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waylander , 20 Mar 2011

stopping today - but does that mean not picking ANYTHING?

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm 34 and i've picked as long as i can remember. I do really enjoy it, i think, but i certainly do it more when i'm stressed or bored, or just when i'm thinking about something else, i'll suddenley come to and realise i've been stood in front of the mirror and my face is all raised weals like nettle rash. SO i've finally decided that today I stop, but i would like your opinions - should i stop picking everthing i see? I really don't like having a spot with a head on it, a pustule. I do get them a few times a week, occasionally on my face, normally on my backsides and legs. I'd prefer to be out in public with a blotchy face than with one of these spots visible. should i stop just picking at closed pores, and lumps and things, and just squeeze the real spots, or not touch these 'proper' spots too? thanks for your help. I don't know why, but just finding out that I'm not the only one who does this has been very comforting to me!
2 Answers
nomorepickingplease
March 20, 2011
Hi! It is up to you how you do it. I HATE having whiteheads on my face too but I don't trustmyself to stop at those if I let myself pick them. So personally I am trying to stop picking everything. I find that using an exfoliating facewash (gently) gets rid of the whiteheads which are ready to go. Also putting on spot cream/gel on bad spots as a substitute for picking. If you don't think you can manage that yet then perhaps let yourself pop the whiteheads but nothing else? Or let yourself pop a maximum of one whitehead a day or something? Personally when I have tried that I end up picking my whole face. See what works for you and good luck!
waylander
March 20, 2011

In reply to by nomorepickingplease

good, that's what i was hoping for! i'm not sure if i could leave the house with one of them ready to go! i've managed today to only pick at proper ones, and not go looking for more, and not 'making' new ones, so i'm quite pleased with myself. thanks for the help!

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