Am i Alone ? Please Reply.

You're absolutely not alone. I haven't always picked. I just started a few years ago after a few major life-altering events. I've picked the acne on my face to the point of scarring, I pick the cuticles around my fingernails and I pick the skin on the bottom of my feet to the point where it hurts to walk. I don't yet know how to stop, but I've come here to start finding out how. I think it'll help, just knowing that I'm not alone in the world and that there are other people who are suffering the same way I am. We can support each other. We've taken the first step, sweetie. Keep heading in the right direction! :o)

You are not alone. I do and have done exactly what you do my whole life (or at least since my teens as far as I can remember. I'm now 43. When I started there wasn't the internet and forums. I really thought I was a freak. I've spent my life hiding behind it falsely seeing every skin specialist and being treated for every mystery skin problem going. Obviously to no avail as it was all self inflicted. The guilt was horrendous. Only in the last 18 months have I found out its a real illness DERMATILLOMANIA and have finally started being honest with myself about it and with my GP. Also my wonderful partner of the last 17 years (so yes, you can find love too!). I'm also a mother. My one bit if advise is to print off some info re Dermatillomania and take it to your doctor with you and dson't let them fob you off - take somebody with you if there is someone you can confide in. I know how tough that is. Will check here regularly - if you want to talk to me I'll do my best to offer all the support I can xxxxxx

i also pick my breasts. I have scars everywhere. My latest injury is the one on my breast and on my right and left arms.

Find something that keeps your hands busy! I found knitting allowed me to get some anxious and stressful energy out that I had otherwise taken out on my face. Playing the guitar was also semi-therapeutic for me.

i pick every inch of my skin. have scars on my face, stomach, my head. Using Dove Bodywash softens them up. I'm 32 now.

Hi, you're not alone I'm also 18 and a severe picker. I have been trying to stop ever since I've realized my picking has stopped my life, literally, like you said.. whenever I pick I fear that anyone would see me, mostly boys and what they'd think of me.. So my problem is I literally just pick at anywhere I think I may have imperfections, sometimes my belly too, my legs, my arms, but the worst is my lips... I pick at them until bleeding so bad that even eating or drinking anything hurts. I definetely do not want to keep on living like this as I am only 18 (just recently) so I dread if this becomes a serious habit. I just really need like a magic spell to make this stop because I am determined but I don't know how the hell do I end up doing it again. I've found though that when I keep myself busy all the time, whether reading, blogging, walking my dog, exercise, going to the movies and hanging out with people, even sleeping/taking naps at any time it distracts my mind and distraction right now seems like my treatment because if I'm not focused on anything I'm left alone with my mind... which then makes me do this self-destructive habits because it's true, doing this destroys me. And this is not something I want, definitely not.