i have this disorder too. i pick at my skin when i am angry, nervous or when i am waiting in line because I am very impatient. i pick at my lips too. my skin is full of scraps and cuts. i feel like giving up. but i should't now. nothing helps my problem. i still want to give up. i started when i was young and i know its bad but i know i shouldn't
I'm soo happy I have found this video!!... I don't think dermatillomania is acknowledged enough, but seeing everyone's comments today, I don't feel alone anymore! It's such a struggle for me not to pick at my face, but it's also a sense of relief when I see an imperfection on my face and pick at it. Squeezing something out is like releasing that pain/stressed feeling.... Thank you for posting this video
I started biting my nails when I was a small child. The saliva damaged my cuticles, and now I am fifteen year old who is tearing holes in my fingers. I dont see imperfections, beside the occasional crack, or when the cuts get infected. But I bite and tear just the same, sometimes up to the first knuckle. Help, somebody!
Wait, I don't get it, is this someone who picks at scabs and spots or creates brand new cuts by self harming? I get spots, burst them until they bleed and scab over and then continually pick them. Is that what this is?
@Radz117 It's picking at spots, at the slightest imperfections in an obsessive nature. It is not the typical "self-harm" because the intent is not to inflict pain, but to irrationally get rid of bumps and marks by "fixing" the problem.
I was a nail-biter as a child, but as I grew that turned into ripping off the skin around my fingers. During the summer months too I rip at the bottom of my feet until they are soft and sore. I have always been embarrassed about it as my fingers are always raw and bloody, but I guess I didn't think it was odd or important enough to look into. It's a real relief to see how many others are in similar (and often worse) situations! How silly the brain can be!
I'm just the same.. I didn't know there were others out there.. it's really bad and become worse over the years.. I've done this for about ten years now and it is embarracing to go out in public. I can't see me having a normal social life with this disorder - getting a boy friend is hard.. I sometimes hate myself for doing this.. Thanks for posting!
I've developed a habit of always keeping fingernail clippers sitting by my favorite spots to clip my nails right away when they become uneven or get a nick in them. I've found that nail strengthener/polish will often give me something to pick at when I'm nervous instead of the edge of my nails as well. For my lips/skin I started keeping chap-stick/lotion with me and whenever I get the urge I use it. Now I tend to rub more than pick which is an improvement since I can't stop the habit.
#4 My point in the end is to tell part of my story and add on to what others have said, that you are not alone, there are people who understand, who don't blame you or want to yell at you. We know what it feels like and we know it's not easily controlled. We've felt the shame and guilt when people don't understand and are inconsiderate and closed minded. We're here for you, united. <3.
#3 - There were points back then when I was also cutting. To this day I still can't leave scars alone. If some imperfection pops up, like a bug bite, a mole, I claw at it to get rid of it, repeating. I used to struggle w/depression, now it has died down; my anxiety disorders have become much stronger. Attacking my skin calms me down, redirects my focus away from being upset, stressed... it feels like a need, it drives you crazy until you deal w/it and then you feel better.
In high school, it was my fingers, the skin around my nails, I was always going horrible damage to my hands, my fingers would hurt to be touched. I couldn't hold hands without pain sometimes, and boyfriends would complain because they didn't want to be touching open wounds. My fingers would heal and I would attack them again, peeling off layers, using clippers, etc, I always had to get rid of the cuticles as well... many days I wore gloves to school or wrapped every finger in bandaids.
This is a long reply, I will have to break it into pieces. #1
In middle school, I would use a razor and cut the extra rough skin off the balls of of my feet because I didn't like that it wasn't as smooth... there's extra skin there that doesn't hurt when you cut through it, and that bothered me that it existed. Of course, I would sometimes go too deep and have to use bandaids to not get blood on the floor and my socks. I never told anyone about that before this.
I have this disorder and what really sucks is all the sleepless nights. All the nights sitting on the toilet with the nail clipper(and not for my nails) and watching 5 minutes become 3 hours in what feels like a short time.
im suffering from this, i have giant patch of rough skin on my right hand. it covers my entire palm and i pick at it every day. i think general nail biting is dermatillomania, but it can obviously lead to it.
I suffer from dermatillomania as well. I have a youtube channel where I talk about it. Feel free to take a look, and message me if you ever need support, or just a friend. I'll be there for you if you need someone to talk to. :)
Am I the only person who enjoys parts of their dermatilomania? It's really not an appropriate response to a disorder, but god damn does it calm me some times. :)
@soon2bpirate it calms me down too. I've resisted for up to two hours and the agitation became REALLY bad. I tried everything I had been taught and got ZERO relief. Picking was the only thing that could calm me down and because I waited so long the picking episode became even worse. I don't even bother resisting anymore because I know what happens if I do.
I've had this for 40 years. The good news is that I got to a point of cutting but now I pick instead. My face looks horrible sometimes and I try to let it heal, but the only way I can leave my face alone is to pick somewhere else so my legs, scalp, and chest are plastered with scars. This is a horrid affliction so please don't stare at people or question ones who have scabs and sores as it makes it worse for them. For those who have it, certain makeups matching skintones can help cover it up.
i have dermatillomania too and mostly on my chest... I´m 21 now and I started when I was like 8.... so now I´m already horribly scarred and ashamed.... I can´t wear any low-cut dresses because my skin is so damaged and if I dare to wear sth were my scarred skin is visible I always get questions about acne or rashes... and then I have to explain or lie... I hate people to judge me and I wish I could stop. I already did several years of therapy and it didn´t help much...
