Dermatillomania (skin picking)

[karkar]

I'm ashamed to say....

Recently my skin picking has gotten out of control. I feel as though most of the time I have it under control, but sit me infront of a mirror and my face will be bleeding by the time I'm done.

This sounds very freaky- I haven't been diagnosed with dermatillomania, but I am too ashamed to mention this to my main psychotherapist (treating for depression and SA). The reason I am bringing it up here- I was on another website and it alluded to a link between SA, depression and skin picking (as well as some other OCD related things).

I have very clear skin and have not picked myself into oblivion. Even though I am acne-free, I find any excuse to pick my skin (pores/zits, scabs, calluses, etc.). I understand that a person may occasionally pick a scab or pop a zit, but it has gotten to the point where I am constantly surveilling my skin to find things to pick. I don't have any horrible acne scars yet, but if I keep doing this I know I will. My new obsession is to pick at the pores on my breasts (sorry for the TMI). Most people don't even know that breasts have pores!

I don't know what to do. Is this all in my head? Is everyone like this??


***(My fear of judgment is kicking in: A side note, I do take extremely good aesthetic care of myself. I also make sure to use some makeup over any marks, wounds, etc.)

Edit: I noticed a couple people mentioning skin picking in the post on lip chewing. Medically speaking, chewing skin and picking skin are symptomatic of separate disorders.

[le feu]

I don't think I have Dermatillomania, but whenever I get a fresh pimple or if I spot any skin imperfections, I tend to obsess over it and keep touching it. This is quite embarrassing, but sometimes when I'm bored I get a needle and poke on my black pores. am I weird or does anyone else do this too?? lol

[archaic]

I've been diagnosed with it but have never told my dermatologist (whom I've been seeing since I was 13). Picking at my face has been a constant for almost ten years, and I rotate through other places as well (i.e. hands/fingers, chest, feet, etc.). I think I have touches of trich too. I can sit in front of a mirror for hours at a time destroying my skin.

When you say pores on your breasts, are you talking about those slight bumps? I found out those are actually glands. Be careful.

Originally Posted by le feu

This is quite embarrassing, but sometimes when I'm bored I get a needle and poke on my black pores. am I weird or does anyone else do this too?? lol

I take needles and poke at cysts (or where I think there may be one). I used to be really reckless with it and would create these awful scabs, but I think I'm mostly over my needle thing, or at least less rash in how I do it.

[citizen_erased]

Originally Posted by le feu

I don't think I have Dermatillomania, but whenever I get a fresh pimple or if I spot any skin imperfections, I tend to obsess over it and keep touching it.

That sounds like me (i don't think i have Dermatillomania either), but every time i notice a new spot, hangnail, scab or just any imperfect looking area of skin, i always have to get to rid of it or it bothers me, even if it bleeds.

[nightmahr]

My face is a bit pimply and gets bumpy from shaving pretty bad. I can't stand it. I scrape or pick at it with my fingernails cause it feels so dirty. Facial hair feels the same way--disturbing.

[naruto]

For the past few years I would pick my face when I see acne,but it got worse.My back is getting acne and I keep on picking and scratching it and getting ugly acne marks.But these few months I'ts gotten better and my skin is clearer.I hope it stays that way

[missem]

I had never heard of Dermatillomania until I read this post, but I'm like that. I pick at the acne on my face and the skin around my fingernails all the time. The problem is that I don't usually notice I'm doing it until the damage is done. Now I have quite a few acne scars on my face because of it. I've been trying to quit doing it though for the last few weeks, and the damage has faded a little.

[ascossey]

I had to join just to reply to this post. I too amapicker. I have scars on my have,arms,legs, stomach. I also have scars on my breasts. I can find a hair on my breast and turn in into a hole if I am not stopped. My boyfriend has been good about trying to stop me when he sees me, but even now, I have about 5 or 6 open sores on my face. I am ashamed to go places. It raises my anxiety and then in turn increases the picking. I never had associated this with my depression or anxiety until tonight..

