Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking)

Excoriation disorder (dermatillomania) is a compulsive disorder where the people afflicted repetitively and compulsively pick at their skin, often to the point of discoloration and scarring. Excoriation disorder is very similar to other compulsive disorders. It is classified as a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) like trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), compulsive nail biting, and the compulsive chewing of the inside of the cheeks. Besides the physical symptoms of excoriation (discoloration, scarring, and sometimes severe tissue damage, infection) people with excoriation disorder also experience multiple psychological symptoms including negative emotions such as depressive mood, anxiety, shame, and helplessness.

Another Name for the Same Disorder

Excoriation is another name for dermatillomania. They both describe the same compulsive skin picking disorder. Though the condition is most often referred to as dermatillomania, even in medical circles, its proper diagnostic name is Excoriation Disorder according to the DSM-5 (DSM-V). Although the diagnosis is categorized within the cluster of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, excoriation disorder is classified as its own disorder because it has marked and separate characteristics from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

a screenshot of the relevant section is the DSM-5 table of contents

Origin of the Name Excoriation

The modern definition of excoriation is: “to tear or wear off the skin; abrade.” When not used to describe a skin picking disorder, the meaning of excoriate is very similar to chafe. It means the act of the skin being rubbed or worn off, either by yourself or by an external object. The medical origin of the term excoriation likely originates in the late 1890s. The first known mention of the disorder was in 1898 by a French dermatologist. His female adolescent patient was suffering from the uncontrollable urge to pick at her acne. Today, the term excoriation is almost exclusively used to describe dermatillomania.

Excoriation Disorder

Excoriation disorder is sometimes known as dermatillomania or compulsive skin picking disorder. It can be a very serious compulsive disorder that has several negative effects.