Dermatillomania is a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) like Trichotillomania, excessive nail biting and biting the inside of your mouth. It's not usually done to inflict pain, but to relieve a tension. Trich.org is quite informative about BFRBs
@Largestina ..so could a person overcome this condition or there's no other alternative to medication? i was wondering how would you hide this condition from a spouse/partner if the skin damage is obvious?
@dimanajm From the info I've read about Compulsive Skin Picking, it can be managed with habit reversal training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The addition of SSRI medication (prozac, celexa, etc.) is quite helpful for some people, especially when used in conjunction with CBT. The disorder is almost impossible to hide from an intimate, which makes it all the more embarrassing and distressing.
@rhys23g none of those things have worked for me. I just started a clinical trial at the University of Minnesota to determine if taking the amino-acid n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) curbs the urges to pick. They've already done studies on people with the related disorder, trichatillomania and more than 50 percent of people who had the actual NAC had positive results. You can buy NAC over the counter at a vitamin store. This study starts out with one 600mg capsule twice a day.
Thank you, Angela. This is amazing. So many mental health professionals don't even know about dermatillomania or just lump it in with self-injurers. I used to think I was the only person who did this, too. I generally limit it to my face (which is terrible as it's what everyone sees) but I used to pick my back and arms, too. I'm hoping I can stop before I am horribly scarred.
Hi there, I am glad I'm not/was not the only one out there, my arms look like your legs, it's embarrasing b/c I can't even wear a bathing suit in the summer b/c of the scars on my arms. They have developed over the years and now are all white and raised. I would like to have them removed but am not sure a laser will do it and it is prob going to be very expensive. I am embarrased a dermotologist will judge me. Did you get any advice as to scar removal?
Walgreens sells Sally Hansen leg makeup for about twelve dollars. It's kind of like a spray tan, but not exactly. It has been a godsend for someone like me, with nine years of damage done to my legs. I go through about a bottle every five or six months, but I live in a warm climate and wear skirts a lot. Hope it helps somebody else.
her face looks a lot better than mine. It is all covered in scabs. which i cannot cover up with make up so i dont even try. Plus many ppl say its not even a disorder and dont believe me when its a problem they just say oh well u pick at pimples.
I dont understand this hurting part? The only time I ever felt pain from it was when I first started picking. I dont feel any pain now. The only time i feel pain is if i am picking at my finger nails or in my nose or right under my nose. Maybe thats just me.
I also suffer from this. I've been doing it since I was 11. My mother did it, but she was doing drugs at the time and was able to stop when she quit them. One doctor thought I was lying when I said I wasn't doing it because of drugs, and my doctor doesn't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. I've been crying while I pick. I've been screaming at myself in my head. I go to bed with my arms and legs and anywhere else I've picked throbbing with pain. We need more help with this condition.
Do I have Dermatillomania, because I am constantly picking scabs and little imperfections I see on my skin. I automatically see a scab or a blackhead or something like that as an imperfection and I pick at it and pick at it. Soon, an hour goes by and my skin is bloody and red. I have had people on numerous occasions tell me to stop, but I keep on doing it. Do I have it?
@singergirlflame Most likely. I've been doing it for about 10 years now and this is the first time I'm hearing about this disorder. I've always been told it was just a symptom of OCD and that's true but I was never told it was specifically this. I pick the bottoms of my feet and sometimes my fingers and I'll even use a toe nail clipper to help out. I also pop pimples whenever they pop up, which of course, makes the problem worse. But I've been doing a lot better lately.
I think this condition is what I have because I've been doing this sort of thing my whole life. I wish I could stop because then I wouldn't have to put tons of coverup on my face and other places where there are disgusting, visible, red blemishes, but I don't know how to because it's like I lose control of myself when I do it. I want to stop so badly, but I can't. My mom and dad don't understand because they think it's just a habit and that I could stop all on my own if I would just try a littl
@ExpozedArt I started that young. I'm now recovering. As someone who did this and suffered for years, would you be offended if I offered some advice? Some kids grow out of it, so don't be too alarmed. But some don't. If someone had noticed that unhealthy tendency in me earlier, and gotten me help, I might not have gotten so bad. Therapy has been the only thing that helped me. Some insurances will cover it, and I can honestly say it was worth it. Good luck with your daughter.
i have this disorder and have had it for almost all my life. when i am stressed, nervous, or bored i pick. everywhere i go i pick. haha i must say that the only thing that smoking cigarrettes is good for is to calm my skin picking down.
I've had dermatillomania for a little more than a decade now..and I see no end in sight...It's already ruined my childhood and the majority of my early teen years(I'm 17 now) but I'm not gonna let if screw up the remainder of my life. I'm wearing short sleeves for the first time in AGES..and it never felt so damn good. If people are going to judge..then let them..if not then let me educate them on it a bit so it can be better understood.
I have this x 50... my sores nvr get to fully heal beacuse i pick at them. my raw skin shows thru the holes ive left behind. i have black scars, its just really severe. i dnt know wat to do. i havent been able to wear short sleeve shirts in years. all year long!
