Online Test

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

Take the test
paigerz924 , 21 Feb 2011

Cold.Turkey.I.Am.Strong.Enough.

I was diagnosed with psychogenic excoriation (chronic skin picking) when I was 12 years old, and now, at 22, I have decided that a decade of hiding my face has got to end. I have tried every treatment available, from hypnosis to presciption medications to psychotherapy, but I have been unsuccessful. My boyfriend and I had a huge fight about my condition a few weeks ago, and for the first time I truly realized how much my picking effects other people. My parents were always supportive and understanding and tried their hardest to help, and I know that I hurt them with my picking--they didn't want to see their beatiful little girl hurt herself. But when I saw my boyfriend cry the other week, I knew I had to stop. I did a research paper on my condition as a senior in high school, and I remembered coming to this site and reading the blogs. They were very encouraging, so I have decided to join. Today I am stopping face picking cold turkey. Nothing else has seemed to work for me, and I believe my will-power and support stystem are strong enough to get me through this. I have taken the tweezers out of my purse, and I am going to stop. I have done this a few times before, and I was even successful for about 3 months at one point, so I know I can do this. My 19-year old little sister was diagnosed with Lymphoma last month, and she is so inspring. Despite her condition, she is training for a triathlon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She is living every day to the fullest, and I know that that is what I need to do. Picking my face and then hiding at home or behind tons of makeup is no longer going to define me. I am going to stop picking. There are so many things in my life that I am grateful for, and so many things yet to come that I know I will enjoy more if I don't have to hide. From this day on, I am no longer going to be a skin-picker, and I encourage anyone out there who is ready to stop to follow this blog and share your opinions. I could use your support, and I will be here to support those who are ready to stop as well.
33 Answers
Add Comment
nomorepickingplease
February 28, 2011
It's always disappointing when you pick after doing well - but remember how well you've been doing apart from that! Just a few minutes is nothing compared to usual so don't let it get you down.The good news is I have managed to spend an entire day without picking AT ALL!!! I am super proud of myself. Have been really strict about not letting myself touch my skin which has been hard but not as hard as stopping myself picking once I'm already touching it. Haven't yet done the bedtime routine but have covered my mirror and am only uncovering it tomorrow morning for the 15 mins when the timer is set. I'm pleased to finally have something really positive to report - scared about tomorrow because this is so so hard but I know we can both do it! Hope today went well for you - let's both have a really good day tomorrow :)
paigerz924
March 01, 2011
I had a great day yesterday, and today is off to a good start! My boyfriend complimented me this morning, which makes me feel good, and pushes me even harder to stop. Congrats on goin an entire day--it's soooo hard, but you seem committed to stop, so I know it can be done! Good luck today!
paigerz924
March 02, 2011
How's everyone doing?! My compulsions to pick are starting to decline...but that's happened before. They seem to ebb and flow. Right now, though, it's pretty good. My face is almost completely healed up and scars are minimal right now. It probably helps that I use Mederma everyday and I used Neosporin everyday when I had fresh pick marks. I'm going to get gel tips on my nails this weekend since my face looks good (I find that if I let my face heal and then get my nails done, it keeps me from being able to pick and destroy it again). Hopefully my willpower will be enough to stop completely this time! I really hope so. Thanks for everyone's support in this, and know that I am here to support everyone else who is truly trying to stop! We can do this! =)
anonymous31894
March 02, 2011
I'm on day 7! My face looks great and I'm so much happier because of it. Right now I still have minimal scratches healing, and I'm just hoping that when all of it is gone that I won't restart the cycle....I still find myself to go to the mirror and check everything out and since its good, I don't pick but I'm just looking to build strength for if there actually is something there =/ Hopefully I'll be so far into this by then that my desire not to start over and throw everything away will overpower my urge to pick but if anyone has any suggestions on how to condition myself to just not end up at the mirror(you know when we're bored and just want to check ourselves out) it'd be greatly appreciated. Good luck all!
paigerz924
March 03, 2011
Great job! I know exactly how you feel. I still check my face out a few times a day, but when I see that there is nothing there to pick, I don't. I hope I am strong enough that when something does show up again, I don't pick it. Although I don't have any real suggestions for avoiding the cycle again, I know that staying positive and strong, remaining active in the forum, and talking about it with people close to you does help. You could try covering your mirrors or limiting your mirror time. Good luck!
sho1234
March 03, 2011
Has any1 managed to make scars which they hav kept on going over and over again disapear? Like pink slight raised bumps and flat?
lexyw
March 03, 2011
hi there! no, my pink bumps are still here...but they're fading a little bit (the "inactive" ones i don't pick anymore). i try to use a scrub brush in the shower to get the dry skin off the top of them. and i use mederma cream. and i try to slather then with vitamin e almost daily. one of the other members here recommended apple cider vinegar mixed with green tee - and to dab it on to the scar directly. i tried that last night but i'm sure you have to do it consistently for it to work. also, i've considered getting microdermabrasion or something like that once i can get all the bumps on my legs to be "inactive". hope that helps! oh, i've heard tanning is a temporary fix. at this point, damaging my skin with UV is nothing compared to what i've been doing with safety pins and tweezers (at least for a few tanning sessions).
paigerz924
March 03, 2011
When I stopped picking for a few weeks, I used the at-home microdermabrasion by Neutrogena. That, combined with mederma, worked very well for me. I have very minimal scarring, and that is a miracle to me. I also put Neosporin on any fresh scab/pick mark at least twice a day.
allforyou
March 07, 2011
paigerz924 - i pray all is going well for you. i can really relate to your comment about skin picking hurting those around us ... that should be enough for me to stop, ugh!
paigerz924
March 07, 2011
All is going well. My face is healing pretty well. I still have one spot that is a little rough, but all in all, I'm pretty proud that I've been doing well. I got gel tips put on my nails this weekend, which makes it practically impossible to pick. I find that that really helps. GOod luck to you! You can do it!
paigerz924
March 16, 2011
Hope everyone is doing well. My face is basically healed. This is going to be a tough week because it's that time of the month, and I seem to get a lot more black heads and closed pores around this time. I had one yesterday, and I started to pop it, but once I realized it wasn't ready, I stopped before I squeezed it and picked it to shreds. I've been so good lately, I hope I can keep it up. =)
rneumann
October 27, 2021

I have started picking about 7 years ago when I first started having hair removal around my lip and chin. I got folliculitis that comes and goes throughout the months. Initially it was a medical thing now it has become a psychological thing. I just pick at every little bump. I don't stop until I am bleeding and even then I continue. It's awful. I have tried to set rules for myself and keep busy but somehow I come back to it. It's out of control my face is always red and scabbed and looks awful. I feel very yucky about it most of the time. Just when it starts clearing up I get a breakout and start picking again. I keep trying to start over, set rules, keep busy etc. etc. but I keep going back to it. Just need to go cold turkey. No touching my face unless it is something positive or good for it. I'm so done with this.

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