Do I have a problem with picking or is this normal?

[Lioninthesun]

Hi sporners! I've not posted on here before, but I think I am noticing a bit of an unhealthy pattern to my sporning habit. I've always squeezed spots and used to carefully balance the mirror on the magnified side to see, etc etc. However I discovered the ear picking video tools on Amazon and for about a year now I have been removing the rubberised heads and using them on spots on my face - ones I could never see by the ears, in the ears, behind the ears and have moved onto my scalp which was an absolute fest. However it has resulted in my skin peeling and being patchy, so I have to restrain myself for several days to a week to enable it to heal. I think I have an issue because I bend the metal prong after several weeks to the point it snaps off and I have to buy another (£12-15) but I am now on my 6th and thinking I may actually be addicted to it. I feel weird if I haven't checked the areas in over a week, I think I have managed 2 weeks where I tried to stop buying another one but then when I replace it it feels like there's loads to get out again and I should have kept up with the routine.

I am aware it all sounds a bit odd!

Anyone else do this or am I the only weirdo?

I can understand the desire and the satisfaction that you get from it but I don't think it's normal, no.
It might now be veering into the obsessive behaviour territory. I think you might feel like that yourself, given your post.
Your skin is indicating that it's not happy, I'd probs try and really break the habit and not buy anymore.
Appreciate how hard that might be.

Yes, I thought that after I posted (I must be worried or I wouldn't ask!).
It's a weird kind of compulsion though, as it feels almost cleansing. I've had anxiety issues this year and I think I might have slipped into using this to distract me and regulate breathing.

I'll try to go cold turkey again.

I have a massive problem with picking and now feel extra inspired to do this 😂

Do you have ADHD? Skin picking etc is a common trait

My daughter thinks I do and some friends but it's not impacted me enough in life to do anything about it to be honest. I have done this forever and realise it's a habit - kicked the cigs and booze so need to work on this one. I also saw those stone picker things with latex? I don't think it will have the same appeal but I am willing to give it a go. Any other things anyone would recommend?

Hello me!
Yes I do the same with my ear camera. Not bent the metal bit yet!
It's a struggle for me, I totally do it as a stress reliever/ night time wind down. I'm obviously embarrassed by it as no one else in real life knows and I've name changed on here.
If I do the black heads on my chin I do get spots and peely skin so I just stopped. Other areas I am really trying hard but I have no quick fixes, sorry.
I did manage to successfully stop picking at the ingrown hairs on my legs but lasering it all off. My skin looks so so much better after I stopped picking but I can't seem to apply the same logic to my face.

Yes the peeling skin! I think I must be pushing too hard but also the metal warms after a while and bends. I do the bits in front of the ears (and behind but that doesn't peel as much) and along the jaw and hair line. Those areas that you can't see are what I'm struggling to stop. I'm sure it has made the spots in the ears themselves worse but I don't know how else to tackle them. I've tried using special blackhead scrubs for my face but these areas still get bumps.
So glad I'm not the only one using these (i think I imagined loads of ppl would be doing it!) 😅