My main issue with this kind of stuff is that these days anything that we see as "abnormal" we classify into a disorder, so people feel like they 'belong' in some way. Which isn't a bad thing because it gives people a chance to talk about how they feel to people who feel the same way. But honestly when it comes to this stuff, whether it be a disorder or not, she's right, its so difficult to stop. You just spend hours skanning you skin, looking for a bump or anything, its really hard to deal with
i have this disorder too its so loody hard to stop sometimes its like it overtakes ure free will...and i keep saying stop but i just pick more..i dont have many scabs because i always try to stop and i notice its increasing my anxiety as welll which is really strange... i find the more i pick the more anxious i become and i have panic attacks i dont know what to do :( ....this is like a devil so hard to beat i dont have much hope sometimes i get so depressed
You're so brave for doing all this. Thank you. I thought I was alone.
I'm still struggling with my dermatillomania, but hopefully one day I can live without it. Thanks, it's comforting to know that others out there are having the same problems I am.
i've had this since i was about 7 or 8 years old. i'm 21 now. i wear jackets all the time and long skirts and pants. i used to love going to the beach and swimming but in the last 5 years it's gotten much worse and now i can't go in public with anything less than a jacket and pants, let alone a bathing suit. it sucks! i've also gotten really pale from being covered up all the time and am having to take vitamin D supplements from lack of sun. sucks so bad!
Yeah thats one of those bad cases that I talked about in my video, even more so this poor girl on obsessed. I can totally relate to what she said about worrying about what she wears, I worry about bathing suit now because I have scars and marks on my areas and they show even worse if I tan (hello summer??)
I've been picking since I was young as well. I really hate that the weather is getting warmer here because I have to continue to wear my long sleeves and pants. It sucks.
Thank you so much for sharing this information! Until about 2 yrs ago I thought I was alone too. Had never heard a name for it until then. Psych says anti-anxiety med should lessen it for me but it seems to only be a temporary thing then I start all over again. Right arm is the worst but starting to pick on other places too. Also devoloped trichotillamania now but skin picking started way before.
Ik heb het sinds mijn 17e. Ben nu 29 en het bleef eerst bij mijn handen en lippen. Vorig jaar begonnen met handschoenen aan te houden, eerst overdags én ´s nachts. Het ging wel aardig, totdat ik dacht wel zonder te kunnen... Ik had het behoorlijk mis... Nu haal ik ook mijn gezicht open... Ik heb al meerdere dwangneuroses gehad, voledwang, controledwang, teldwang, poetsdwang, van alles. Het verschuift gewoon steeds. Dus mocht ik hier ooit vanaf komen, wat dan?
Ik begrijp een beetje Nederlands. :) Ik worstel met dit als goed. Be nu 23 & ik heb het sinds mijn 3e!. Ik heb zeer slechte als een tiener. Acne... Ik gebruik bandages & korte vingernagels. Nog slecht. Good luck. Het is moeilijk. (sorry for bad Dutch, I am from the US so this probably makes no sense)
I just developed skin picking a few months ago, and now I have scars on my forehead. I can't stop my hand from picking. I try, but I feel the scabs on my skin and I want to get them off! I hate this stupid crap!
I've had this for 5 years and thought I was just weird. I had no idea how to stop it or that it was even a disorder. First it was just my arms. As I've grown older and gotten more stressed out, it's moved to other parts of my body. Seeing this really helped make me feel better and that there is hope in me getting over this horrible habit that I can't control.
i started diong it in 3rd grade until 5th grade i stopped for about a year but it has started up again for me when i dont do it i think about and think about then i eventually do it i dont know to how to stop
I do this as well and Angela is very brave for doing this in such a public way. Thank you Angela and good luck I recently read that 600 mg of NAC helped to reduced the urge to Pull out your hair, Tricotllimania (I hope I spelled it right). So I started using it for my skin picking and it IS helping. Talk to your doctor first but you can buy it at any health food store. Good luck to everyone that has to deal with this disorder.
I'm 58 and have had picking and hair pulling since I can remember. Last year my Dr. put me on drugs but I slept all the time. That only lasted for 3 weeks. I work at getting better every single day.
Some drugs do that, unfortunately. I now just focus on depression/ anxiety meds instead of changing the habit because I've exhausted myself with having my hopes up with finding a cure. If one comes along, it will be a bonus in my life instead of a life savor. Good luck with yours. xox
Hi, have you found anything to help with this problem? it is almost as servere for me as it is for you and im willing to try anything at all to make it go away. ive heard of using antipsycotics and have tried some but have not found any that work. any ideas?
I thought I was along, I don't do it all over like she does, just on my fingers, but it gets really bad sometimes if i'm stressed out. I've been doing it since about 2nd grade.
@TheScreamingRetard ive had this since i was 8. im now 19. usually happens when you are anxious, as a coping mechanism. start to identify when u are most likely to do this. it may also be a symptom of keeping feelings of anxiety etc bottled in.
@TheScreamingRetard Same with me, right now one of my fingers hurts to bend it cause of the picking. I keep trying to stop since i can remember but nothing has worked :( (you could try flicking a rubber band if you feel the urge to pick- i might try that). I always have my hands in my sleeves hiding them. i think you and i have it :( good luck
Skin picking is like smoking or alcoholism. You feel great while doing it and always have the tendency to do it, but after you're angry with yourself, because you know it's a real problem.
