I think I've scarred my face and I'm panicking. Please talk some sense into me.. pic attached

[Darlingsandra]

Please be gentle. I've been feeling insecure about my blackheads, and tried to extract one of them even though I know it's a terrible idea.

Obviously I've made it worse, and 3 days later I have this red mark where I've damaged the skin.

I tend to transfer my stress/anxiety onto small things like this and I've lost sense of proportion. Work is awful at the moment and I'm not sleeping etc. I'm going to sit on my hands and not touch my face again...

Does this look like permanent damage to you?
Thank you for any sane, objective thoughts.

It'll probably gradually heal, OP. Have you heard of dermatillamania? I used to try and expunge every single perceived blemish when stressed.

Thank you. Yes I've heard of dermatillamania. I don't normally pick/squeeze, I just tend to fixate on something small when stressed

Deep breaths, your body knows how to heal ❤️ I completely get it, I do the same anxiety wise with things, so I know how hard it is not to worry. Try to leave it alone, it will be fine (and if worst case scenario it didn't heal, you'd be okay, the worst thing right now is the catastrophising and future predicting).
Try and do something relaxing for yourself, especially if work is stressful, as your nervous system will be on high alert, so it's completely understandable why this little thing is stressing you out so much. You will be fine though ❤️

Thank you. I'm just very cross with myself.

Leave it alone now. Put a tiny bit of concealer on it and blend with a cotton bud until it is invisible. Then go and do something that takes your mind off it. It will fade.

It might take some time but it’ll heal. Also, nobody but you will even notice it. Have you tried CBT for your anxiety? I’ve found it really helpful for understanding unhealthy thought habits and establishing new ways of seeing things.

Thank you. Yes I've had excellent therapy and I'm normally fairly good at managing my feelings. I'm having a particularly rough time right now and feeling overwhelmed.

Thanks again for the advice

Aww OP I do the same (fixate on small things because of anxiety. Honestly it will fade, and it's barely noticeable anyway

I pick my face when stressed and what you’ve done there is nothing. Rub some cream and makeup on it and be kind to yourself and go for a walk and get some fresh air.

Op I’ve had acne to varying degrees for 40 years now (though it’s finally getting better) and have picked loads of blackheads and spots into a worse state than this, and they’ve healed fine with no scars. I do know what you mean about obsessing and losing a sense of proportion, I’ve had that too and it’s horrible

Your skin will be fine I promise. If you can, get a nice blackhead-clearing face wash and a relaxing bath foam and have a bath before bed. I find that if I take the time to feel like I’m looking after myself properly, I’m less likely to pick/bother my skin, and it might help you sleep.

Thank you. Yes im going to have a bath and go for a long walk.

I hope you don't mind my posting this. I understand that you are fixating on a perceived blemish. Your skin is lovely.

Take a picture of yourself today and put it away for forty years. Even twenty years.

You will be glad you did.

Not the point of the thread, but I've got to say you've got lovely skin OP

Where? My daughter has a bigger chicken pox scar than this. Honesty, your skin is very nice.

It will be okay. I suffer with skin picking at times of stress/when I have been breaking out. The marks left behind are irritating but will not be there forever.

You can speed up scar fading by using actives such as vitamin c, or retinol to increase skin cell turn over (this will help with preventing blackheads also)

Also your skin looks lovely to me

I don’t even know what you’re referring to if I’m honest.

It’ll heal. Your skin is beautiful.

Do you judge strangers skin as harshly as you judge yourself? I suspect not. I say this trying to force some perspective rather than to be mean!

No it will go eventually. X

It will heal if it's the one slight blemish on your beautiful skin. I wish mine was as nice as that.

Those aren’t blackheads, I don’t believe. They’re sebaceous filaments. I have them around my nose, too.

Now, you can’t get rid of them, they just fill up again. But you can improve them with a quite specific routine. I’ll share the link I use. FYI I use Paula’s Choice AHA).

fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/

But also, oilier skin ages slower. I see it as a good thing. And also, you have really lovely skin! Your little tiny blemish will heal.

I last had skin as nice as OP's when I was about 5 years old

Ha thank you everyone. You've greatly cheered me up x

But also, oilier skin ages slower.

This is true IME. I'm in my 50s and v happy with my skin now - I have had acne to deal with but the oiliness becomes a plus as you get older.