Skin picking. OCD? Can't stop and so want to, really getting me down...

[aSilverlining]

Thought about name changing but decided against it as I am rubbish at being sneaky and would only out myself.

I have had spotty skin since age 12, am now 27 and cannot stop picking. I currently have 9 bleeding spots/scabs on my face. It is embarassing and upsetting and I don't know why I do it to myself, I kind of zone out and by the time I realise it is too late. I have little brown (kind of pigmented) scars too from picking. I look a mess.

Googling it looks like it is a kind of OCD but I feel so embarassed and ashamed and just don't know what to do. Please someone halp/talk to me about this...

Hi, I don't know what the answer is, I do this too, but just wanted you to know you're not alone x

I do this too! Mind you, I go one step further and actually use sharp pointy things (pins, badge-backs, tweezers etc) to make holes in my legs that I can pick at for weeks. WHY do I do this? I hate it. I am filled with self-loathing every time I look at my own legs. I would love, more than anything, to be able to stop, but I really can't. I don't know why.

Hi JackiePaper thank you for replying it leaves you feeling so urgh doesn't it? I just feel so sick and tired of it.

Also realised the other day, I am in effect self harming, it hurts, it's damaging and scarring. it is evident to anyone who claps eyes on me and I can't stop, I feel so ashamed. I just don't know what to do!

Firstly, why do you have so many spots on your face? Do you have acne? If so, get yourself to the GP for some antibiotics.

You know, lots of people find it difficult to resist picking scabs/spots/skin . I doubt that this on its own means OCD.

Hi aSilverlining.

I do this too.

However, in the last couple of years I've managed to gain some control.

I started washing my face without turning the light on at night. (Failing that, you could take the mirror down).

In the morning, I would have a word with myself before I went into the bathroom.

"I will go for one morning without picking at my face. I will look better and feel better. I will reward myself with ."

I took it one day at a time, and I'm much better now.

HTH

Florence I have taken tweezers and safety pins to my face. Self loathing definately sums it up.

boo and prudence think I cross posted with you there took me an age to press post

I do have spotty skin but not shockingly spotty, it is more my picking worsens the problem so I will have same spots/scabs there for weeks. As for treating the spots have tried antiBiotics, iodine washes, creams, beauty counter brands, simple cleansing routines, even tried the ultimate spot zapping pill (can't remember the name of it) but this made me go all strange mental health wise so I had to stop taking it.

If I have a short spell of not picking, my skin pretty much clears. I am touching my face all the time, picking, pullling, squeezing etc. Mixed with combination oily/dry/sensitive skin my face is not looking great.

booboobedoo - the fact you have improved on this gives me hope. I can sometimes go short spells but do find it hard.

Hi
This is a known condition. You can find a lot of support for it on the internet. For more info about it have a look here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatillomania

Its also something that is similar to hair pulling and possibly also nail biting.

Take a look at this link too I think you will find it useful.

www.trich.org/

I myself pull my hair out and zone out whilst doing it. Things that have helped me are to identify times when I am doing it and trying to do something else instead. I think it kinda is used to cope with emotional pain in my case and i get a "release" whilst pulling despite the fact it ruins my appearance

Let me know how you get on.
xx

I have an awful habit of picking the skin round my nails. Zone out is the word. I love having the hard skin hanging off and play with that too. Need to google this to find out why.

I know it's not quite the same as you, just to let you know that you are not alone.

Me too. Skin picking, nail biting. I do think it's a habit bordering on addiction.

I bit my nails all my life but managed to give up around 18 years old. Started picking at my face when I was in my late 20's and still periodically nail bite.

What did I do different in the gap? I smoked. Smoking is not a cure it was just another (more dangerous) habit.

Thank you everyone for replying, I feel relieved to have posted about this now, and may use this thread as motivation too to try and help me understand why I do this and try my best to stop.

River thank you for those links - I am off to bed now but will read through them properly tomorrow

About eve, I pull the very very edge of my fingernails sometimes at the very sides, right down until the bottom of my nail bed and then pull it out. It is really painful and even while I am doing it I know it hurts/will hurt, and will swell and be tender for days afterwards and I still knowingly do it.

Thank you for posting everyone, it definately helps to know I am not the only one doing this or similar.

can you go see your gp and ask to be referred on to a CBT Therapist?, CBT can work wonders with compulsions.

I was just going to say something along the lines of drloves8! Compulsive skin picking is an OCD spectrum disorder (along with hair pulling). CBT is the gold standard treatment for all things OCD related (but waiting lists can be long).

OCD UK have a discussion board dedicated to these things. www.ocdforums.org/index.php?s=153bb8f255769b98fc5286b748b54a16&showforum=14 It's looked after by moderators who are very knowledgable and will be able to help you out.

I pick the skin on my scalp (I try to stop for a few days before I go to the hairdresser as it can't be very nice for her!) and pull out hairs that feel 'wrong'. I find I pick/pull more when I'm stressed, and also if I'm bored. Distraction and keeping my hands busy with other things helps.

I have done this too since puberty at differing levels of intenisity. I also bite my nails and always have done. I stopped for 4 years but have started again recently and can't stop. I have noticed I have started picking at my upper arms again too.

I only once got so bad as to have started gouging out chunks on my cheeks and nose in my 20's and my boss at work (who HATED me) just started talking about it with the other girls in my work (I was a trainee beautician believe it or not) like I wasn't there and saying how she had seen a program about self harm and it was just like what "P1stTimer is doing to herself" which just made me feel even worse.

My only brother has also pointed out (in a room full of people) that the marks all over my arms are "self harm scars". Supportive.

Anyway, I never seeked any treatment for it because I am so ashamed so good for you for being brave enough to confront it. No one NO one else understands.

Thank you for mentioning this.

Not sure if anyone is still watching this but wanted to share.

Boots have 3 for 2 on skincare atm so I splashed out on some expensive creams for my face in the hope that if it's less flaky/spotty/bumpy I might stop picking at it.

Anyway bought serum called smooth - 365 and it seems to be working. My skin feels smooth so nothing to pick at. If I look in the mirror it still looks a little flaky but this stuff makes it feel velvety.

Worth a try if your desperate while its on offer. Think it's about £30.

just wanted to say, I do this too (routine picking of spots which just makes them spread, and picking at skin round my nails too). agree totally with the zoning out thing. Also, it is an addiction - I actually get really frustrated if I can't pick for a while (eg no mirror/decent lighting) - even though skin looks miles better afterwards

still got the problem habit but here's what I have found helps:

• wearing makeup from first thing in the morning till last thing at night. If I have makeup on I don't pick as don't want to wipe off the makeup.
• putting on moisturiser immediately after washing face, so the spots/scabs are less easy to pick at. also not using drying face wash.
• hand cream/vaseline on cuticles and nails so again they are less flaky

also, I found this website a while back

www.stoppickingonme.com/

which has a forum filled with people doing similar things and sharing advice.