I'm trying to fight this as hard as I can, but always fail to succeed. This actually doesn't mean that I will stop trying.
I was searching about some symptoms I'm having.. I didnt exactly know what i'm having until I saw ur vid... ur exactly the same as me... my hands are scared and I really feel embarrassed.. its really painful to have this disorder and I dont know where to get help for it ;(
I know excatly what your talking about when your explaining how it feels. I have Dermatillomania, with Eczema. And because of my eczema my dermatillomania is like picking and scratching my skin off. Along with that I have some really bad allergies.. but thanks! :)
Great job. It was also through the internet that I, too, found out I was not alone. I not only have dermantillomania but also trichotillomania (hair-pulling, for those that don't know). I pick and pull until I get that relief moment - my "ah". Both also started in my teens.
Thank you! Having Dermatillomania is rough enough, I seriously couldn't imagine what it would be like to have Trichotillomania (although *technically* that's what I'm diagnosed with due to the DSM standards).
Thank you! I'm not relying all of my cards on genetics because of the behavioral pattern of this disorder, but I still hope for answers that lead to a better lifestyle of managing it.
Great interview! It's great to get the world more informed about this.
I found it interesting that you feel relieved after picking. For me, I feel horrible immediately after picking. Once I start I can't stop for a long time because I want to delay that feeling for as long as possible.
Really? For me I get that moment of relief right after a "good pick" and then shortly afterward I feel horrible. What makes me stop is the relieving feeling, which may take hours to get.
Thank you so much! I'm not sure if you've already ordered one online or through me but if you haven't, just pop me off an e-mail at foreverDOTmarkedATyahooDOTca (replacing caps with its symbol). :)
I did not know I had this untill today! I have had this for 9 years and never known I was not alone..
marialovesherlife 3 weeks ago
i have this disorder too. i pick at my skin when i am angry, nervous or when i am waiting in line because I am very impatient. i pick at my lips too. my skin is full of scraps and cuts. i feel like giving up. but i should't now. nothing helps my problem. i still want to give up. i started when i was young and i know its bad but i know i shouldn't
makeitshinemichelle1 1 month ago
I'm soo happy I have found this video!!... I don't think dermatillomania is acknowledged enough, but seeing everyone's comments today, I don't feel alone anymore! It's such a struggle for me not to pick at my face, but it's also a sense of relief when I see an imperfection on my face and pick at it. Squeezing something out is like releasing that pain/stressed feeling.... Thank you for posting this video
MooBellaGuzel 1 month ago
I think this is what I have.
I started biting my nails when I was a small child. The saliva damaged my cuticles, and now I am fifteen year old who is tearing holes in my fingers. I dont see imperfections, beside the occasional crack, or when the cuts get infected. But I bite and tear just the same, sometimes up to the first knuckle. Help, somebody!
Insanonaga 1 month ago
Wait, I don't get it, is this someone who picks at scabs and spots or creates brand new cuts by self harming? I get spots, burst them until they bleed and scab over and then continually pick them. Is that what this is?
Radz117 4 months ago
@Radz117 It's picking at spots, at the slightest imperfections in an obsessive nature. It is not the typical "self-harm" because the intent is not to inflict pain, but to irrationally get rid of bumps and marks by "fixing" the problem.
anonymity86 4 months ago
@anonymity86 That's EXACTLY what I have! I thought I was the only person. My Doctors never told me about this!
Radz117 4 months ago
I was a nail-biter as a child, but as I grew that turned into ripping off the skin around my fingers. During the summer months too I rip at the bottom of my feet until they are soft and sore. I have always been embarrassed about it as my fingers are always raw and bloody, but I guess I didn't think it was odd or important enough to look into. It's a real relief to see how many others are in similar (and often worse) situations! How silly the brain can be!
ulthea 4 months ago
I'm just the same.. I didn't know there were others out there.. it's really bad and become worse over the years.. I've done this for about ten years now and it is embarracing to go out in public. I can't see me having a normal social life with this disorder - getting a boy friend is hard.. I sometimes hate myself for doing this.. Thanks for posting!
Heinalicious 5 months ago
I've developed a habit of always keeping fingernail clippers sitting by my favorite spots to clip my nails right away when they become uneven or get a nick in them. I've found that nail strengthener/polish will often give me something to pick at when I'm nervous instead of the edge of my nails as well. For my lips/skin I started keeping chap-stick/lotion with me and whenever I get the urge I use it. Now I tend to rub more than pick which is an improvement since I can't stop the habit.
colufs 5 months ago
#4 My point in the end is to tell part of my story and add on to what others have said, that you are not alone, there are people who understand, who don't blame you or want to yell at you. We know what it feels like and we know it's not easily controlled. We've felt the shame and guilt when people don't understand and are inconsiderate and closed minded. We're here for you, united. <3.
RetNicole 6 months ago
#3 - There were points back then when I was also cutting. To this day I still can't leave scars alone. If some imperfection pops up, like a bug bite, a mole, I claw at it to get rid of it, repeating. I used to struggle w/depression, now it has died down; my anxiety disorders have become much stronger. Attacking my skin calms me down, redirects my focus away from being upset, stressed... it feels like a need, it drives you crazy until you deal w/it and then you feel better.
