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thisresllyisntme , 03 Jun 2012

I know I will stop, if I can get these to heal. Help?

Hey, I'm a 16 year old girl. I have a perfectly clear complexion, except I pick minuscule whiteheads, and they turn into weepy open sores. In the past I've somehow healed these open sores with neosporin, lemon juice for scars, etc. But lately I think I've been stressed more than usual. I leave for camp in 6 days ; I'm a CIT. No girls wear makeup because it's hot, we're sweating and these just no need. Right now I have an open sore on my forehead (not bleeding, but it's sort of indented), four open sores on my cheek (two are almost healed, just bright red) and then two under my lip, sort of on my chin. Usually I only have one picked sore at a time, and it is easy to heal and then I feel thousands times better about myself, but right now I am freaking out. I never thought I was a compulsive picker, until now. I need to heal these by Saturday, and reduce the redness. I know that my skin can do it, because last week I had two open sores and they are completely healed and barely noticeable. The problem is, I keep picking. I'm telling myself right now that I will stop. Completely. And I know once these are healed, I will NEVER pick again. I know I am capable of stopping, can someone give me suggestions on how to heal these sores and reduce the redness? I know, I know, I've read all about honey, tea tree oil, lavender, polysporin, olive oil, etc. But I've never had someone personally tell me what will help. I really could use some support. I'm at a family gathering all weekend, and literally as soon as I wake up, I layer on pounds of makeup because I look TERRIBLE. I use visine to reduce the redness of the sores temporarily, but I just want to heal these sores so that they just have pink skin underneath. I know lemon juice will help from there. I really appreciate any support you have, all of my friends have clear skin so they don't understand. Thanks!
26 Answers
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thisresllyisntme
June 04, 2012
even if no one comments, I guess I'm going to track my progress. didn't pick last night at all. I'm really proud of myself, and I even braved going outside of the the bathroom without makeup on. unfortunately during family dinner and activities, I kept my face hidden, with left side (where my red spots/scabs are completely hidden, and my bangs brushed over the part on my forehead. it's just so embarrassing, when everyone else has SUCH clear skin! I do too. but I have been creating my own acne. how terrible is that? coming to that realization though, is motivating me to stop. the smallest spot on my cheek has already completely faded! one spot down, six to go. I've been massaging olive oil into my face every night before bed and then putting vaseline on the problem spots, pretty thickly. lastnight I put lemon juice on them as well. but I'm not sure of that speeds up the process or not. I know it fades pink or red new skin, but what about broken skin? hmm. I have five days to clear up my face and I'm trying to have faith that it will happen! i'm thinking about buying some aloe gel and calendula ointment, because I've read that it helps the healing process. the spot on my forehead, it's obviously red but it hasn't developed a scab, but the skin seems to be healing back together. confusing... I'm heading back home today, and am a bit nervous about how I'm going to cover up this mess on my face because I am SUPER busy this week! I wish I could just curl up in a ball and wake up with these spots/scabs gone. sigh. I'll be back later, hopefully I can go tonight without picking! :)
BadgerB
June 22, 2013
The first thing you need to do is stop telling yourself off. You're launching an attack on yourself which will only make you feel worse. Would you let anyone else speak to you the way you speak to yourself, or would you tell them to back off and leave you alone? If someone said to you, "You've got really horrible skin," or "You're an idiot for picking your skin," you'd be really hurt and, hopefully, tell them to get lost. So don't allow that mean inner voice to get the better of you. It makes skin picking so much worse when you get down about it. I love that you said you're proud of yourself. That's the kind of thing you need to remember. Next time you feel that, just say it to yourself a few times over so you really hear it. Regarding skin treatment, putting more oil on your face might actually make it worse because it could quite easily block the pores. What you need to do is be kind to your skin and let it heal naturally. Wash your face only once a day with gentle soap and warm water and pat it dry, then just put on a little moisturiser. Then, I know it will be tough, but don't put on thick makeup. I know you're self conscious, but make up is so bad for your skin because it blocks your pores. Try and spend as much time as you can in the sunshine with no makeup on, because it will honestly do you the world of good. The sun is really great for your skin and also encourages your body to release serotonin, which makes you happy. Honestly, putting a hundred different things on your face will just give you more to obsess about. Hang on in there, be kind to yourself, and just let it heal naturally. You're doing really well.
