Dermatillomania/ Compulsive Skin Picking
I think I have dermatillomania/compulsive skin picking. I didn't realise it was an actual condition until recently, although I've been picking for a few years. I wondered how many on here have heard of it, or if anyone else on here has it? I haven't actually been to my GP or anything. Has anyone here ever been to the doctor's and received treatment, how did they address it?
It's really getting me down.. I have scars all over my arms and chest, and I don't know why I do it. It's worse at the moment wearing long sleeves all the time in this hot weather. My friends think it's eczema and my family don't mention it. I've been stressed about school, which makes it worse, and have spoken to the teacher in charge of student welfare about feeling down but haven't mentioned the picking.
Does anyone know if schools class this as self harm? It would be such a relief to just talk it over with the teacher, but I know that my school's self harming policy is to ring parents. I don't know how they would deal with this, because it is self injury, just not in the normal sense. Has anyone had any experience with schools and how they deal with dermatillomania?
Thanks
It's really getting me down.. I have scars all over my arms and chest, and I don't know why I do it. It's worse at the moment wearing long sleeves all the time in this hot weather. My friends think it's eczema and my family don't mention it. I've been stressed about school, which makes it worse, and have spoken to the teacher in charge of student welfare about feeling down but haven't mentioned the picking.
Does anyone know if schools class this as self harm? It would be such a relief to just talk it over with the teacher, but I know that my school's self harming policy is to ring parents. I don't know how they would deal with this, because it is self injury, just not in the normal sense. Has anyone had any experience with schools and how they deal with dermatillomania?
Thanks
Hi OP, I also suffer with dermatillomania and understand exactly how distressing the irresistible urge to pick can be.
I have recently been to my GP about it and have been told that it is associated with anxiety which i have recently become aware of.
The original GP I was registered with said it was stress related, which may be true, however there was no help offered whatsoever, so i decided to swap doctors.
My current GP fully understands dermatillomania and i have another appointment soon to discuss how to tackle this disorder as well as anxiety disorder, and manage stress better.
Anyway, I have heard from others that i could be thought of as self-harm, however i would disagree - suffering from this impulse control disorder is not something i do whilst thinking, i just do it without thinking, and cannot help it. Despite there being a feeling of relief when i am 'picking', i feel it is different to self-harm. Although, maybe the school informing your parents of the problem could be a good thing? Getting help and support is a big step to tackling the problem!
Personally, i don't think schools would have any knowledge of the problem, however they may give you advice as to how to approach the problem, and guide you in getting help.
I hope you get the help you need/everything works out for you; as i have suffered from compulsive skin picking on my face for about 2 years now, i can fully relate to the distress it causes
I have recently been to my GP about it and have been told that it is associated with anxiety which i have recently become aware of.
The original GP I was registered with said it was stress related, which may be true, however there was no help offered whatsoever, so i decided to swap doctors.
My current GP fully understands dermatillomania and i have another appointment soon to discuss how to tackle this disorder as well as anxiety disorder, and manage stress better.
Anyway, I have heard from others that i could be thought of as self-harm, however i would disagree - suffering from this impulse control disorder is not something i do whilst thinking, i just do it without thinking, and cannot help it. Despite there being a feeling of relief when i am 'picking', i feel it is different to self-harm. Although, maybe the school informing your parents of the problem could be a good thing? Getting help and support is a big step to tackling the problem!
Personally, i don't think schools would have any knowledge of the problem, however they may give you advice as to how to approach the problem, and guide you in getting help.
I hope you get the help you need/everything works out for you; as i have suffered from compulsive skin picking on my face for about 2 years now, i can fully relate to the distress it causes
Original post by jme18
Hi OP, I also suffer with dermatillomania and understand exactly how distressing the irresistible urge to pick can be.
I have recently been to my GP about it and have been told that it is associated with anxiety which i have recently become aware of.
The original GP I was registered with said it was stress related, which may be true, however there was no help offered whatsoever, so i decided to swap doctors.
My current GP fully understands dermatillomania and i have another appointment soon to discuss how to tackle this disorder as well as anxiety disorder, and manage stress better.