RetNicole 6 months ago
#2
In high school, it was my fingers, the skin around my nails, I was always going horrible damage to my hands, my fingers would hurt to be touched. I couldn't hold hands without pain sometimes, and boyfriends would complain because they didn't want to be touching open wounds. My fingers would heal and I would attack them again, peeling off layers, using clippers, etc, I always had to get rid of the cuticles as well... many days I wore gloves to school or wrapped every finger in bandaids.
RetNicole 6 months ago
This is a long reply, I will have to break it into pieces. #1
In middle school, I would use a razor and cut the extra rough skin off the balls of of my feet because I didn't like that it wasn't as smooth... there's extra skin there that doesn't hurt when you cut through it, and that bothered me that it existed. Of course, I would sometimes go too deep and have to use bandaids to not get blood on the floor and my socks. I never told anyone about that before this.
RetNicole 6 months ago
I have this disorder and what really sucks is all the sleepless nights. All the nights sitting on the toilet with the nail clipper(and not for my nails) and watching 5 minutes become 3 hours in what feels like a short time.
MasterAdam100 8 months ago
im suffering from this, i have giant patch of rough skin on my right hand. it covers my entire palm and i pick at it every day. i think general nail biting is dermatillomania, but it can obviously lead to it.
GothEmoWC 10 months ago
I suffer from dermatillomania as well. I have a youtube channel where I talk about it. Feel free to take a look, and message me if you ever need support, or just a friend. I'll be there for you if you need someone to talk to. :)
LinleyCreations 10 months ago 4
Am I the only person who enjoys parts of their dermatilomania? It's really not an appropriate response to a disorder, but god damn does it calm me some times. :)
soon2bpirate 10 months ago 2
@soon2bpirate it calms me down too. I've resisted for up to two hours and the agitation became REALLY bad. I tried everything I had been taught and got ZERO relief. Picking was the only thing that could calm me down and because I waited so long the picking episode became even worse. I don't even bother resisting anymore because I know what happens if I do.
artbyajanderson 7 months ago
I've had this for 40 years. The good news is that I got to a point of cutting but now I pick instead. My face looks horrible sometimes and I try to let it heal, but the only way I can leave my face alone is to pick somewhere else so my legs, scalp, and chest are plastered with scars. This is a horrid affliction so please don't stare at people or question ones who have scabs and sores as it makes it worse for them. For those who have it, certain makeups matching skintones can help cover it up.
tyme4mike 11 months ago
i have dermatillomania too and mostly on my chest... I´m 21 now and I started when I was like 8.... so now I´m already horribly scarred and ashamed.... I can´t wear any low-cut dresses because my skin is so damaged and if I dare to wear sth were my scarred skin is visible I always get questions about acne or rashes... and then I have to explain or lie... I hate people to judge me and I wish I could stop. I already did several years of therapy and it didn´t help much...
GreenMalveiyr 1 year ago
why are they holding papers? they look like tools
powerFamosa 1 year ago
Dermatillomania is a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) like Trichotillomania, excessive nail biting and biting the inside of your mouth. It's not usually done to inflict pain, but to relieve a tension. Trich.org is quite informative about BFRBs
Largestina 1 year ago
@Largestina ..so could a person overcome this condition or there's no other alternative to medication? i was wondering how would you hide this condition from a spouse/partner if the skin damage is obvious?
dimanajm 7 months ago
@dimanajm From the info I've read about Compulsive Skin Picking, it can be managed with habit reversal training, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The addition of SSRI medication (prozac, celexa, etc.) is quite helpful for some people, especially when used in conjunction with CBT. The disorder is almost impossible to hide from an intimate, which makes it all the more embarrassing and distressing.
rhys23g 7 months ago
@rhys23g none of those things have worked for me. I just started a clinical trial at the University of Minnesota to determine if taking the amino-acid n-acetyl cysteine (NAC) curbs the urges to pick. They've already done studies on people with the related disorder, trichatillomania and more than 50 percent of people who had the actual NAC had positive results. You can buy NAC over the counter at a vitamin store. This study starts out with one 600mg capsule twice a day.
artbyajanderson 7 months ago
Thank you, Angela. This is amazing. So many mental health professionals don't even know about dermatillomania or just lump it in with self-injurers. I used to think I was the only person who did this, too. I generally limit it to my face (which is terrible as it's what everyone sees) but I used to pick my back and arms, too. I'm hoping I can stop before I am horribly scarred.
orgonetrail 1 year ago
Hi there, I am glad I'm not/was not the only one out there, my arms look like your legs, it's embarrasing b/c I can't even wear a bathing suit in the summer b/c of the scars on my arms. They have developed over the years and now are all white and raised. I would like to have them removed but am not sure a laser will do it and it is prob going to be very expensive. I am embarrased a dermotologist will judge me. Did you get any advice as to scar removal?
sara2618 1 year ago
Walgreens sells Sally Hansen leg makeup for about twelve dollars. It's kind of like a spray tan, but not exactly. It has been a godsend for someone like me, with nine years of damage done to my legs. I go through about a bottle every five or six months, but I live in a warm climate and wear skirts a lot. Hope it helps somebody else.
authormind 1 year ago
her face looks a lot better than mine. It is all covered in scabs. which i cannot cover up with make up so i dont even try. Plus many ppl say its not even a disorder and dont believe me when its a problem they just say oh well u pick at pimples.
