Skin picking

[HelloMist]

Sometimes I feel quite alone in doing this, but I have seen a few threads on here, so perhaps not.

I'm having an intro call with a counsellor today who lists it as one of her areas of interest. I tried some NHS CBT a year or 2 ago, but they didn't have knowledge of skin picking so it was more aimed at general anxiety and negative thinking. Also on antidepressants but they haven't helped with the picking. Distraction and keeping hands busy is good but doesn't consistently stop me.

I really want to be able to stop. It's embarrassing and I hate that I'm injuring myself and trapped in this cycle of washing my hair/healing then doing it again. Has anyone managed to stop and what techniques helped you?

I recently worked with a Youtube 'influencer' (if that's the right term?!) on this exact issue.

It often begins as a self soothing strategy in childhood, similar to nail biting or hair sucking/pulling, because your own body is one of the few things you have control over when you don't understand what's going on the world around you.

There's a part of your subconscious that's simply carried on the habit even though you no longer need that release and once that part knows it's no longer necessary or helpful it will simply stop.

I don't have an answer, but this is my problem too, been picking my skin since I was about 7. Sat here with silicone tape over my face at the moment- I'm in my fifties 😩.

You’re not alone. I pick my scalp. 😢

I pull my hair. Been doing it since I was a child. Never impacted my life until 2022 when it became full blown now I do it every day, morning, evening, sometimes middle of the day. Have no idea how it suddenly went from being contained to all of the bloody time. Xx

I do this too, you are definitely not alone. Mine's never been so bad that I feel the need to seek help and it's quite contained - but to be honest I don't think I'd want to stop it. Which I feel ashamed saying like it's some kind of weird kink or something! I've done it since I was a child and I can't imagine not doing it. It goes through phases of being better then not but I'm not sure it's stress exactly that's the factor though I'm not sure what it.

I’ve just had to ask DH to open a packet for me because I’ve picked and chewed my fingers so much they’re really sore and I can’t use my right thumb right now.

I’ve always done this but rarely have a big ‘session’ anymore. I can’t even tell you what made me do it today but I can’t stop even though I’ve really hurt myself and made myself bleed.

My dc has trichotillomania. For DC it's linked to anemia and b12. If they're topped up then pulling stops.

Oh really @Withswitch, never heard that before. Thanks, I'll look into that. I'm open to anything thatight help. :)

Thank you all for replying.

That makes sense @Eyesopenwideawake. I think it is a self soothing thing for me. For me it happens once I'm unwinding and is a sort of release of the pressure that's built up fitting day. Trying to keep it together and appear more calm than I feel. Before this, I did used to bite my nails and pick loose skin around them which I only rarely do now.

The session today was helpful. I thought of a few things I forgot to bring up even though I had a list. But it was good to feel listened to and to have some starting points to tackle it. She said it's a lot more common than you'd think.

I bought some fidget rings recently because I pick the skin off my fingers and hands, I don’t even realise I’m doing it. I got some that spin round and one with little beads that you can move from side to side, they’re really helping so far and you can’t tell they’re not “normal” rings

Mine is an anti stress thing. I scratch and pick the skin on the insides of my nostrils. My nose bleeds dreadfully but I don't stop. The last bout went on for 18 months, then I managed to stop for a couple of months and last week started again. My therapist suggested that I go back old hobbies of crochet or stitching to keep my fingers busy and it has worked. I've stopped picking after just 5 days. I'm amazed.