Anyway, I have heard from others that i could be thought of as self-harm, however i would disagree - suffering from this impulse control disorder is not something i do whilst thinking, i just do it without thinking, and cannot help it. Despite there being a feeling of relief when i am 'picking', i feel it is different to self-harm. Although, maybe the school informing your parents of the problem could be a good thing? Getting help and support is a big step to tackling the problem!
Personally, i don't think schools would have any knowledge of the problem, however they may give you advice as to how to approach the problem, and guide you in getting help.
I hope you get the help you need/everything works out for you; as i have suffered from compulsive skin picking on my face for about 2 years now, i can fully relate to the distress it causes
I have recently been to my GP about it and have been told that it is associated with anxiety which i have recently become aware of.
The original GP I was registered with said it was stress related, which may be true, however there was no help offered whatsoever, so i decided to swap doctors.
My current GP fully understands dermatillomania and i have another appointment soon to discuss how to tackle this disorder as well as anxiety disorder, and manage stress better.
Anyway, I have heard from others that i could be thought of as self-harm, however i would disagree - suffering from this impulse control disorder is not something i do whilst thinking, i just do it without thinking, and cannot help it. Despite there being a feeling of relief when i am 'picking', i feel it is different to self-harm. Although, maybe the school informing your parents of the problem could be a good thing? Getting help and support is a big step to tackling the problem!
Personally, i don't think schools would have any knowledge of the problem, however they may give you advice as to how to approach the problem, and guide you in getting help.
I hope you get the help you need/everything works out for you; as i have suffered from compulsive skin picking on my face for about 2 years now, i can fully relate to the distress it causes
Hi, sorry it's taken me so long to reply, thanks so much for your reply
I've booked an appointment with my GP, I have no idea what they'll say but I haven't been picking since my exams finished
so at least the wounds aren't open and maybe they can give me cream to reduce the scarring. I think all I really want is someone to talk to about it, so that I can start to tackle it properly. I'm so worried she'll try to refer me to a counsellor or mental health practice or something though, or try to put me on medication :/Depending on the doctor's reaction I might still talk to my school about it, I'm still so scared about talking to my parents about it though. I have no idea what they think it is, but I doubt they realise how much I stress about it.
Original post by Anonymous
I think all I really want is someone to talk to about it, so that I can start to tackle it properly. I'm so worried she'll try to refer me to a counsellor or mental health practice or something though, or try to put me on medication :/
Depending on the doctor's reaction I might still talk to my school about it, I'm still so scared about talking to my parents about it though. I have no idea what they think it is, but I doubt they realise how much I stress about it.
Depending on the doctor's reaction I might still talk to my school about it, I'm still so scared about talking to my parents about it though. I have no idea what they think it is, but I doubt they realise how much I stress about it.
don't worry about being referred or put on medication; your GP will do what's best for you and will discuss it with you too. If you're not showing signs of depression then, in my experience anyway, they'd try to avoid medication unless other treatments don't work. CBT's quite a likely one to be offered and that would help you to start tackling the issue and understanding it better.
OCD Free on Tumblr often advises people to find resources about what they're experiencing if they're finding it difficult to talk to their parents and to use those to aid you in explaining how you feel and what you're going through.
Good luck with your appointment
I also have this!
I can't stop picking at my face. And also have anxiety. But my doctor refuses to give me anti depressants for it so it will only get worse.
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
I can't stop picking at my face. And also have anxiety. But my doctor refuses to give me anti depressants for it so it will only get worse.
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
Hey
I also suffer from dermatillomania, and like you only found out it was an crisp condition maybe late last year.
I've picked my skin for around 7 years and I didn't realise I had a serious problem until I decided to stop.
Ive always had a sort of innate anxiety problem - I get really worried about small things and struggle to forget, so the picking kind of makes sense. I tried to stop on my own but it has been a long, hard battle with little results.
Last week I went to the doctors and told them I have a serious skin picking problem - ill pick my skin in a sort of trance like state, and then sit on the floor and cry. (I sound like such an attention seeker omg sorry)
the doctors said there was nothing she could do and top me the only way to stop the picking is to get rid of the spots with tablets. But surely if I pick them and don't let them heal they won't work?
in America they have whole departments in universities and big institutions dedicated to the research of skin picking. It's a recognised condition that has particular methods of treatment.
