Dermatillomania (Compulsive Skin Picking) - Stuart

[StuiePlaysCoD]

OMFG I SEARCHED MY PROBLEM and i only found this vid cuz... it says my name in it.. lol stuart and here i am picking my scabs....

[saltybrutus]

Hey Stuart - I think you are brave for putting this on youtube, but know that your helping others by telling the world about this condition, and I hope you are doing better. All the best mate. S.

[lemae7]

I started around the age of 9 or 10. I can sit in front of a mirror and pick at my face and scalp for hours until my legs go numb, and I have psoraisis that I only make worse by the scratching. It's terrible. I know if I stopped my skin would be 100 times better but I just can't. Thanks for makin this video dude. I know how hard it is.

[sweetholyjesus1]

Thank you for doing this video

[msrayofsunshine777]

I been doing it since I was 14. I want to stop so bad it kills me.

[betweenames]

. My picking mirrors yours. I'm 33 and have been doing it since I was about 16 with the serious picking taking off when I was 18 and first lived alone. For me, it is directly traceable to the stimulant drug I take for ADHD. I never picked before I took the med, and during my two pregnancies I didn't pick. I need the drug, though, to function as a mother and effective person. I have developed methods to resist the urge. contact me at betweenames@aol.com if I can help you.

[verruecktes0ameisi]

@ locopantalones: strange effect seeing other people doin´ "this"

[nashiPAGE]

Thanks so much for this man. You're courageous for talking about it. I need to call in to schedule therapy tomorrow and I'm super freaked out about talking to the guy, but posting a video? You're super brave. *appreciation*

[PenguinExplosions]

Also, if you don't get back to me, wanted to let you know this video made me tear up because everything you are saying I have never witnessed another person besides myself saying!! Also, wanted to let you know that in reading about this disorder recently, researchers have happened to find that animals that engage in similar behaviors (like parrot feather-plucking) have a high number of endorphin receptors compared to animals that don't have this kind of behavior. This could be true for humans.

[PenguinExplosions]

Hey locopantalones, how can I contact you. I really relate to multiple things you are experiencing. Please you seem like a lovely person and I would like to get in touch with you about some of these things. The concern about picking tattoos, the psych issues also running in the family, meds, the skinpicking worsening with amphetamines. I even have a beat up rescue dog too!

[Jaelynross916]

@locopantalones (Stuart) try researching on google - ways to stop, prevent, & heal yourself from doing this. I know ppl do it without using 0 yet Meth may have triggered you to start & not be able to quit. If you still use google help for that too. There is so much information on google -- u may even search keyword "fast healing for Dermatillomania" or for "help with Dermatillomania. I hope u know u can stop, my sister did meth for 15yrs & picked - she had a baby & finally got help. You can too.

[locopantalones]

@Jaelynross916 I've been picking since way before I used meth. I started picking as a pre-teen as far as I remember. The meth definitely made it worse. I only used meth for like 3 months when I was 19. But yeah, the picking is much worse now, likely the meth contributed.

[SmashBrosBrawl]

@locopantalones

dude ive picked for 5 years,

and i stopped picking my body acne for about 3-4 months and my terrible bacne is 99% clear,

i have these nasty pigmentation marks though :/

[heidiegirl]

You remind me of a pirate. :) I'm a scalp picker from as long as I can remember. Lucky I have long, thick, dark hair for me. Yea, I take effexor and kolonopin for panic attacks, but they no help for pickies. I think it's partially genetic, my mom likes to pick at her scalp too :). If I have a pimple on my face, boom, it's picked. But I don't pick anywhere else. But my friend pucks her upper arms, I did notice, but never judge. I like your doggy, she's pretty.

[locopantalones]

@heidiegirl AAAARRRRR!!!! haha! That's funny. I'm on a different mix of meds now, I was taking Topamax for quite a while and that's the only med that has helped calm my impulses but I had to switch off it due to rapid weight loss. Right now I'm on Calexa, Stratterra, and Neurontin (which we switched the Topamax for), but I don't think it's helping. I'm doing terrible at the moment but I just got back something that helped keep my fingers occupied.

[locopantalones]

@heidiegirl Also, I think it might be genetic too. My dad told me recently that he's picked his scalp for as long as he can remember. Hmmmm!

[bauhearse]

I can tell you are a good person, and it's great you adopted your dog.

[tyme4mike]

Consider lithium. It's saved my life more times than I can count. I also take prozac for depression and it's a pretty good and safe combination no matter what you hear or what anyone tells you. I've been on it for over 15 years.

[locopantalones]

@tyme4mike Yeah I've taken Prozac before and that may have helped somewhat, I don't really remember. Also it helps to have something else to occupy your fingers.

