skin from the picking is being scrubbed away, allowing for the skin to heal more quickly. The sting from the salicylic acid is also “satisfying” and helps me from picking even more. And most salicylic acid cleansers smell nice, which is a plus.

If you can afford this luxury, I might also suggest makeup for the exposed areas. I tend to save the makeup for the really bad days when I’m stressed and I’m obligated to go somewhere. I tend to leave my face alone when I have makeup on because I don’t want to mess it up.

I’ve also noticed that the condition of my skin is strongly correlated to the elements of my diet. The more oily or buttery things I eat, the worse my skin gets. So, I’ve tried to cut back on the butter, oils, and fats in my diet so my pores don’t become so clogged all the time. Fewer clogged pores = less picking. But it’s been tough giving up on my favorite foods. Everyone’s dietary needs are a little different. Do what’s best for you.

These suggestions are just some things that work ok for me. But they are just superficial treatments for a habit that probably has a deeper underlying problem. And for that, I would recommend professional help if you can afford it.

Why do we pick? Maybe it's some unhealthy desire for perfection, and picking at perceived imperfections is our subconscious way of trying to rid ourselves of them. Who knows.