picking/eating

What an interesting topic to share,. I know its been said that the picking is a result of some kind of anxiety, or lack of self confidence however, I don't believe I feel that way. My picking consists of my finger / toe nails as well as the cuticles and the skin around them, usually too the point where I bleed and then I become very self conscious and embarrassed about it. I'm also constantly picking / pulling out the light or grey hair in my goatee. I pick the hairs from there until I get bold spots and have to wind up shaving the goatee and let it grow back in to get rid of the bald spots. After I shave my face I wind up with a ton of whiteheads to which I then have to pick at them to release the nastiness in them. This then causes some swelling around my chin. I'm notorious for also picking all the grey hairs off my head and goatee / beard. Everyone here seems to have their picking manifesting in multiple ways. If anyone can give me some suggestions as to why I do this and some suggestions as how to stop it would be greatly appreciated as this habit just makes me feel awful. I hope it's not a bad case of OCD as I my OCD usually manifests itself in other non self-destructive ways. Thanks!

Greetings from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia! I'm 32 years old, I have two wonderful kids. I work for a large company as Finance manager. I have no problem with my social life. BUT I have severe problem with my SKIN. I've been picking skins of my scalp since I'm 13 and eating it since I'm 24 or so. I scratch my scalp unconsciously even when I'm asleep (some kind of dermatitis). The problem is getting worse for the past 2 or 3 years, a pus filled lumps are breaking out on all over my body and on my scalp which leaves nasty scars. I think I"ll never be able to wear nice dresses ever again. By each year my skin is getting worse and worse. The skin eating habit is just so nasty and unhygienic. I believe, no one can help me with this problem but myself. I just need to stop the nasty habit before it gets even worse. Thanks for sharing.

OMG! I'm sitting here feeling such relief that I a) had the courage to google this and b) that you all are there. I've been so alone with this all my life and so ashamed. I was adopted at ten days old and my adopted, paternal grandfather sexually abused me beginning before I was five. My adopted mother never touched my adopted brother and me. My adopted father was a doctor and never around. I sucked my thumb until I was 13 and chewed my nails until I was 15 when I brutally made myself stop by sheer, appalling will. I lost a bunch of weight and grew my hair out long at that same time. I think that's when I began picking at my skin, cuticles, scalp and nose. I am so ashamed to say that in this forum. However, I can physically feel the relief that you folks are out there. I'm a mature woman and I CAN'T STOP THIS BEHAVIOR. I was in a meeting the other day and noticed that people were shooting me sideways glances as I picked my skin. I'm so ashamed. I've read your comments...but how do I stop? How have you stopped? Your experience with stopping would be so healing for me. Thank you for being willing to tell the truth here. For the first time, I see the bare glimmer of hope.

i picked when i was younger, but after having pnd it just got so extreme. i cant say anything to anyone because it is so shameful and i hate myself for it. i think i may have the worst case of it. my head is the worst, if i have a flaky scalp then i love to scratch and see how much i can get to fall off, then when i have scratched and caused to much damage and a scab comes i love it. i pick them every day and eat the scabs, hate to say it but i like it. i have no clue why, i dont have anxiety anymore i just think ive got so use to enjoying it that i cant stop. i have scars on my legs, and when i get proper dandruff i get excited bcoz i can see how much i can get onto the floor. this is the first i have ever spoken about it, and writing it makes me really wanna fag, coz i know how sick it is, but after all these years i dont think ill ever change :(