In the UK if you look it up on the NHS website there is nothing. It's just tagged on the end of OCD.
Does anyone here know of any places around London which specialise in the treatment of dermatillomania? I'm feeling a little lost here, and I've started obsessively biting my nails and he skin on my hands too now.
Id prefer not to start university next year with a face like the surface of the moon.
Thanks
I also suffer from dermatillomania, and like you only found out it was an crisp condition maybe late last year.
I've picked my skin for around 7 years and I didn't realise I had a serious problem until I decided to stop.
Ive always had a sort of innate anxiety problem - I get really worried about small things and struggle to forget, so the picking kind of makes sense. I tried to stop on my own but it has been a long, hard battle with little results.
Last week I went to the doctors and told them I have a serious skin picking problem - ill pick my skin in a sort of trance like state, and then sit on the floor and cry. (I sound like such an attention seeker omg sorry)
the doctors said there was nothing she could do and top me the only way to stop the picking is to get rid of the spots with tablets. But surely if I pick them and don't let them heal they won't work?
in America they have whole departments in universities and big institutions dedicated to the research of skin picking. It's a recognised condition that has particular methods of treatment.
In the UK if you look it up on the NHS website there is nothing. It's just tagged on the end of OCD.
Does anyone here know of any places around London which specialise in the treatment of dermatillomania? I'm feeling a little lost here, and I've started obsessively biting my nails and he skin on my hands too now.
Id prefer not to start university next year with a face like the surface of the moon.
Thanks
You can self refer to your local IAPT/psychological wellbeing service. Like others have said, it is a form of anxiety disorder and can be treated through the use of CBT, as well as mindfullness.
I work in a similar service and have just treated somebody successfully with skin picking disorder.
I work in a similar service and have just treated somebody successfully with skin picking disorder.
I've always bitten my nails and the skin around them. I have been trying and failing to stop for years.
From about 13 I went through a face of obsessive eyebrow plucking for several years. It was ridiculous; I used to pluck my eyebrows too thin, then where I caused irritation there would be little swellings and spots, then I would pick at them causing sores. I basically replaced the lower part of my eyebrows with sores. It was a huge source of shame and misery.
Fortunately I managed to move on from the eyebrows thing, I keep them nice now - but unfortunately mainly because I began general face picking and touching. Funny I never really thought of it as the main problem (rather I just thought of it as the reaction to my real problem: simple acne), even though on looking back it clearly was (most sores/lesions on my face at any one time were/are there because I have opened them/ maintained them by picking).
Fairly recently I tried to stop biting my nails by putting on false nails. Initially this was successful - and suddenly it triggered me to realise was just how much I go to my nails, just automatically. Normally I guess I would have just nibbled them and thought nothing of it, but the presence of the false nails made me aware. I realised I was constantly aware of my fingers and nails, constantly drawn to touching and inspecting them. Then I sort of realised exactly the same thing was going on with my face.
So in a way that was good. But the downside was I developed a new obsessive habit. To get the false nails to fit better, I started pushing back the cuticles. This rapidly transformed into ruthlessly cutting, biting and peeling them. For a time this completely replaced my old habit of nail and skin biting. Then as I've tried really hard to get over the cuticle thing (with some success though I've not completely stopped it isn't too bad), nail biting has returned so I'm stuck with both. Weirdly the skin biting hasn't returned. I guess my taste for flesh has been satisfied by my cuticle destruction.
Now I am just sick of it. I desperately want to stop but I don't trust my efforts any more. Mild success with replacing one bad habit with another has recently led me to try obsessively washing and moisturising my hands as better alternative for biting/picking them. It has partially worked, but I don't feel any partial success is real success - if I don't completely stop I think I will go back to it.