CrazyFox
July 02, 2013
This is an old thread but it still might be helpful. I have a great solution for quick healing that works like a miracle for me. Immediately go to Safeway or a major drug store and buy a few boxes of Hydrocolloid adhesive bandages (aka blister bandaids). Cut each one into into 6 or 8 pieces and stick them on any red/irritated spots or scabs. They act like a layer of skin so they keep out potential irritants, keep in healing moisture—and the best part—keep you from consciously or unconsciously picking. Apply them to clean, dry skin ASAP and leave them on for a few days. When you take them off, you will be amazed by how much better your skin looks. Good luck!
thisresllyisntme
June 04, 2012
so I think I just lost my faith. no I didn't pick, but somehow on the ride home my sores turned 1000x's redder... i look like a monster! I know my family wants to say something.. I know they do. I just got home and I honestly don't want to go out anywhere. :( I've been bawling my eyes out. this sucks.
thisresllyisntme
June 05, 2012
went to the whole foods near my house and picked up calendula ointment, aloe Vera gel and some healing salve. I'm crossing my fingers. I was able to cover my spots up with makeup, although it looked pretty terrible. one of the spots has a huge scab that I started to peel off (it got super loose after getting out of the shower) but then stopped and mixed all of my ointments together.. I'm crossing my fingers that somehow things will look better tomorrow. five days, skin. you can make it! I can make it, I know I can stop picking! I know my skin will look beautiful after these six spots are gone :)
thisresllyisntme
June 05, 2012
so this morning I was bad and pealed off the huge scab, I know I know don't get mad. but underneath it definitely was healing. I slathered on some aloe vera and hopefully that will help. the wound on my forehead is really bothering me cause it hasn't gotten a definite scab, the skin just seems to be growing together hopefully it will be gone soon. the one under my chin is weird as well. it originally was a painful pimple that I tried to pop, but all i ended up doing was making the skin sorta ooze clear stuff, and then the skin fell off. that also isn't really getting a scab, I mean it has some skin over the raw pores but I dunno. I'm losing faith but I'm telling myself it will be fine...
thisresllyisntme
June 05, 2012
i'm able to cover everything up badly with makeup, which is fairly reassuring. sigh. now there are only two open spots on my cheek! the other ones have had their scab fall off and they are just a little pinky reddish which doesn't bother me at all! the one of my forehead is healing as I said before, honestly the only ones that bother me are the two on my cheek and the big one under my lip/chin. I put aloe Vera on them and let it dry before putting on makeup. it's only Tuesday. no picking anymore! I'll leave them covered all day, wash off the makeup tonight and I think instead of mixing all of the stuff together I'll just use aloe Vera. I know calendula works well also, and I have healing salve as well. any idea about what will make these heal the fastest? I don't think a single person has read this thread, but I guess it's okay.. I'm going out in public today :) proud of myself.. no picking!
newperspective
June 05, 2012
Hey! Calamine lotion has really helped me in the past with speeding up the healing process of any existing wounds I've had (I'm not sure if you've read my post: wounds are HEALING and scars are FADING.) If not, please take a look. I give advice and instructions on how to effectively use it and there are additional comments from others on this site who have tried it. You should give it a try! Also, I'm really against using Proactive because I used it in the past about 5 years ago and it tore my skin apart. Recently, I came across Wal-Mart's Equate version of Proactive and it's really been doing wonders for my skin. It's not harsh like Proactive and it has proven to be effective in keeping my skin exfoliated and has cleared up any existing breakouts, and so far, has prevented any new ones from forming. I wash with Cetaphil's Gentle Antibacterial face wash in the morning and follow with an application of my Image Matte Moisturizer before applying my make-up for the day. Then, at the end of the day, I take my makeup off with Equate's Original Clean Facial Cleansing Towelettes before washing my face with the Equate Proactive 3-Step System at night before bed. This has prevented my skin from becoming dry and flaky while still allowing me to treat and prevent breakouts. I find that I only pick if I have a breakout or if my skin is peeling and/or flaky. This is what has worked for me. I hope this helps! Good luck on your road to recovery and keep up the focus and strength - NEVER GIVE UP! XO - newperspective
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
Thank you SO much! the aloe Vera has actually been working for me so far, I think! but tomorrow I shall go out and buy some calamine lotion. I appreciate you replying, by the way. it makes me tons more confident knowing I'm not alone in this. i didn't pick tonight, and I'm so proud of myself!
newperspective
June 06, 2012
That's great! Aloe vera gel never really worked too well for me, but I'm SO glad that it works for you. It really is true what they say, everyone's skin is different and reacts to different products in different ways. I hope that the calamine lotion, in combination with the aloe vera gel, helps to clear your skin up by this weekend. Keep pushing forward and doing what you're doing and I'm sure your skin will look fabulous before you know it! :)
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
thanks! this forum is great, it makes me feel a lot better knowing there are other people in the same boat as me. I'm actually a bit more confident going out without all of my spots covered, because I know that they're healing!
picktoomuch
June 06, 2012
I'm reading! :) I totally picked before bed tonight. :( I'm battling two spots on my face right now. Every time I get the urge to pick I slather on neosporin. Some days are more successful than others. Both spots were almost all the way healed and I totally blew it. Back to square one. I'm thinking of trying the calamine lotion.