Godlim17 1 year ago
I dont understand this hurting part? The only time I ever felt pain from it was when I first started picking. I dont feel any pain now. The only time i feel pain is if i am picking at my finger nails or in my nose or right under my nose. Maybe thats just me.
Godlim17 1 year ago
I also suffer from this. I've been doing it since I was 11. My mother did it, but she was doing drugs at the time and was able to stop when she quit them. One doctor thought I was lying when I said I wasn't doing it because of drugs, and my doctor doesn't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. I've been crying while I pick. I've been screaming at myself in my head. I go to bed with my arms and legs and anywhere else I've picked throbbing with pain. We need more help with this condition.
FuckURmorals 1 year ago
Do I have Dermatillomania, because I am constantly picking scabs and little imperfections I see on my skin. I automatically see a scab or a blackhead or something like that as an imperfection and I pick at it and pick at it. Soon, an hour goes by and my skin is bloody and red. I have had people on numerous occasions tell me to stop, but I keep on doing it. Do I have it?
singergirlflame 1 year ago
@singergirlflame Most likely. I've been doing it for about 10 years now and this is the first time I'm hearing about this disorder. I've always been told it was just a symptom of OCD and that's true but I was never told it was specifically this. I pick the bottoms of my feet and sometimes my fingers and I'll even use a toe nail clipper to help out. I also pop pimples whenever they pop up, which of course, makes the problem worse. But I've been doing a lot better lately.
MasterAdam100 1 year ago
@singergirlflame That qualifies as dermatillomania.
morganaxash 1 year ago
I think this condition is what I have because I've been doing this sort of thing my whole life. I wish I could stop because then I wouldn't have to put tons of coverup on my face and other places where there are disgusting, visible, red blemishes, but I don't know how to because it's like I lose control of myself when I do it. I want to stop so badly, but I can't. My mom and dad don't understand because they think it's just a habit and that I could stop all on my own if I would just try a littl
bumblybu180 1 year ago
My daughter is 6 with this. Her legs are covered with scars... I wish all this online resaearch was helping.
ExpozedArt 1 year ago
@ExpozedArt I started that young. I'm now recovering. As someone who did this and suffered for years, would you be offended if I offered some advice? Some kids grow out of it, so don't be too alarmed. But some don't. If someone had noticed that unhealthy tendency in me earlier, and gotten me help, I might not have gotten so bad. Therapy has been the only thing that helped me. Some insurances will cover it, and I can honestly say it was worth it. Good luck with your daughter.
-Caitlin
TX, 16
authormind 1 year ago
i started picking since i was in 1st grade no lie
extremeeXrement1 1 year ago
i have this disorder and have had it for almost all my life. when i am stressed, nervous, or bored i pick. everywhere i go i pick. haha i must say that the only thing that smoking cigarrettes is good for is to calm my skin picking down.
Piggiesunshine 1 year ago
I've had dermatillomania for a little more than a decade now..and I see no end in sight...It's already ruined my childhood and the majority of my early teen years(I'm 17 now) but I'm not gonna let if screw up the remainder of my life. I'm wearing short sleeves for the first time in AGES..and it never felt so damn good. If people are going to judge..then let them..if not then let me educate them on it a bit so it can be better understood.
lovexhumiliatesxyou 1 year ago
I have this x 50... my sores nvr get to fully heal beacuse i pick at them. my raw skin shows thru the holes ive left behind. i have black scars, its just really severe. i dnt know wat to do. i havent been able to wear short sleeve shirts in years. all year long!
vianeykinz 1 year ago
My main issue with this kind of stuff is that these days anything that we see as "abnormal" we classify into a disorder, so people feel like they 'belong' in some way. Which isn't a bad thing because it gives people a chance to talk about how they feel to people who feel the same way. But honestly when it comes to this stuff, whether it be a disorder or not, she's right, its so difficult to stop. You just spend hours skanning you skin, looking for a bump or anything, its really hard to deal with
LOVEMUNCHKIN22 1 year ago
i've had this all my life.. i can never wear shorts or dresses..:(
elikaisis 1 year ago
i pick at scabs or imperfections ( usualy on face ) can anyone tell me if i have this?
XKillerKandiX 1 year ago
i pick the skin on my lips a lot. been doing it for years now. is that a form of dermatillomania?
JessieT43 1 year ago
i have this disorder too its so loody hard to stop sometimes its like it overtakes ure free will...and i keep saying stop but i just pick more..i dont have many scabs because i always try to stop and i notice its increasing my anxiety as welll which is really strange... i find the more i pick the more anxious i become and i have panic attacks i dont know what to do :( ....this is like a devil so hard to beat i dont have much hope sometimes i get so depressed
Esterztarz 1 year ago 12
@Esterztarz :'( i have the same problem (cry) it seems impossible to stop
P4brains 1 year ago
You're so brave for doing all this. Thank you. I thought I was alone.
