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Skin Picking is injuring me


Guest freshstart2012

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Guest iamconfused

The scalp is one of the main victims of my skin picking. I wish I had a solution to share but I’m still trying to find one myself.

I pick mostly due to boredom so it was suggested to keep my hands constantly busy with silly putty or other toys to fiddle with. The problem with that is I cannot always have something in hand and I don’t always catch myself picking immediately. To truly stop skin picking I believe you have to stop it at its source. How to do this? I wish I knew. Hopefully someone else will have some ideas.

Good Luck

Kay

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi there,

I also have exactly the same problem, I pick compulsively at my head, it bleeds and is so sore. I feel so ashamed.

My wounds also got infected, my GP has prescribed me some antibiotics to clear the infection. If your head has pus perhaps you should pop to your GP to get them to help you clear it up, I know it won't cure the problem underneath but at least it should help the skin/

I wish I had more advice to give you you about it, all I can say is I know how it feels. I am going to try CBT this year to hopefully quit once and for all.

Try not to let it get you down, you are not alone

Claire

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Guest CharlotteA

I picked at my face for years, decades. Had mild acne that was make much worse by not keeping my hands away from my skin.

Even when the acne eventually went away, mind you not helped by all my picking.... I still pick!

Use a magnifying mirror now to 'get at' all the non-existent blackheads, etc. I know on an intellectual level there is nothing to 'clean out' but when it's 8x magnified you will be surprised what you can find. No end to all this madness.

It's only now, like 35 years later!!! I have noticed a pattern. I pick when I am stressed, low. It perks me up momentarily and then I am left with a blotchy face for a while.

It may be a very good idea to see if you can get a referral from your GP to see a psychiatrist if the picking is getting out of had and interfering with your day-to-day life.

I read it is a form of self-harm. Do you have scabs, bleed? Are you able to face going out afterwards? If not it would seem to me to be serious and need to be treated, not just physically but more importantly (in my opinion) on a psychological level.

Edited by CharlotteA
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Guest Hyznbrg

I cared for someone doing this, it was pretty much as bad as it gets. He is completely cured now- I hope you can find comfort in knowing that.

I wish i could tell you what we did but that whole part of my life is a little blurry (been told i suffer with post traumatic stress)

I remember stopping him every time he did it, could any of you tell someone close to you, ask them if they could help?

He cut his nails, neat but short short. So it's a struggle to pinch. I feel for you all so much, it's horrible i know.

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Guest Wilsano

i constantly pick and bite the skin on my fingers. my thumbs look like 2 swollen D**ks attached to my hand.

Not pretty i know, i do it to relieve anxiety and sometimes out of boredom. i always get annoyed when people tell me to stop, they must think i don't want to stop. nah, i just can't. Get a hobby or something try drawing (everyone can draw just takes patience) trust me it stops me from biting or picking pretty hard when there's a jaggy pencil in the way!

Try keeping your hands busy for a while. let your head clear up and then there will be a hell of a lot less to pick at. even write blogs or anything to keep your hands occupied.


But the main thing is go to your gp. i went to mine today and told her everything i did and was told its ocd.

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Experts consider this to be part of bdd and it is best treated by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.This will treat it at it's source.Good luck to you all suffering with this

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Guest KatnissTheGirlOnFire

I do this as well, exactly the same as you do... I wish someone could help us. I was told to do other things with my hands all the time, but at school I get told off when I fiddle with things... Anyone have any hints?

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Yea kat but I think it needs to be treated as quite serious and not just brushed off with the suggestions you have been unfortunately given.It is considered to be a part of bdd and there is mention of it in a chapter in a book called overcoming body image problems including body dysmorphic disorder by David Veale.I would go see your doctor and make a lot of fuss lol

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