[readpill_blewpill]

Hey Karina~
I'm new here but I do have some experience with self-harm. I've picked at my face and used pins and needles to dig at my fingers since high school. My face finally cleared up in my late 40s but I'll still pick at the occassional blemish that pops up. Breast, and any other body part, included (I had a unilateral mastectomy almost 3 years ago due to breast cancer, so I'm down to one) My fingers? That's a different story. A few(?) years ago I graduated to using a craft knife instead of the earlier implements. I'm still battling with it. I am in therapy (Dialectical Behavior Therapy-DBT, check it out) and am scheduled to join a Habit Reversal Group as soon as the facilitator gets enough participants. I can pick, bite, clip, and carve for hours. Turning my fingers into painful, bloody, hideously raw digits. I'm actually wearing gloves right now. Among other reasons, I do it because it does help me focus on something other than any emotional pain that might be going on. But I'll also do it when there isn't. Or maybe I'm just not conscious of it. If I see or feel something...I must attack! Then there's this weird sense of accomplishment when I get that piece of dry skin I've been carving at (Or pop that zit). And yep, it brings on shame, disgust and self loathing, realizing what disturbed behavior it is and thinking about all the time I've wasted when I could be doing more productive, even enjoyable things. Which is probably partly why I also took up official "cutting" a year and a half ago. The finger thing wasn't working. Nothing was working. I hated that I couldn't stop. And it seemed that every time I'd tell a mental health pro about what I do to my fingers, their first question was "Do you cut?" So one night I kept thinking about it and thought, hey...there must be something to this cutting stuff, and tried it. I'm still battling with that also. Although I've noticed that since Prozac has been added to my cocktail of meds, the compulsion isn't quite as strong. So maybe that'll help more as we build up the dosage. Can't say that I have any answers yet but no, it's not in your head, not everyone is like this and my psych nurse assures me that it will stop. I did stop the finger mutilation once (I hadn't started cutting yet), for about a month after entering an outpatient program a couple of years ago, for those who have depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. The rule was that they'd kick you out if you did any form of self-harm. I went back to this same program in early Dec. and didn't have quite the same luck. I didn't cut but I couldn't stop with the finger thing. They did not kick me out. So I hope this was helpful in some way. At least now you know that you're not alone. GOOD LUCK!

[jesuismoi7]

Hi, I searched "compulsively picking breasts" on Google and came across your post. In the last year, I have constantly picked at the pores in my breasts. When you mentioned that you bet people didn't even know the breasts had pores, I knew that we were doing the same thing. My friends ask if I have pimples or sores and don't understand when I tell them it's the pores, something they can't even see. It's become so bad, my breasts look like their covered in red polka dots. I used to wear low cut stuff all the time and I can't anymore.

Earlier today, I found out a close friend has trichotillomania (pulling out hair) and on looking it up ran across dermatillomania. Suddenly, my skin picking seems like a much bigger deal than I ever thought it was. I've always picked at my acne scars on my face and popped pimples. In junior high, I was a cutter and I've always picked at the skin on my lips. None of these were something that ever really affected me. This new thing with the breasts is out of control, though. I know that it's ugly and I don't want to do it, especially since I scar so easily. I miss wearing sexy clothes, but I just fall into this trance-like state and start picking. Most of the time, I don't even realize until I'm bleeding and have added several new spots to my "collection".

I've never been to a psychiatrist. Cutting was something that ended with adolescense and not having insurance has prevented me from seeking help when I fall into a depression. But for the first time, I'm seriously considering seeking outside help. I have a hard time thinking any mans going to want a woman with spotted breasts.

I guess I just wanted you to know you're not the only one out there. I'm personally glad to know I'm not alone.

Thanks.

[Curtis Fairchild]

wow... my heart is starting to break from reading these painful stories. i have been a picker for the past maybe ten years and my eight-year old daughter picks, too. now, funny enough, my lady friend has a five-year old daughter who picks. i have nothing to add other than it feels wonderful for a person to know that he is not aloe... "misery loves company"... but this time it's a good and comforting thing. love, light, humor and happiness to you all... curt

[arkityp]

Originally Posted by karkar

I'm ashamed to say....

Recently my skin picking has gotten out of control. I feel as though most of the time I have it under control, but sit me infront of a mirror and my face will be bleeding by the time I'm done.

This sounds very freaky- I haven't been diagnosed with dermatillomania, but I am too ashamed to mention this to my main psychotherapist (treating for depression and SA). The reason I am bringing it up here- I was on another website and it alluded to a link between SA, depression and skin picking (as well as some other OCD related things).