I'm still struggling with my dermatillomania, but hopefully one day I can live without it. Thanks, it's comforting to know that others out there are having the same problems I am.
fadsforwhatever 1 year ago
i've had this since i was about 7 or 8 years old. i'm 21 now. i wear jackets all the time and long skirts and pants. i used to love going to the beach and swimming but in the last 5 years it's gotten much worse and now i can't go in public with anything less than a jacket and pants, let alone a bathing suit. it sucks! i've also gotten really pale from being covered up all the time and am having to take vitamin D supplements from lack of sun. sucks so bad!
akuarashi 1 year ago
16 years and over i have done this for am 33 now and look a mess.
katryn3 1 year ago
I eat the dead skin on my fingers. I'm a freak.
chrisjohnhurley 1 year ago
@chrisjohnhurley no you're not
devoutxcynic 1 year ago
I have this; my arms and legs are covered in scars.
DeadParrotsLTD 1 year ago
i have this
musicspeakks 1 year ago
I'm all too excited for summer to arrive, but the ling sleeves will remain =/..
lilfire96 1 year ago
was researching our condition & came across a vitamin B8 suppliment called Inositol...sells at GNC...Anyone try it yet?
prfctchins 1 year ago
is it supposed to help? any sites that explain its benefits?
dreaminvasion 1 year ago
@dreaminvasion I've read a bit on it,doesn't look like it'll hurt...worth a try..I'll post again in a month..gonna grab some tomorrow...
prfctchins 1 year ago
Yeah thats one of those bad cases that I talked about in my video, even more so this poor girl on obsessed. I can totally relate to what she said about worrying about what she wears, I worry about bathing suit now because I have scars and marks on my areas and they show even worse if I tan (hello summer??)
OCDvlog 1 year ago
I've been picking since I was young as well. I really hate that the weather is getting warmer here because I have to continue to wear my long sleeves and pants. It sucks.
redtape09 2 years ago
Thank you so much for sharing this information! Until about 2 yrs ago I thought I was alone too. Had never heard a name for it until then. Psych says anti-anxiety med should lessen it for me but it seems to only be a temporary thing then I start all over again. Right arm is the worst but starting to pick on other places too. Also devoloped trichotillamania now but skin picking started way before.
scribbledroses 2 years ago
Ik heb het sinds mijn 17e. Ben nu 29 en het bleef eerst bij mijn handen en lippen. Vorig jaar begonnen met handschoenen aan te houden, eerst overdags én ´s nachts. Het ging wel aardig, totdat ik dacht wel zonder te kunnen... Ik had het behoorlijk mis... Nu haal ik ook mijn gezicht open... Ik heb al meerdere dwangneuroses gehad, voledwang, controledwang, teldwang, poetsdwang, van alles. Het verschuift gewoon steeds. Dus mocht ik hier ooit vanaf komen, wat dan?
hildeshoekje 2 years ago
@hildeshoekje Ik ben maar 15 en ik pluk steeds aan de huid van mijn lippen en handen.
GoingUnder19 1 year ago
@GoingUnder19
I'm sorry... I only understand English. :(
anonymity86 1 year ago
@hildeshoekje
Ik begrijp een beetje Nederlands. :) Ik worstel met dit als goed. Be nu 23 & ik heb het sinds mijn 3e!. Ik heb zeer slechte als een tiener. Acne... Ik gebruik bandages & korte vingernagels. Nog slecht. Good luck. Het is moeilijk. (sorry for bad Dutch, I am from the US so this probably makes no sense)
orgonetrail 1 year ago
Ive had it all my life..
XxsnakebitesxXfreak 2 years ago
I just developed skin picking a few months ago, and now I have scars on my forehead. I can't stop my hand from picking. I try, but I feel the scabs on my skin and I want to get them off! I hate this stupid crap!
ministerofanger 2 years ago
I've had this for 5 years and thought I was just weird. I had no idea how to stop it or that it was even a disorder. First it was just my arms. As I've grown older and gotten more stressed out, it's moved to other parts of my body. Seeing this really helped make me feel better and that there is hope in me getting over this horrible habit that I can't control.
Leoakie86 2 years ago
Wow...this makes so much sense...it goes hand in hand with my OCD...wow...
dramadramaash 2 years ago
but it hurts sooooo goood.
bonehomie3 2 years ago
i started diong it in 3rd grade until 5th grade i stopped for about a year but it has started up again for me when i dont do it i think about and think about then i eventually do it i dont know to how to stop
pikachulovable 2 years ago
I do this as well and Angela is very brave for doing this in such a public way. Thank you Angela and good luck I recently read that 600 mg of NAC helped to reduced the urge to Pull out your hair, Tricotllimania (I hope I spelled it right). So I started using it for my skin picking and it IS helping. Talk to your doctor first but you can buy it at any health food store. Good luck to everyone that has to deal with this disorder.
march0262 2 years ago
I'm 58 and have had picking and hair pulling since I can remember. Last year my Dr. put me on drugs but I slept all the time. That only lasted for 3 weeks. I work at getting better every single day.
luckylaura1313 2 years ago
Some drugs do that, unfortunately. I now just focus on depression/ anxiety meds instead of changing the habit because I've exhausted myself with having my hopes up with finding a cure. If one comes along, it will be a bonus in my life instead of a life savor. Good luck with yours. xox
anonymity86 2 years ago
Hi, have you found anything to help with this problem? it is almost as servere for me as it is for you and im willing to try anything at all to make it go away. ive heard of using antipsycotics and have tried some but have not found any that work. any ideas?
