Skin picking

[Lucky2shoes]

I'm quite embarrassed but I can't defeat my skin picking habit I'm constantly doing it I pick my ears, back, elbows, scalp and will procrastinate whilst doing it to the point that it takes me ages to move and get things done.
I am making myself bleed etc what can I do and what's wrong with me why am I doing this.

I pull my hair out.

Have wondered for the past few years if I have ADHD. Interesting

I pick my fingers and feet until they bleed. They get so sore. I also bite the skin on the inside of my mouth. I'm another one who loves picking peeling sunburned skin! I've been trying to keep my nails short to keep me off my fingers but I can still go at my feet. I am mostly aware that I'm doing it but can't stop. I don't think I'm ND in any way.

I've been looking at picking stones, spinny rings etc. Not sure how they would work though

I didn't find the spinny rings helped, but clicky rings do. I think the clicking is similar to picking so maybe try something that clicks.

I do it too. Have done for 20 years. Mainly my face but also my back nd chest. Causes me much embarrassment and I have lots of scars. I hate it

I also have an area between the books that I pick and particularly like it when the dried skin has built up

Boobs not books

Do you have a link for the clicky ring please?

@Kebba I have a few of these now, took me ages to find something that clicked rather than the spinning.

myconquering.com

Thank you for post.

I wasn't aware this was linked to adhd and asd.

My son (8yo) was diagnosed with asd in 2022 and is awaiting adhd assessment. We got a kitten in June which scratched him and he is still picking the same scabs/scars and reopening them.

My two year old also picks cuts on her hands. She scratches them over and over. It must really hurt. We have concerns that she also has asd.

Any tips for kids skincare

That should have said skin picking not skincare 😅

I do this with my lips. Pick them, bite them, suck the blood out. When I'm tired, stressed or nervous. It's kind of gross but I don't know how to stop, other than distraction. If you catch yourself doing it, move your hands onto something else tactile. Something silly like a crossword, sewing, knitting, dusting, even washing your hands. I don't think it means you necessarily have ADHD or OCD or whatever. I do think I have the former but I don't think the NHS are keen to diagnose adults.

I’ve always picked. I have ADHD too

Adding my voice to the fellow ADHD skin pickers.
i haven’t found a solution yet. I paint my nails and pick them, i tweezer my leg hairs, but still seem to revert to picking.

Another ADHD picker here. No answers but solidarity! Keeping my hands busy used to help but since having kids I've been unable to focus on knitting/crochet for long.

Always been a skin picker, diagnosed adhd last year. I recognise all of what you are saying. No advice, but I've massively reduced picking since starting to vape. Not a solution I'd recommend but it works for me. I have some rare and serious health conditions that means picking my skin and acquiring an infection could kill me very quickly. To me, the risks of vaping were smaller in comparison.