[tyme4mike]

@locopantalones I noticed your many piercings. Do you find that the pain you experience from getting pierced gives you the same 'relief' that picking does? I ask because I found that getting tattoos really relieved my desire to pick for awhile. I have one on my right forearm that is permanently damaged from picking at sores and pores that got on and near it. You're not alone either and my thoughts and prayers go out to you, whether you're a believer or not.

[locopantalones]

@tyme4mike :-) you would think so, but I haven't found it the same. I actually hate getting pierced and majority of my piercings are gone now (even my ears have shrinked). Tattoos don't feel like relief to me either. I think it's because it's not the pain that I'm "after", it's more that I feel like when I see something, my brain tells me it doesn't want it there and I just end up digging it out. Kind of like being a perfectionist I guess, except I'm only making it much worse and I can't stop.

[sassuhfrass93]

Wow.. I pick the skin near my thumb nails.. Some days I cant stop doing it. Maybe I have some mild form of this disorder?

[locopantalones]

@sassuhfrass93 I wouldn't doubt it! :-/

[xmelissamadnesss]

i'm 13. & i have dermatillomania. it's really bad.. :/

[locopantalones]

@xmelissamadnesss Yeah, I probably started around that age. :-( It's no tea party!

[crabfishlion]

Skin picking is very sad and stems from abuse, insecurity and stress. I am a skin picker, some days I pick some days I dont. I just want to quit. I am a good looking girl, but my skin has been through rough times. I feel like crying all the time.

[locopantalones]

@crabfishlion : I understand how sad you feel and I'm sorry to hear that you are going through. Though, I think to say it STEMS from abuse is inaccurate. Yes it's stressful and when we are stressed it may be worse. Yes, it doesn't help us feel secure about ourselves. NO, not all of us who do this were abused. People pick because of different things.

[virginialikesyou]

Hi everyone I just wanted to say that we all have high anxiety and that's why we do this. It's like picking makes us go into a trance that makes us relax, it's really messed up but that's why we do it. On the outside, I'm a really calm person to others. But on the inside I have a lot of anxiety. So picking is my only way to let that anxiety out.

[virginialikesyou]

I have started taking homeopathic pills that I got from Whole Foods that is suppose to help me relax, with Kava in it. I think it's a better idea then trying prozac or some other crazy expensive prescription. Good luck everyone!

[lalanyamhyde]

I hate to hear this but i have the same condition it sux it is frustrating and there has to be a way to stop this it is painful inside and out....and oh yeah I have mangled a couple of tattoos slowly...it is rough! Maybe we can all pitch in with tips to help stop or atleast cut down on this behavior.. Best of luck to you!!!!! = )

[FionaThompson16]

Im 16 and i have this really bad. I pick my face, shoulders, scalp, legs, arms, back, neck, but really bad on my chest. I'm so embarrassed that i dont wear what normal girls my age wear. When my boyfriend wants to mess around, i refuse to take my shirt off cause im afriad he will see all the nastiness that is my chest. I can be anywhere and start picking. Ive been in a job interview and started up. They told me that was unsanitary and they couldnt hire me. :/ i really cant help it.

[virginialikesyou]

@FionaThompson16 Oh my goodness girl I am so sorry! You need to ask yourself what triggers you to do this. I know I start to do it when i'm really tired and stressed and I'll pick for hours instead of going to bed. So now I try to go to bed before I start. Start to plan ahead knowing when you most likely do it. You might have to get rid of your mirrors. If you feel like doing it, turn off your lights so you can't see the bumps. If you leave your skin alone, it will heal itself.

[xoxo0414]

i pick my feet and scalp my mom tells me to stop constantly and she doesnt understand when i say i cant

[cosmicgirl67]

Stuart you are really brave to talk about this problem. It is the same for me - now 44 - and this has been going on since childhood in various forms. For the last 20 years it's been skin picking, mainly upper arms (I have keratosis pilaris, the reddened" goosebumps" which look so awful even before I pick at them and make them even worse!) and also my face and upper back.

It certainly is OCD behaviour, I can't stop doing it and I feel relief as I am doing it, followed by self disgust and guilt.

[HelenaNV]

My legs look so awful because of this. It's even worse because I'm a girl. My legs and thighs are the worst, but now I've been picking some bumps in my chest and that's looking pretty bad as well. And there's always a scab on my hairline that I keep pulling and pulling and it never fully heals. All I know is that this shit suuuuuucks and it makes me feel really bad about myself. Well, thank you for sharing, I don't feel so alone now.

[orgonetrail]

Thank you for making this video. Brave words. I've done this since I was a little kid but it didn't get really bad until I was a teenager and got acne. It's such a shameful, isolating thing. I'm 23 now and still do it. It's awful but I'm finally reaching out. Anyway, good luck to you and everyone else who does this!