I have very clear skin and have not picked myself into oblivion. Even though I am acne-free, I find any excuse to pick my skin (pores/zits, scabs, calluses, etc.). I understand that a person may occasionally pick a scab or pop a zit, but it has gotten to the point where I am constantly surveilling my skin to find things to pick. I don't have any horrible acne scars yet, but if I keep doing this I know I will. My new obsession is to pick at the pores on my breasts (sorry for the TMI). Most people don't even know that breasts have pores!

I don't know what to do. Is this all in my head? Is everyone like this??


***(My fear of judgment is kicking in: A side note, I do take extremely good aesthetic care of myself. I also make sure to use some makeup over any marks, wounds, etc.)

Edit: I noticed a couple people mentioning skin picking in the post on lip chewing. Medically speaking, chewing skin and picking skin are symptomatic of separate disorders.

i have it, and it's the most evident symptom of my BDD. am seeking medication and have been studying CBT (on my own - SA and DM prevent me from wanting to leave the house).

[UltraShy]

I tend to pick at pimples and scabs, but not to the level severe enough to really matter (relative to my exceptional SA).

I have this scab on my leg from stumbling on the stairs and scraping it a couple weeks ago. It might heal faster if I hadn't picked the scab off 3 times (and then put a napkin over it with a rubber band to hold it in place) to keep it from getting blood on my pants or bedding.

This evening again I picked away a scab that had been a pimple on the side of my forehead -- and that scab formed after I picked away the pimple about a month ago.

[Fanciful Unicorn]

I pick all the time. I'll spend an extra ten minuets in the bathroom looking for spots to pick at. I mostly do it when I'm really stressed. When I was younger, I used to pull my eyelashes out.

My little brother had the same problem with picking his eyelashes. His doctor told him everytime he raised his hand to pick, imagine a big red STOP sign in his hand. If I remember this, it helps me snap out of it.

[Armadia]

I know I definitely struggle with picking..I find the more anxious I get the worse the picking gets...I remember last summer I actually made myself a pair of arm length gloves just so I would stop picking them. I have scars n my face and arms, and it takes a lot of effort for me not to pick...
I've certainly used some unhealthy methods to pick too...
sometimes I end up picking the same spot 5 or more times a day...it's a terrible habit, and I'm really trying to stop...*sigh*

[ascossey]

Anyone find somthing that may help fade the scars on your face from cronic picking? I am getting married in the next year and want to try to lighten some of the scaring from my picking, especially on my face. Help!!

Only ya'll understand! lol

[FlyEaglesFly]

I do this around my fingernails and cuticles - its really disgusting but I have no idea how to stop - the only thing I can do is wrap band-aids around my fingertips once Ive picked an area to the point where it can be picked no further, but thats a reactive measure, not a proactive one...

[chemicalgirl]

I have a serious problem with picking for years.. Most of the time it is on my face; pimples, black heads, etc, but also pick at my cuticles. It has gotten to the point that I've had scabs that won't heal for months. I've had one on my nose for close to 2 months; thank goodness for HelloKitty bandaids and my weird fashion sense. without them, I'd never leave the house.
I also pick at an scabs I get on other parts of my body, but that doesn't bother me as much because those are fairly normal. I hate having scabs on my face. it makes me feel so disgusting.

I've started trying Armadia's idea of using arm length gloves, so I can't use my fingers well. Hopefully it'll help my nose heal, at the least.

does anyone have any other suggestions on how to stop?
I'm tired of hiding my face with tons of makeup and bandaids.

[mountain5]

When I was around 10 years old I would chew my cheeks, then as a teenager I would pick my scalp...both times I got shamed out of it and I'm glad I don't have those habits any more. It's embarrasing when people think you have a medical problem. It's uncomfortable even to write about. There's an addictive quality to it.

I just realized sometimes I look in the mirror and pick the pores on my nose, that could become a problem, but I do it no more than once a month at most. I'm going to look into pore cleansers and skin moisturizers.

[lilly]

This is gross but I pick at the loose skin on my feet. It happens more in summer but in winter can't cause so much trouble with socks on and everything.
I noticed I do it more when anxious or very anxious.
I wash my hands a lot too and I think it's because I wanted to have clean hands in case my feet habit caused problems.
I have now publicly humiliated myself.