Skin picking (pics included)

[Tiddlesem]

Have a long standing habit of picking the skin from around my fingers. It is so bad at the moment i can't bend my fingers because they are so inflamed and sore. The only thing that has helped me in the past has been getting gel nails done but I can't afford that and find it very embarrassing to go to nail salon with my fingers like this. I've had some funny looks and questions in the past including someone asking if I had burnt my fingers!

Anyway has anyone tried anything for this that has helped? The pain doesn't stop me and I don't even notice when I'm doing it most of the time. I could be watching tv and just pick away. But then sometimes it's like a compulsion whereby if I feel a piece of skin that doesn't feel right I have to pick it until my skin feels smooth.

It's highly embarrassing and I would love to do something about it. I already do weekly therapy centered around trauma and haven't mentioned my skin picking yet. Wondered if anyone has tried anything or had any success?

Oh that looks so sore. I do the same to my fingers, a mixture of habit and anxiety I think. I get my nails done with gel polish every few weeks as it’s the only way I’ve found to stop myself. I figure that although the £25 a month could be used elsewhere, I think of like a medical need, so I budget for the cost to keep my hands healthy. Are you able to do something similar?

I find the little dry tags are irresistable.

The most effective thing in my experience has been hand cream containing urea. Or if really bad, Flexitol Heel Balm.

Gets rid of the little tags (although it does sting on raw bits) very very fast and then I have less to focus on. I never completely stop but with this method can get it down to just a couple of fingers and not looking dreadful.

@Hermanfromguesswho i agree getting my nails done has been the only thing that has helped in the past so i do know how well it works. It's just with a 3 and 1 year old and other health issues which causes me massive fatigue i just find it so hard to even get there! It's just really bothering me at the moment as it is painful. I suppose i need to find the motivation and energy to do it otherwise it will just get progressively worse.

Thanks @AnnaMagnani, I will look into the creams. I am very bad for remembering to apply hand cream but if I could get into the habit of doing it then the skin might not be as rough. It is actually the hard dry skin that I pick the most.