what heals and what doesnt

Like many of you, I pick, pick pick pick. It's terrible, it makes me feel horrible, and it takes a big conscious effort not to pick. It's very difficult not to pick for long periods of time. But instead of talking about how I DO pick, which although therapeutic, I feel like I'm becoming immune to the whole "step 1: admitting you have a problem." It's like I've stopped there and I need to hear about the light at the end of the tunnel. I pick my arms, and squeeze blackheads out of my face, and even pick at bumps on my chest. All of this always leaves a mark, my chest heals the fastest. But my arms are terrible. I have hypo-pigmentation, lots of white dots, I had very tanned skin and a stress trigger caused me to pop the pores on my arms at the end of the summer, and after the scabs healed, took about 1 1/2 months they left white marks. Some parts of my arms are a little raised too. Has anyone had difficult patches heal? What heals and what doesn't? And how long does it take? Will anything go away? Is it even possible to see clear smooth skin again? I want to know that this stuff will go away, and if it won't. So I guess what I'm asking is, what are your experiences with the visible effects of what we do when we pick?? :( thanks