BFRB beauty study

For people suffering with compulsve skin picking, the words 'beauty' and 'bfrb' used together seems like somewhat of an oxymoron. When you constantly pick your own skin, the last you thing you feel is beautiful. This brings with it immense feelings of guilt and shame for the damage you have caused your own skin. It should therefore come as no surprise that skin picking disorder is big business for the cosmetic and business industry. Not all, but many skin pickers spend large amounts of money on creams and cosmetics to heal faster or to cover up the evidence of their actions. One study hopes to examine this relationship in an effort to see how makeup affects people’s feelings about their BFRB. The Brain and Behavior Lab of Dr. Corey White is interested in learning more about the ways women with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB’s)  use cosmetic products (beauty products for the hair and skin) and how different factors of cosmetic use (time or money spent, number of products used) can be used to predict how severe someone’s BFRB is.

How do I participate?

To participate, individuals must be:

• at least 18 years of age
• female
• diagnosed or self-diagnosed with Trichotillomania, Dermatillomania, Onycophagia, or any other Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior

You will be asked to complete an online survey including questions about your BFRB and how much you try to conceal it from other people, different factors of your cosmetic use relating specifically to your BFRB, and different factors of your cosmetic use in general. This survey should take no longer than 15 minutes. All information will be kept confidential. This means that your name or personal information will not appear anywhere. 

What are the risks and benefits?

The only risk you will face taking part is that you will be faced about your picking that could prove overwhelming for some. This study will not benefit you directly. However, you will be a part of novel research to increase understanding about BFRB’s, and with your help, there will be more information available about the habits of people with BFRB’s, which may eventually influence treatment or further research.

This study will not benefit you directly. However, you will be a part of novel research to increase understanding about BFRB’s, and with your help, there will be more information available about the habits of people with BFRB’s, which may eventually influence treatment or further research. Subjects who begin the survey will also to be entered in a raffle for one of two $20 Starbucks gift cards.

For more information about this study , or if you would like to participate in the study, you can contact the researchers via email at SUTrichstudy@gmail.com