I am making slow progress with my skin. One things which helps is that I don't cover it up (with make up) when I'm at home. This was a big step as I find my skin extremely embarassing uncovered. On the contrary, revealing my skin to friends and family has made me feel less ashamed (everyone including me just gets used to it), and less desperate to physically remove the problems (like spots, scabs) but trying to pick them away. I don't feel able to do the same thing at work because I just think it looks so unprofessional.
I would really like to find a mentor on TSR (perhaps in a skin picking society) because I want to stop, I think I need someone to help encourage me and make me feel good about it. One thing that puts me off trying to stop is it makes me feel even more guilty and ashamed, and then I seem to fail anyway. I'm just not sure how to change it all by myself.
I don't know if I could give advice to other people, as I've obviously been no good at stopping myself.
From about 13 I went through a face of obsessive eyebrow plucking for several years. It was ridiculous; I used to pluck my eyebrows too thin, then where I caused irritation there would be little swellings and spots, then I would pick at them causing sores. I basically replaced the lower part of my eyebrows with sores. It was a huge source of shame and misery.
Fortunately I managed to move on from the eyebrows thing, I keep them nice now - but unfortunately mainly because I began general face picking and touching. Funny I never really thought of it as the main problem (rather I just thought of it as the reaction to my real problem: simple acne), even though on looking back it clearly was (most sores/lesions on my face at any one time were/are there because I have opened them/ maintained them by picking).
Fairly recently I tried to stop biting my nails by putting on false nails. Initially this was successful - and suddenly it triggered me to realise was just how much I go to my nails, just automatically. Normally I guess I would have just nibbled them and thought nothing of it, but the presence of the false nails made me aware. I realised I was constantly aware of my fingers and nails, constantly drawn to touching and inspecting them. Then I sort of realised exactly the same thing was going on with my face.
So in a way that was good. But the downside was I developed a new obsessive habit. To get the false nails to fit better, I started pushing back the cuticles. This rapidly transformed into ruthlessly cutting, biting and peeling them. For a time this completely replaced my old habit of nail and skin biting. Then as I've tried really hard to get over the cuticle thing (with some success though I've not completely stopped it isn't too bad), nail biting has returned so I'm stuck with both. Weirdly the skin biting hasn't returned. I guess my taste for flesh has been satisfied by my cuticle destruction.
Now I am just sick of it. I desperately want to stop but I don't trust my efforts any more. Mild success with replacing one bad habit with another has recently led me to try obsessively washing and moisturising my hands as better alternative for biting/picking them. It has partially worked, but I don't feel any partial success is real success - if I don't completely stop I think I will go back to it.
I am making slow progress with my skin. One things which helps is that I don't cover it up (with make up) when I'm at home. This was a big step as I find my skin extremely embarassing uncovered. On the contrary, revealing my skin to friends and family has made me feel less ashamed (everyone including me just gets used to it), and less desperate to physically remove the problems (like spots, scabs) but trying to pick them away. I don't feel able to do the same thing at work because I just think it looks so unprofessional.
I would really like to find a mentor on TSR (perhaps in a skin picking society) because I want to stop, I think I need someone to help encourage me and make me feel good about it. One thing that puts me off trying to stop is it makes me feel even more guilty and ashamed, and then I seem to fail anyway. I'm just not sure how to change it all by myself.
I don't know if I could give advice to other people, as I've obviously been no good at stopping myself.
I find that I am compulsive about plucking hairs from my tummy, belly button specifically, have done for a number of years, and it worsened when I had a wound from surgery needing to be clear of hairs as it would of got ingrown and caught up in the wound. Not to mention, the hairs in moles, it got so bad I would do my now ex boyfriend's hairs in moles also. Its not right I know, and I've tried stopping but I hate the look of stubbly hairs, and potentially ingrown ones. I don't do my legs so much now, as I just shave and they go away. But skin picking has been an issue since I got spots. I hate doing this, and don't know if my GP would be able to help me.
sorry to revive an old thread but I was wondering if the OP managed to get any help for this? I've got dermatillomania, have had for as long as I can remember (and I'm knocking on a bit now!) but have never dared to get help for it. But to be honest it's getting ridiculous now.
