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does anyone else do this?
First of all, Im so so happy I found this website because I didn't think there was anyone else in the world that picked at themselves like I do. But I'm just wondering if there's anyone out there that eats what they've picked off? I pick at my scalp just to get scabs so I can pick them and eat them, I pick at my cuticles and eat them, I eat my fingernails, I eat dead skin that I pick off my body, I eat what I pick off the acne off my face. I feel so gross to say it out loud, I know that there's something wrong with me I just don't know what to do about it. Is there anyone else out there that does this?
March 23, 2011
hi! i don't personally do that, but i do know it's called dermatophagia. i completely understand thinking you're alone (like i did till about a month ago). maybe doing some research on dermatophagia will help you!
March 23, 2011
I am also so happy I found this site. I have been doing the same thing my whole life and just 15 mins ago i Googled, why people bit the skin off their fingers? and this site popped up. I had no idea there was a name. I knew their prob would be but scared to find out about this crazy OCD condition.
I feel better being able to write to others who understand where I am coming from. There is a list of Dr's on here to see. I am going to call one tomorrow and see if I can get help.
I hope you can get help too. It is not too late.
March 23, 2011
dead/flakey skin chewer here....you are not the only one, most people will never admit to it. part of stopping is "saying" it out loud, even in a forum like this. When I was a kid I was a scab eater- so gross- but I liked the dried thick ones with the blood iron(?) taste. Now I always think about what germs I may be ingesting (turning into germophobe...crap?!) but after my college labs in microbiology I HAD to. We did simple swabs of our the skin on our hands, our nails/fingertips, and mouths and cultured them the first few weeks (to teach us the importance of following lab sanitation protocol)--and it was disgusting what types and sheer amounts of bacteria & fungi grew (who knows what viruses were lurking there).......I try to remeber that before I pick or chew nails or scratch, etc (staph lives on skin commonly...ewww)