3gjones 1 year ago
@anonymity86
same here x
katryn3 1 year ago
I thought I was along, I don't do it all over like she does, just on my fingers, but it gets really bad sometimes if i'm stressed out. I've been doing it since about 2nd grade.
VeganJessica 2 years ago
Comment removed
thatboygilly 2 years ago
i cant stop picking my fingers.. i dnt know how to stop.. im 18 now and still in HS. im scared of people noticing my fingers..ugh. do i have this?
TheScreamingRetard 2 years ago 2
Hmmm... I've never heard of NAC, but I'm willing to run anything over my doctor to see if it would be worth a shot given my family history. Thanks!
anonymity86 2 years ago
@TheScreamingRetard ive had this since i was 8. im now 19. usually happens when you are anxious, as a coping mechanism. start to identify when u are most likely to do this. it may also be a symptom of keeping feelings of anxiety etc bottled in.
devoutxcynic 1 year ago
@TheScreamingRetard I'm in HS and do the same thing.
KittyShinobiwan 1 year ago
@TheScreamingRetard Same with me, right now one of my fingers hurts to bend it cause of the picking. I keep trying to stop since i can remember but nothing has worked :( (you could try flicking a rubber band if you feel the urge to pick- i might try that). I always have my hands in my sleeves hiding them. i think you and i have it :( good luck
dommi9877 9 months ago
Skin picking is like smoking or alcoholism. You feel great while doing it and always have the tendency to do it, but after you're angry with yourself, because you know it's a real problem.
I'm trying to fight this as hard as I can, but always fail to succeed. This actually doesn't mean that I will stop trying.
MCRrlz 2 years ago
Thank you for your courage Angela. You are amazing!
kwalters89 2 years ago
I was searching about some symptoms I'm having.. I didnt exactly know what i'm having until I saw ur vid... ur exactly the same as me... my hands are scared and I really feel embarrassed.. its really painful to have this disorder and I dont know where to get help for it ;(
xxTearsFallDownxx 2 years ago
I know excatly what your talking about when your explaining how it feels. I have Dermatillomania, with Eczema. And because of my eczema my dermatillomania is like picking and scratching my skin off. Along with that I have some really bad allergies.. but thanks! :)
SpunkrRpattzluvrBri 2 years ago
I applaud your courage and willingness to put yourself in the public eye in order to help others, and look forward to getting your book.
You're an amazing woman!
Thank you SO much!!!
GarAndTeed 2 years ago
Courageous Angie! You are beautiful inside and out!
7euclid 2 years ago
Thank you so much! :)
anonymity86 2 years ago
check out my video i to have this disorder thank you for posting this
u2canbdiva 2 years ago
Great job. It was also through the internet that I, too, found out I was not alone. I not only have dermantillomania but also trichotillomania (hair-pulling, for those that don't know). I pick and pull until I get that relief moment - my "ah". Both also started in my teens.
haggisburger 2 years ago
Thank you! Having Dermatillomania is rough enough, I seriously couldn't imagine what it would be like to have Trichotillomania (although *technically* that's what I'm diagnosed with due to the DSM standards).
anonymity86 2 years ago
good luck with the book, and doctors with the gene!
boogaboo18 2 years ago
Thank you! I'm not relying all of my cards on genetics because of the behavioral pattern of this disorder, but I still hope for answers that lead to a better lifestyle of managing it.
anonymity86 2 years ago
I have this disorder and it SUCKS!
CrynOut 2 years ago 47
@CrynOut i dot too :'(
P4brains 1 year ago
PLEASE
tirilala27 2 years ago
I love you!!
Katiejeans 2 years ago
Love you too, Katiepants!
anonymity86 2 years ago
Proud of you, Angie!
twindigenous 2 years ago
Thank you! :)
anonymity86 2 years ago
God bless hon,
you are helping people
Jesus does't care how we look thank GOD
x
Hypohair 2 years ago
Thank you, hun!
Our outer shells may show people the hardships we've been through, but it really is what's on our inside that makes or breaks us. xox
anonymity86 2 years ago
Congrats, Angie!
lilbabyyentl 2 years ago
Thank you! :)
anonymity86 2 years ago
Great interview! It's great to get the world more informed about this.
I found it interesting that you feel relieved after picking. For me, I feel horrible immediately after picking. Once I start I can't stop for a long time because I want to delay that feeling for as long as possible.
Morrisseys7thFriend 2 years ago
Thank you!
Really? For me I get that moment of relief right after a "good pick" and then shortly afterward I feel horrible. What makes me stop is the relieving feeling, which may take hours to get.
anonymity86 2 years ago
Angela, what a GREAT interview! Looking forward to getting my copy of your book. Thanks for being a voice for all of us.
exlibrismja 2 years ago
Thank you so much! I'm not sure if you've already ordered one online or through me but if you haven't, just pop me off an e-mail at foreverDOTmarkedATyahooDOTca (replacing caps with its symbol). :)
anonymity86 2 years ago
Good luck in hoping to fight the urge
leegray99 2 years ago
Thanks, Lee. :)
anonymity86 2 years ago