Online Test

Find out the severity of your symptoms with this free online test

Take the test
Itsashame , 08 Jan 2011

Tips, tricks, therapy only post here

Starting a forum for quick reference for us to gather our ideas on how to get through a day at a time without picking or to stop once we start (I will start without thinking about it.) Please put the body part, what detailed idea you have tested yourself. Don't forget brand names of medications listing side effects. Also, if you have a skin reaction to something put it here - we might be using something that breaks us out too! I am 39 picking acne, fingers, nails,and dandruff and body psyrosis since puberty. I am not cured, but below slows or helps symptoms. Here is my list: Finger cuticle biting and eating: i spent 12 a week for 5-6 weeks, I should keep going, but it's expensive. Don't be embarrassed they are repairing nubs. My lady was patient with me and gave me two important things that really do help. Solar oil is fairly cheap and you can get tiny bottles for 2$. I keep one in purse, on my desk, by my bed. If I start looking for skin to "fix" I put this on first and some of the areas look "acceptable" so I won't start. It improves them so fast. If you do this every day, they get to where it gets harder to find a hang nail. I have done it more than once daily, it's just a light oil. I also use OPI nail envy a nail growth treatment DAILY. It keeps the sad nubs harder and I grow the nail faster. Last, I clean and file nails daily with a cuticle trimmer, nail file from my desk or at my bedside table. This may seem OCD but it's better than seeing a issue and go on a biting binge. BTW I can't use or suggest a nipper like they use in shops, I go way too far cutting and get obsessed with how much I can cut off. I noticed they only trim and leave a healthy amount around the nail. Dandruff:
8 Answers
Add Comment
Itsashame
January 08, 2011
Skin Dandruff: The least amount of dandruff occurs for me when I use several OTC products mixed together. I mix nizoral, neutrogena 2 products with coal tar and sylic acid, head and shoulders, and selsen blue. I also color my roots every month because the chemical eats away the dead skin. I also see improvement if I get into chlorine water regularly. I need more ideas - I pick and eat it at night de-stressing. Has anyone used skin scrubs? Dry skin patches: I have almost conquered them this winter with consistent lotion cetaphyl every day and using ALL dye free detergent. Tanning and chlorine pools also help, but I haven't done either this winter. I am taking x a antibiotic for my acne, and I heard this can help psyrosis. I use oil of olay shower soaps but i need suggestions for back and chest acne - is anyone using loufa to sluff off dead skin? I use oil in my bath water. My 7 year old daughter has super bad red bumpy dry rashes all over and I used a humidifier, aveno bath soak, aveno diaper cream at night on all spots and aveno baby exema lotion on her face and after showers and morning. Everything else gylicerine, cetaphyl, aloe, burned. Medication: cymbalta for depression, bactrim antibiotic for acne, acne cream atralin it drys my skin bad though and I pick the flakes and rub so it makes it red and worse, glycolic face wash to reduce the dead skin and acne, aczone acne cream but again very drying, Xanax for anxiety when I feel panic or start worry and biting. I use a light lotion after all the drying, but haven't found a good one - I need ideas. I have tried heavy creams but it tends to create more breakouts.  I want to also post about hormone therapy. I am on a cream compound for pre menopause and it created much of my acne - so I work with my regular doctor to get my formula right. Too much testosterone has been part of the issue. He takes blood twice a year to look for vitamin deficiencies,  hormone, thyroid and other regular panels. You may want to get your hormones checked. I go to a dermatologist and am open about all my skin issues and tell them I refuse to let this overtake me.  Acne: besides the medication, the only advise is to get rid of all magnifying mirrors. I sell them to a big retailer and they are all over my house and work, it's a big deterrent too sit and stare looking for something to pick. I also asked my family to stop me if I am in the bathroom leaning up to the mirror picking. I am interested in buying a sonic scrubber - anyone try them? My dermatologist said cleaners like proactive won't be very effective on hormonal acne. Oh, I like bjore strips on my chin and nose to pull out the dirt.I try not to wear makeup on the weekend. Support: My husband is a bad acne to scab picker so he understands my urge, I have asked him to stop me, so he just says quit, stop, put your hands down, you are creating a scar...when I start and he asks me to sit by him or get involved in something else. My son is the best he will stand there and just keep bothering me to stop until I quit. I also chew trident as much as possible to keep by mouth occupied. Reducing the symptoms and reducing my opportunity has helped so much.
