No more picking journal

Just now I started picking again, but l was like "noooo". So I only picked a little and now here I am. This sucks. I don't know why I'm starting to do it so much again.

Just as it seemed I was breaking the habit I picked again back, shoulder, chest, everything. School is in 11 days so I'm gonna try to not pick in that time, hopefully all these sores will heal by then.

it made me happy to read these posts. i stopped picking two weeks ago. never been happier. i feel free and 'normal' again. goodluck and keep it up! :) x

I keep picking! Every time I see a mirror I lean in close and pop a blackhead or two, then get sucked in and pop ten more. I'm so mad at myself! I cut my nails really short today, and that makes it way harder to pick. Problem is, I chewed them off, so I'm worried about that becoming one of my picking areas again. I reeeaally want to stop before it gets awful again.

Where are you from? Which country?

I'm finally starting to look better. I still pick a few zits every day but getting better.

I haven't even touched my back (besides scrubbing in shower of course) for a few days and it has drastically improved, only a couple scabs. my face is almost fully cleared up as well. Just gotta let the scabs heal and I should be good,

Hi I'm new to this forum and just want to thank you guys so much for the hope you have brought me reading your messages. I am a 31 year old female in the UK and have been picking my skin since I was 15. When my skin is "good" (as in there is no bumps/spots) , I don't pick and had a few years of no picking when I went on a contraceptive pill designed to help alleviate acne (although I must say my skin has never really been that bad...it's me that makes a royal mess). Any way, I've noticed my skin has become unsettled over the last year since finishing that pill and my picking has started again. I feel ashamed. I use tweezers and dental instruments. I have created a huge weeping crater on my face from digging with the tweezers just 'trying to make sure all that spot is out' despite me knowing that if there is some bacteria there, it will brew up in its' own time. Typically, it is a party this weekend for my beautiful sister (with FLAWLESS skin) and I am a scabby red faced mess. I have washed my face and am going to try so hard not to play/touch/pick at my face before the party. I will keep you all posted. Thank you for your inspiration, together we can do this xx

Hey, I'm new to this forum and am reading lots of encouraging comments and posts. Sounds like you are doing very well, but most of all, it's just nice to see that I am not alone. I have been picking for about the same time as you, since around 12 or 13 years of age. In the last 4 or 5 years though, it has become the worst (I am 20 now.) I've always liked picking scabs, but in recent years it has been scratching, squeezing, and popping acne on my face. I have very mild acne, and in fact if I left my skin alone, I might have an ideal complexion, but I can make pretty big wounds out of the smallest or least visible bumps I also pick the scabs off as they try to heal. I'm driven to do this by anxiety and stress, and I also suffer from depression. (You can read my story under 'A friend in need' if you'd like to ). :) Anyways, I'm glad you are learning to take control of this, and I hope I will learn as well. I haven't been wearing any makeup for a couple weeks now, so that has really helped (with not looking close in mirrors.) And a couple days ago, I started my own journal and challenge to not pick. We are not the only ones around our age or in any age range that suffer from this. We'll learn from our mistakes. Keep it up and take one day at a time man. You're doing great. ~Bee

Thanks for all the support guys, I haven't posted in a while and since school has started I've gotten so much better. At the moment I have have maybe 2 pimples and a couple scabs, I've cleared up my chest, back, and arms, I've pretty much stopped thanks to this website. I'll be posting my progress in a week or two to see if I can keep it up.

I'd like to marry this forum. I've been a picker for 25 years and now that I'm in my mid-30s, the damage is coming through 100%. I need help and support to stop this. I stopped for most of the summer and I looked 10 years younger. As I'm sure most of you understand, I have no other support because no one else knows what I'm doing to myself. My skin has now reached a point of scarring and inflammation that makes it hurt to smile... I'm beyond angry that I made it to my clearest point in years, then went right back to the destruction a couple of months later. Whoever is willing to provide support, please do! I laughed to myself a little when I read that someone had cut their nails shorter, as I've done the same thing a million times. I recently unscrewed the vanity bulbs over my bathroom mirror... one week later, I screwed them back in. Iwillneverpickagain - mine all started with a rare form of KP (diagnosed by two skin biopsies) that doesn't respond to traditional treatments. As a bit of extra support, look at it this way... I'm 36 now. I look older than I am. I refuse to let others take pictures of me. I have young kids and it physically interferes with our time together because I'm always trying to keep them from touching my face. When my boyfriend and I are close (even just watching TV together), I have to constantly reposition myself to keep him from coming in contact with my face. My skin is scarred beyond repair now. I work out regularly and my muscle gains don't reflect as nicely as other people's because there is so much scarring and crevices on my upper arms, the muscular lines are all chopped up and everything just looks like cellulite. I've missing weddings, birthday parties, time with my family, outings with my boyfriend. You name it, I've missed it. What you need to consider is that at your age, there is time for you to keep from missing 20 years' worth of life, like I have. Mine started with a few minutes of picking here and there, and now consumes 3-4 hours some night. You don't want to be approaching 40 and losing sleep (literally) to this. I now have arthritis in my hands that is interfering with my regular activities, due to the hundreds of hours' worth of force put on my fingers. I have arthritis in my neck, a degenerating spine, and damaged trap muscles. It's all because of picking. I'm aging before my time. Hang in there. Keep it up and continue looking to the forum for support. I'd give anything to go back to my teens and stop.

I'm doing meh. Trying so hard not to pick, but I still do maybe a few per night. I found that coconut oil is incredible on acne and scabs and stuff. They heal really fast and don't scar as much. Right now my skin is okay, but the skin on my forehead is all weird and damaged. Still, my face is okay right now.