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Benefits of NAC
Hi,
I've been following this forum for several years now. The last time I signed in (about two months ago) I saw a post regarding the usage of NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) to control the urge to pick. I've now been taking 1200 mg of NAC for two months. To my complete surprise (and utter delight!), my picking episodes have almost completely disappeared. My skin is healing and I'm beginning to feel "normal" for the first time in 5 years. This is the only thing I've changed. My life continues to be stressful and I still face many unresolved issues that I'm sure counseling would help me with. However, due to lack of health insurance, counseling is not currently an option. The single change in taking the NAC has literally changed my life.
I don't know if it will work the same way on other sufferers, but I think it's worth a try. Please give it a shot. God...I feel human for the first time in ages. I'm even hoping I'll be able to wear tank tops and shorts this summer.
Deb
I realize this is an old thread but it's a topic I am interested in. My husband is a long time skin-picker, mainly blemishes on his face, and our 15 year old son has been struggling with it now for a few years. I'm fairly certain there's a genetic component because my husband's mom is also a skin-picker, still engaging in it and seems to focus on her legs currently. She used to pick on her face when she was younger. Anyway, we are trying NAC as I've found many scientific studies that show remarkable results with NAC resulting in the complete remission of this behavior. We are only a few days into it and I'm curious if the OP is still taking NAC, if any negative side effects appeared, and any other advice. So far, my guys report a decreased urge to pick but it does seem to make my son a bit manic. We're going to try to go without his Ritalin to see if that is somehow negatively interacting with the NAC to see if that helps. Any others trying this supplement? My husband is taking 2 capsules a day, 600 MG each and our son is on just one. I've read that it's best to take it 5 days and take 2 days off. Thanks!
In reply to I realize this is an old by Concerned mom …
Hey! I don't know what MAC is but I thought I'd mention, I was given ritalin aged 17 , I'd never picked before and it turned me into a picking MONSTER, I would pick at my face for hours leaving it pouring with blood, I stopped taking it because , along with the picking it gave me bad anxiety. Both the anxiety and picking remained (I'm now 21 ) but nowhere near as bad !! So i would be careful with Ritalin especially with someone who already has those tendencies.
Thanks Rose808. I definitely think Ritalin was making it worse though I know it didn't cause it, at least not for my husband since he's not on Ritalin. Now, my son is off Ritalin and taking NAC every other day. Works 100% for the picking as neither my husband or son have picked since. They both report that the NAC significantly reduces the urge, decreases anxiety and OCD, and seems to improve mood quite a bit. It does cause constipation for my husband, though not severe, and my son feels best if he only takes the NAC every other day. I plan on trying it myself, though I don't have ADHD or skin pick, but I have general anxiety with mild depressive episodes, too. I'll probably shoot for every other day like my son and see how it goes.