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
honestly aloe Vera has been the best for my skin, but as newperspective said, everything is different for people's skin! I really recommend buying aloe vera gel (the kind I have is called lily of the desert aloe Vera, it's 99% and I picked it up at whole foods for like $6.00 or so). I've put a thin layer under my makeup, and that keeps it moisturized and protected all day! (:
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
so really this has turned into my own progress diary. I didn't pick today, since peeling off the big scab this morning. and that was only on one spot, which is better than all of them! I'm trying to stay positive in this. the spot on my forehead is healing so well, it has a scabs that almost the same color as my skin and I'm sure it will be gone in about three days. there are now really only two wounds on my cheek. one is almost healed, just a bright pinky color and I think it may have a thin scab on it, but it's a bit hard to tell. I'm leaving it alone though! the one next to it is still a bit open, and I don't know if it really has a scab but I was able to cover it up with makeup so I guess it does! the one under my chin is a bit annoying. it keep cracking and forming a bigger scab (which is fine) some pieces even came off on the edges! but whenever it cracks it oozes clear a bit. the two super small spots under it are just a bit red, so I have no urge to pick them. I put a bit of lemon juice on them. tonight I slathered on aloe Vera, and i guess I'll just wash it off in the morning, and apply some more under my makeup. im going to buy calamine lotion tomorrow as well. things are heading in a good direction!
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
I'd say so! it sorta creates a "bandaid" over the scab. as long as you keep applying it, I can tell the skin underneath is healing because the scab is getting a bit smaller. and in a few days it will peel off, I'm almost positive :)
thisresllyisntme
June 06, 2012
the spots have become easier to cover! yippee! the only one that's impossible to cover is the one below my chin. it's in that awkward crevice that moves every time you talk. so it keeps cracking, but I'm continuing to put aloe on it. it just sucks because the cracking makes me want to pick, but I'm not allowing myself! just putting on more aloe. honestly the thing that has helped me the most is to STOP OBSESSING, and to keep busy! honestly when I first wrote on this forum, I had spent HOURS searching the web, looking for solutions and wrapped up in my head. that's the worst thing you can do. accept it. you can't make your spots go away, and you can heal them as best you can, but time is the only thing that will actually do the trick. keep busy, so that you don't have time to pick! hangout with people who make you feel good about yourself and arent gonna comment on your spots. everyone have a great day, no picking and I'll be posting tonight, I'm sure! (:
thisresllyisntme
June 07, 2012
the scab on my forehead came off, super easy! pink skin underneath still. the two little dots under the big one on my chin are fading. the little ones on my cheek are just pink! so that's all good. if only I hadn't picked a few days ago, then I wouldn't even HAVE these ones that aren't healing fast :/ so there are two bigger wounds on my cheek. one had scabbed up and I took off the scab, and it wasn't quite ready so it's pretty bright red and a bit indented. I think it will form another thin scab but that's okay. the one next to it is still open with a scab (I can't really tell if it has one) but I'm worried about it because I kept it covered all day with aloe and makeup on top. hmm, I'm a bit let down because I can't tell how much about the scab. the biggish spot under my chin, it's healing, just in bits and pieces. still cracking although I'm layering on tons of aloe. I didn't end up getting to buy calamine lotion, but with only two days left in just gonna stick with aloe. come on skin, you can do it! sigh. disappointed and a bit nervous about these three still not healing fast enough wounds. I honestly can't go to camp like this... /:
Aargh
June 08, 2012
So how are you healing today? Hope it's getting better for you. If you can handle the embarrassment, try to go to the camp. I've found that my best healing comes when I'm on vacation or away from my home because I don't have the time, opportunity, or utensils to pick. In the meantime, if you still have a few spots to cover up on your face, my old trick is to use the Nexcare waterproof bandages. They have a small, medium tinted pad that is surrounded by a clear, matte, silicone adhesive patch. They stay on well through sweat and stuff and they are way less conspicuous than other bandages. They come in different sizes in the box, but I've found the small ones are perfect for facial wounds. I even trim some of the silicone adhesive stuff to make the bandage even less noticeable. Apply some Polysporin or Neosporin to the pad and then carefully position the bandage on DRY skin. If there is any trace of makeup or moisturizer, it won't adhere. Change it once during the day and again before bed. My bet is that within 2 days of being at the camp, you won't need the bandages at all. Good luck and keep us posted!
Needhelp
October 04, 2012
did these ever heal i have one atm and i just wont heal ive had it for about 8 weeks please tell me how you have progressed thankyou :)xx

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