Itsashame
January 08, 2011
Mirror: when I look in mirrors I notice which ones are good for picking. I avoid them and in bathroom have soft light only which doesn't allow my to see the tiny issues that I obsess on.
PixiePixie
January 10, 2011
Recognizing pre-picking in my body: I saw a therapist who specialized in trichotill- and dermatillomania, and she taught me how to recognize the way my body moves when i'm about to pick, and then use my willpower to interrupt THOSE movements instead of trying to stop once i'm already poised to pick. Leaning in over the sink to get closer to the mirror, or raising my upper arm and turning my head to pick at the KP on my arms, or tucking my chin to pick at my chest: It's easier to combat these motions than it is to stop myself from picking when i've already got a "target" in my sights--that just turns into a wrenching battle against myself that leaves me exhausted if i succeed, or feeling pathetic if i fail. Much easier to focus on these these picking-preceding movements!
sbailey805
January 17, 2011
Great tip! Thanks for the insight... I'm trying to pinpoint triggers and behaviors preceding an episode... and it is definitely specific when I'm about to pick - every time it's the same kind of action my body makes. As far as your KP goes, what do you use to manage it if anything? KP is my biggest struggle... I'm trying to manage it while not picking. Haven't found much success with it yet....
rachel_e
January 12, 2011
Ok, I haven't had much success stopping but the things I have found which help are: 1) clean and clear blackhead cleaning lotion (purple bottle) really does get rid of blackheads. It's a bit addictive as you can really see the grime coming away on the cotton wool pad, so it is easy to overdo it. This is not a good idea as it dries the skin out too much, skin gets dry and flaky which I just end up picking at and looks bad. However if you get the balance right - use it maybe every other night and limit the amount of cotton pads you go through - it does work. The less blackheads I have the less I feel the compulsion to pick and if I do pick it is less of a session as theres not much there to get at! 2) Covering my hands in vaseline/eight our cream. Impossible to pick if your hands are slimy/sticky. And if I start washing it off in order to pick I catch myself doing it and it usually gives me enough of a jolt to be able to stop myself. 3) wearing false nails (I don't like cutting my nails short as I have ugly hands haha!) 4) Hide all tweezers (I have a habit of ending up pulling off scabs with my tweezers after plucking my eybrows - so bad! It's better to go to the beautician to get your eybrows done and remove the temptation.
rachel_e
January 12, 2011
Ok, I haven't had much success stopping but the things I have found which help are: 1) clean and clear blackhead cleaning lotion (purple bottle) really does get rid of blackheads. It's a bit addictive as you can really see the grime coming away on the cotton wool pad, so it is easy to overdo it. This is not a good idea as it dries the skin out too much, skin gets dry and flaky which I just end up picking at and looks bad. However if you get the balance right - use it maybe every other night and limit the amount of cotton pads you go through - it does work. The less blackheads I have the less I feel the compulsion to pick and if I do pick it is less of a session as theres not much there to get at! 2) Covering my hands in vaseline/eight our cream. Impossible to pick if your hands are slimy/sticky. And if I start washing it off in order to pick I catch myself doing it and it usually gives me enough of a jolt to be able to stop myself. 3) wearing false nails (I don't like cutting my nails short as I have ugly hands haha!) 4) Hide all tweezers (I have a habit of ending up pulling off scabs with my tweezers after plucking my eybrows - so bad! It's better to go to the beautician to get your eybrows done and remove the temptation.

Start your journey with SkinPick

Take control of your life and find freedom from skin picking through professional therapy and evidence-based behavioral techniques.

Start Now