[locopantalones]

@TheSugarhi

[sauskelove]

@TheSugarhi yeahh it does and im trying so hard to stop my mom thinks im crazy and isnt taking me seriously <.<

[sauskelove]

idk if i have this but on my scalp i scratch and scratch then i pick the scabs repeatedly without thinking or on my face i feel for skin and any skin that is faked partly off or what ever like i can feel a small bump i peel off and pick the scabs so what do you think could that be classified as this?

[locopantalones]

@sauskelove I think it might be the same thing but I'm not quite sure.

[Vividcg]

hey man, im also a picker. its really really odd how many of us there is! best remedy that i have found is LEAVE THE HOUSE! go out and leave your computer and do somthing all the time dude. im doing charity work for free and trying to organising an art auction in england. much love for speaking out my friend I have inboxed you my msn so that we can support eachother!

[locopantalones]

@Vividcg Since I've been keeping busy lately I haven't really been picking very much. I have been really stressed out lately but I just been too busy to be focussed on picking.

[mike123456ism]

hope u get better. It IS on my uper arms too. your not alone

[Godlim17]

derm a till a mania is how its pronouced like trichtotellimania I have both like most but i wouldnt make a video i dont think about it. but I always get oh well you just pick your face cuz you have acne when i have gone to a dermatologist and he says to me you dont have acne you have a physchological problem its completely different

[clifton062]

thank you for your video, i have the same problem.

[toledogirl]

i'm a picker too.boy is there an ignorance in our society about the mind and how it works.glad i found your vid.i had the hair pulling now i have this. i do my hands and feet.not fun.

[reysenecal]

thanks for posting man.. quite relieving to know there are others out there who get it lol

[Piggiesunshine]

i pick mt scalp mostly.

i pick my face and legs.

before graduation my legs look like ones you would find on a skin popper.

[ilovedaddy2009]

I have the same thing . I pick my arms the most and my face! Its sooo hard when people ask you what happened to your arms you dont know what to say! Iam a girl sooo i can cover my face with makeup and i try to cover my arms as well. I pick when iam bored i pick when iam stressed and i pick when ever i see something anything. Lump or bump on my body i have to pick it. iam on Zoloft and i do have OCD and the Zoloft has worked for my other compulsive things i do but not for the picking. Thank you

[Yrocker]

Sorry man.. THis happens to me too...but im better lately. ..it takes repatative positive thinking and also avoiding thinking and lessening stress.

What's mainly helped me was watching these people "wayne dyer" and "ekhart tolle"...it was a miracle that I found them. search them and see I now you will not regret it! Remember also too only think positive like"I'm going to stop picking soon" etc. Search those people too! You will do it.

[Wentworthsgal]

thanks for putting this video out there. So sorry about it reaching your tattoos :o( love your vertical lip piercing :o) x

[beccagirl15]

I'm finally getting treatment. It's so worth it.

[TheRealReasonForDP]

the best cure is to face your fears, build confidence, read the book 'feel the fear and do it anyway' good luck!

[toastedawesome]

at the start you expression changed like NINJA QUICK

[dwes49]

not alone at all man i suffer from the exact same thing, same areas too

[itsmytubeyourtube]

Hey thanks for putting this video up, it has inspired me to think about doing one. Your are really brave, thanks again!

[sellyintegra]

i feel ya man, i wont even leave my house:(

[sebastiancaleb1983]

i came across ur video from a ftm intro serch are u a ftm guy

[locopantalones]

@sebastiancaleb1983 I am!

[sebastiancaleb1983]

@locopantalones

Well Thanks for posting this video AWSOME BEARD

[skrawburriez]

who picked out your teeth?

[locopantalones]

@skrawburriez Crystal Meth. Drugs are bad mmmmkay! They're actually (FINALLY) fixed now

[mossytreehead]

@locopantalones you are amazingly brave, sir.

&hearts;

[ElleirYuuki12]

i didn't know i had that before..i remember , when i am worrying about something, that's when i pick on my skin..

i don't have it anymore..try to relax and keep yourself busy.drink lots of water and do breathing exercises. good luck.

[brilliantou]

goodluck, get well! you can do it!

[yazneal]

Hi, I just wanted to say you are so brave for doing this video!! I only just found out that others have the same problem, I've been doing it forever. Its going to be very hard for me to stop. Thanks so much, your courage is inspiring. Good luck for the future,  x

[Cirkapris]

Hi, Stuart. I know how it is, i also have it.

It is strong to go out in public on youtube, you help people.

There is a Dermatillomania Support Group on facebook.

[CrynOut]

I have it too. My face looks like I have chicken pox right now!