I saw my GP about skin picking. He referred me to the dermatologist who said there is not a skin condition. No acne or spots. I told him that's because I scratch them so there are only scars left! Either way, the GP put me on a low dose of skin antibiotics for a year or so which helped a little. But I gave up in the end and wanted to be pill free.
The best result was through private counselling to address my anxiety and stress. Through CBT and mindfulness I became more aware of my subconscious actions and was able to monitor my thoughts. This prevented me from getting stuck in a trance for half an hour or so of an evening at the bathroom mirror. I would start picking but after mindfulness training, found myself saying STOP. Almost like a little voice in my head I had never paid any attention to before!
I still pick subconsciously when I'm stressed and friends sometimes remind me to stop. I still pick at home. But being more aware has helped me stop and think and focus on what my hands are doing.
Breathing exercises or body scan meditation is also good for raising awareness of subconscious actions. And of course... yoga!! :-)
Good luck,
Yogi bear x
The best result was through private counselling to address my anxiety and stress. Through CBT and mindfulness I became more aware of my subconscious actions and was able to monitor my thoughts. This prevented me from getting stuck in a trance for half an hour or so of an evening at the bathroom mirror. I would start picking but after mindfulness training, found myself saying STOP. Almost like a little voice in my head I had never paid any attention to before!
I still pick subconsciously when I'm stressed and friends sometimes remind me to stop. I still pick at home. But being more aware has helped me stop and think and focus on what my hands are doing.
Breathing exercises or body scan meditation is also good for raising awareness of subconscious actions. And of course... yoga!! :-)
Good luck,
Yogi bear x
Original post by Anonymous
sorry to revive an old thread but I was wondering if the OP managed to get any help for this? I've got dermatillomania, have had for as long as I can remember (and I'm knocking on a bit now!) but have never dared to get help for it. But to be honest it's getting ridiculous now.
Sorry again everyone to revive a really old thread - I'm actually the OP (6 years later and almost finished medical school). Very strange to Google skin picking and see words from my 16 year old self!!
Sadly, I never got any help and skin picking still plagues me all this time later. It's reared its ugly head after recent exams so I am in the process of seeking CBT, however my GP is also keen for combination therapy with an SSRI.
If anyone sees this and has experience of CBT treatment for skin picking it would be great to hear from you.
Original post by Anonymous
Sorry again everyone to revive a really old thread - I'm actually the OP (6 years later and almost finished medical school). Very strange to Google skin picking and see words from my 16 year old self!!
Sadly, I never got any help and skin picking still plagues me all this time later. It's reared its ugly head after recent exams so I am in the process of seeking CBT, however my GP is also keen for combination therapy with an SSRI.
If anyone sees this and has experience of CBT treatment for skin picking it would be great to hear from you.
Sadly, I never got any help and skin picking still plagues me all this time later. It's reared its ugly head after recent exams so I am in the process of seeking CBT, however my GP is also keen for combination therapy with an SSRI.
If anyone sees this and has experience of CBT treatment for skin picking it would be great to hear from you.
Hi,
I started skin picking from the age of 4 (I'm now 31).
I've struggled with the condition for years now, and when I was younger, my parents couldn't understand why I did it, so at the age of 12 my mum took me to the doctors. The doctors advice was "just stop" - useful right. So my mum took me to a hypnotherapist, but since they had no knowledge or understanding it didn't really have any benefit.
Anyway, at 18 I googled it and was really pleased to know that other people were experiencing this issue, however everything I found on it linked it to self harm. I was devastated at this news as that really wasn't how I felt. I went to the doctors again when it was now I recognised condition who referred me to CBT. Again, I found that where he didn't really understand the condition, the advice he offered seemed a bit silly - like wearing gloves in the summer!
I should probably mention that I've found that my problem is linked a lot with opportunity to pick. When I'm living with a bf, although the urge is there and I do still pick, it's not as bad as when I'm living alone and finding myself at the bathroom mirror for 4 hours every single night.
At around 25, I went to the doctors again who referred me to a hypnotherapist, but this still didn't work, and then the funding got cut and I didnt really feel that the hypnotherapist could help me, so didnt continue privately.
