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Lisha-picks , 27 Nov 2012

Young with dark skin and dark spots. I'M FED UP! Should I just start smoking to avoid picking??

I am disgusted by what I do. I am 23 and have been picking my skin since I was about 10 years old. At this age people expect you to be going on many dates and hanging out all the time, but I don't do that stuff...at all. I sit in my room after work and do my own thing. I am used to that. Being in "my world" is comfortable. But it's a world where I pick my skin CONSTANTLY becauce it feels soooo good to me in a weird way, which is hard to explain to anyone who doesn't have the same problems as me. I always feel awful afterwards. Like I am cheating myself. It's a vicious cycle: I pick a bump--> I clean my face-->bump turns to a sore-->I pick the sore-->it bleeds, so I clean it-->it scabs over-->I pick the scab--> my face has another dark spot! I want to STOP so badly. I told myself I would 'quit' after college, because it was the only thing that helped me deal with stress, but I continue to do it even at my job now. I don't know what to do to. Should I start smoking or something? I feel like people appreciate smokers more than skin pickers. =/
10 Answers
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mirrorwarrior
November 29, 2012
Not a single form of vanity is worth trading in for years of a life. Do not start smoking. From my point of view, all it does is kill off people you love. Then again, if you love smoking so much, more than the people around you that you love, well, no one is going to stop you either way. - Best of Luck
conniemarble
February 07, 2013
i'd rather have horrible skin than cancer http://www.skinpick.com/node/3053
ishouldstoppic…
May 08, 2013
No way please do not start smoking I beg you!!!!!!!! Lots of people I know have died from it. Just try to stop picking. If you can't stop picking it is still way better than smoking. Please don't pick and don't start smoking.
historynut101
May 11, 2013
I beg of you do not start to smoke! One thing that helps me is to keep my hands busy to keep from picking ( drawing, silly putty ect). hope this helps!
sajmai
July 18, 2013
Ok sooooooo ....... I swear you are like my "Skin Pick Forum Twin" lol I also am darker skinned with dark marks and to top it all off, I am, also, 23. I soooo feel like 23 is the age where you kind of have to make the decision on whether or not your going to take control of your life or let this picking problem overtake everything. Its crazy because all this time I have thought that i was the only one. My advice: DON'T DO IT. Why can I give you advice, you may ask? Simple. I already tried it. I thought, not only, will it help improve my anxiety, but it will get rid of the picking because i would be occupying my hands.....whooooaaa was i wrong. Dark marks got darker, anxiety went up and my voice (I think) got a little deeper.(so just playing) But anyway, though it was only a couple years, in turn, I was just more UN attractive to any men that even looked my way. Its funny because your story is literally my story. I went from being the outgoing party girl that had sooooo many dates and friends in high school and a little of college (Hiding my picking) to this crazy insecure girl with hardly any friends and very few dates.(Way harder to hide ANYTHING) UGHHHH Now I am awkward cause I'm always trying to hide it and always thinking about it!! yepppp always!! Sorry if my lingo is hard to read. I am very excited and happy that there is someone out there that, hopefully, can finally relate. Hope to hear some feedback, Stay strong and Carry On! SAJMAI
rubberducke
August 08, 2013
The only reason people "appreciate" smokers more than skin pickers is because they can't see visible effects of smoking......yet. Smoking is way worse for you in the long run, especially since picking only causes surface flaws, whereas smoking can totally kill you. Don't smoke.
DonnaWallace
August 17, 2013
Acne occurs due to internal and external imbalance. Follow good diet and exercise and take help of a good doctor so that you get completely free of this problem.
nastyab
October 27, 2013
Definitely don't start smoking. It will do so much more damage than picking. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Try running three times a week. You will feel great.
nastyab
March 06, 2015

I don't think picking up smoking is going to help you quit picking. You are going to be stuck with two bad addictions. Try therapy.

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