Skin picking

[Penguinwaddler]

I've recently gone through a separation and have fallen into bad habits - one of them is skin picking. My scalp is so sore but I can't stop picking at the scabs. I'm not too sure what to do to stop this, has anyone else been through something similar?

Hi @Penguinwaddler,

Not sure if I'm in a position to advise but I pick too so can certainly relate and I know it's a body focused repetitive disorder that people do for different reasons.

You sound like you are clear on what's triggered you to fall back into picking so it's good that you've recognised that.

I follow tlcbfrd on Instagram- it's the TLC foundation for body focused repetitive disorders, you might found some helpful tips there?

Following

I am a skin picker

No advice but I'm watching to see if anyone else can help

I do exactly the same. No advice as I haven't been able to stop either. Savlon prevents infection and keeping my nails short limits the damage. I talk about it sometimes in therapy but tbh it's the least of my problems.

@Notanotherwindow I'm a bit like that too and then sometimes I think if I understood the skin picking it might explain a lot!

Does anyone else have ADHD type symptoms? Sometimes I feel like it's a focus issue with me.

It is a compulsion, isn't it? It's like you can't not do it. I'll be doing it even while I'm telling myself that I need to leave it alone to heal.

I found this quite helpful: www.blurtitout.org/2021/03/25/skin-picking-hair-pulling-lesser-known-symptoms-anxiety/

I pick and bite the skin around my fingers and thumbs. I will do it even if I actively don't want to. It would be great to find out how to actually stop.

@rainbowninja

Hi *@Penguinwaddler*,

Not sure if I'm in a position to advise but I pick too so can certainly relate and I know it's a body focused repetitive disorder that people do for different reasons.

You sound like you are clear on what's triggered you to fall back into picking so it's good that you've recognised that.

I follow tlcbfrd on Instagram- it's the TLC foundation for body focused repetitive disorders, you might found some helpful tips there?

Thank you! I'll give them a follow :)

Thanks all for your replies and sorry that other people are struggling with it too. I buy a teatree shampoo to use when my head is particularly bad.

I picked 2 spots on my scalp so much that they become really noticeable unless I tied my hair back. So that stopped me picking those but just meant I focus on the other bits instead.

It's so tough, it's like a comforting thing to do but I know it isn't good.

It’s called dermatillomania. I pick my face, try not to but get lost in front of a mirror and pick away at spots and not existent spots.

I have this too, it gets worse in times of extreme stress and anxiety. I find having very short fingernails and finding other tasks that engage my hands (knitting, playing with blu-tac, DDs popper toy) seem to help. Sadly I’ve not found any HCP, psychologist etc who takes it all that seriously.

Yes. I broke the habit of head picking but now I pick my full body. I finally rang up mental health services yesterday. For me it's both self harm and self soothing. It's also a trait of my adhd. (I've always picked). They suggested fidget toys, stroking or tapping when I feel compulsion, or twanging a hair bobble around my wrist. Also self care in general. They also offered me 24jour access. Just used the self referral number I found online. It's also a trait of OCD which I also have intrusive thoughts so I've been advised to self refer to talking therapy too or go back to counselling that I had previously.

@Monkeytapper

It’s called dermatillomania. I pick my face, try not to but get lost in front of a mirror and pick away at spots and not existent spots.

Same. Reducing mirrors and having a timer for my evening bathroom visit helps.

Yes 😟 I wish I could stop. I have 2 bald patches on my scalp and haven't been to the hairdresser in years because I'm mortified. This leads to really knotty hair and I'm also obsessed with feeling and tugging the knots which makes them bigger. Then I have to cut them out....

I have an ADHD diagnosis. No tips, sorry. Really wish I could stop

@GraceJonesBiggestFan I do really well for a while and leave my skin, then spoil it all and have a huge picking binge where I lose myself and ruin my face. I’m engrossed in it at the time and can’t stop then after I’m so upset when I look what I’ve done to my face, A normal spot turns into a weeping mess, then scab, then I can’t resist picking again. I’m 43 and started a few years ago. Keeping nails very short helps.

I’m a skin picker: scalp, nose, fingers.

It’s an (undiagnosed) ADHD symptom. My brain can’t get dopamine to reuptake quick enough.

I do it too. My face is now permanently scarred and I have persistent acne too which as you all know, really DOES NOT help. I have some coping mechanisms but sadly the skin picking is resistant to them all. My hands and feet are hideous but like a previous poster it is the least of my problems.

I do it too.
I have awful scars on my arms from picking non existent spots until they’re big scabs.
I have large scabs on my tummy that have been there nearly 4 years now. I know I need to stop, but it’s done before I can stop myself.
I’ve considered going to the drs, but having been through NHS mental health services and therapy I’m not sure what they could do.

I used to do the same op. Used to pick my lips until they were jelly. Spots would turn into sores on my face etc. it's awful. It's eased off now as I've done some work but it still flares up from time to time if things are bad.

@MusicAndDanse

I pick and bite the skin around my fingers and thumbs. I will do it even if I actively don't want to. It would be great to find out how to actually stop.

I do this too, so does my DM and so did my DGM.

For me it is partly stress or anxiety-related, but sometimes it just seems to be that I need something to do with my fingers.

I would also like to stop.

I have dermatillomania too.
It waxes and wanes with whatever's going on in my life.
I used to do it to my face, feet and hands. My feet were so painful i was hobbling at points and often bleed. How i never ended up with an infection, i dont know !
Face and feet are thankfully under control for the last few years ( mostly) but my hands.... ouch.
Practically, i try and keep my nails short and tbh, having kids has given me less time to sit and do it haha but i dont know if ill ever cure the hands ...

Oh dear me too. I bite and rub my lips until they are red and sore. I hate that I'm doing it but it's so hard to stop. I am anxious and funny that a few people mentioned adhd since I was reading a few other threads (actually about adhd husbands) and it all sounded so familiar.

I do this too.

I squeeze the keratosis on my arms & legs. And any pores on my body. Used to do my face when I was younger, and had spots. Made them much worse!
I’d love to stop. Been doing it for more than 20 years, now. But I also remember scratching my legs when in bed, as a child.
I’ll also pick finger nail skin, my feet, my scalp. Used to pull at split ends, hair knots. It’s a compulsion. But I also do it when stressed or after eating loads of sugar.

How do you know you have ADHD as an adult?