I'm now at a point in my life where I have the opportunity again, and getting so annoyed that I'm doing this damage to myself, still, so many years later. This condition is controlling my life - I can't stop the urge to pick, and constantly look awful, so dont want to go out, which is causing depression and leading to more picking. That dreaded circle. And it frustrates me so much knowing that I only need to leave my face for a couple of days to heal yet dont have the will power to do that. Hence why I'm now researching again in the hope to find somebody who actually specialises (or at least has treated somebody with the same condition) to help me. No luck as of yet, not unless I want to go to Canada or America!
I've noticed from my research that they now treat it using habit reversal, so I'm going to go back to the doctors and see how I get on.
Sorry for such a long message, but I have never actually spoken to anybody with the same condition and would be keen to know how you get on with your treatment.
Hi there,I too have been picking since I can remember and am 31 with it worse than ever. I only pick my fingers and my lips and face but mainly my fingers - to the point where I can’t bend them. I have been to the doctors, I have been to a therapist....I have never found anyone who knows/cares enough about it to be able to help. I’ve kind of resigned myself to the fact I’ll probably never stop.I’ve done all the research and all the ‘keep your hands busy, avoid situations where you pick etc’. Tbh, keeping my hands busy does not give me the gratification that picking does. It’s not about keeping my hands busy, it’s the need to pick that bit of skin and the frustration when you can’t and then the relief when you do. As for avoiding situations, I’d be avoiding my entire life. I pick when I’m watching TV, I pick when I’m driving, when I’m at work, when I’m stressed/anxious/happy/sad - there doesn’t seem to be a trigger! It’s just constant! Sometimes I wonder if I even want to stop because surely I would if I wanted to? But then I pick and it literally takes over my whole body and mind so I don’t know if I can! Frustrating!!!!Sorry for the rant! Hope you have found some help?
can anyone help I pick my skin till I bleed, even when I sleep , i went to my gp . but all she said was yes I have bad skin and gave my antibiotics. I don't want to take then I want help to stop scratchin at my self, what do I do for help ...
I think i struggle with this my mum often comments on how i pick the spots on my chests and the more you do it the more addictive it gets and yes its calssified of a type of self harm because since its an anxeity illneess when you hurt your skin and damage it your reliveing anxiety and i pick but more scrathc at my arm when i feel anxoius and pull my hair during panic attacks i hate anxiety
It’s hard to imagine other people with this skin picking condition I have read about people online having it but have never met one soul who has it and I can relate to. I have picked at the skin on my face for well over a decade I’m 28. I can pick at it that bad I have big scabs and redness then stupidly pick at the scabs because they look unsightly. I also bite all the skin on my lips till they’re sore and raw or I give myself a burst lip I can’t leave them alone. Also bite the skin around my nails that can leave the skin open and be very sore. I have been to my doctor who was great I also have a lot of other ocd tendencies and I am currently on a waiting list of up to 12 weeks for cbt therapy. I am hopeful this will help all my time consuming and shameful habits. I will update when I start therapy. Things I have found that help my skin/mood are keeping face clean and moisturised, drinking water and getting some sun I find this helps a lot and makes me feel better. I like to go on a sunbed because I live in Scotland and the weather is crap, I know I shouldn’t but the benefits out way the negatives for me massively. I have found myself not going out for a whole week when my skin has been bad. My doctor also suggested anti depressants to treat compulsions but it is not something I can consider just now with breastfeeding my little girl but when we stop and if the therapy wasn’t successful it is definitely something I wouldn’t rule out.
I used to bite my nails constantly when I was little, since that I've picked up other bad nasty habits. I do suffer from OCD and anxiety panic disorder. I used to take alot of medication but they thought that my ADD was Bi polar.. I have always picked at these little tiny red bumps I get on my arms, I chew off the dead skin from my lips, and with nail clippers I get rid of hangnails and dead skin around my finger nails. I've just decided today to look up if cutting the skin around your finger nails is a condition....which it is. Someone else had previously mentioned zoning out into a trance like state of mind while picking. I can definitely relate to this...also I usually cut away the skin around my fingernails until im bleeding on almost every finger. I also notice I tend to do these things when more stressed or my anxiety is bad that day.
