Does anyone pick at the bottom of their feet? My story

I do this everyone moans at me for doing it but i really like doing it and i love the felling off pulling it off!glad its not just me

20 years I've been picking at the heels of my feet. I love it! It feels so good! I am who I am (we are who we are) and this is one of those wacky things I (we) like to do. There's nothing like waiting for the skin to grow back all nice, smooth, thick and callous only to dig in with a sharp edge and slowly peel away a nice 2-3 inch piece of skin without bleeding. It's like a trophy. It relaxes me and I like it! It feels like I am letting the skin under the callous breathe fresh air - a sigh of relief for the heels that keep me walking all day. Since I've been doing it for so long I have the experience and self control to know when a peel will go to the next layer of skin and bleed. At that point I stop, snip off what I have peeled and begin somewhere else. It's an intricate process to peel off the upper layer of skin without having anything bleed, but I have l learned from my years of experience and can skilfully peel off a good handful (yes, handful) of skin from both my feet during a good session on freshly grown heels. I pile it up neatly, get a feeling of satisfaction, and put it in the garbage when I'm done. I think all of us should do that out of common courtesy for those who we live with. It's like growing a plant. I can only pick so much off until the skin becomes too hard and thin to pick safely (without bleeding) so I have to stop for a while. I wish I could pick all the time, but the human body doesn't regenerate fast enough! Although, I can take a good long bath where the skin gets white and expands a bit letting me get the last bits off before I stop, let it regrow and begin picking again in a few weeks (yay!). Yes, when I do get bleeders it hurts to walk. In fact my heels are pretty much always raw, but it's such a small price to pay to get that feeling of euphoria from peeling the skin off... I get this rush when I know I have the start of a good long piece of skin so I slowly peel it off millimetre by millimetre savouring every moment because these ones are rare and, of course, to make sure nothing bleeds - I want the skin underneath to breathe freely! I'll even use tweezers if the situation is critical (near bleeding point) and I have to work the peel around a potential bleed spot to continue and get as long a piece of skin off as I can - safely. So it's not like I don't care for my body, I actually enjoy it very much! I do this as responsibly as I can so I can enjoy it for many years. I jog regularly, eat healthy, am not overweight, and lift weights regularly. I'm so happy I can share this with everyone here. Don't be ashamed, we are perhaps the most interesting people for having the most odd habit. Have a great evening all!

I have a 14 year old son who also picks his feet...toes till the bleed and are painful....he also eats the skin...wondering if you suffer from anxiety? and what is your age range? I am constantly fussing at him to stop ...doesn't help. Wondering if you feel driven to do this or any kind of relief and you pick? sorry if the questions sound weird...I am desperately trying to understand my sons problem....

I have picked at my feet off and on for 30 years. It is a form of self mutilation. Sometimes I wont do it for months, then start doing, it all over again. I would USE the excuse that that my.feet were dry and rough. That was a lie. They were dry. Thats true. It may have been the reason I started picking. however it really doesnt matter either way. It made me feel calm. Eventually I wouldnt even be aware I was doing it until I felt pain. I could, only do, it sitting down usually at night when I would watch tv. I havent done it in over a year. This is what helped me. I would take a bath then put on 3 pairs of socks. This kept me from picking mindlessly. Then I bought a guitar. Sounds silly, but I no longer pick my feet. I. pick a guitar. Its a great feeling of accomplishment when I learn a chord or even - a simple song. . Much better feeling than the victory of pulling off a large dead piece of skin. Plus no pain when, I walk. It doesnt have to be a guitar, just something to keep your hands and mind busy so you dont pick. It think. It would work with knitting, needlepojnt, writing drawing etc. hope this helps someone.

This is my first time on this site and it is a relief to know I'm not alone!! or crazy!! As of this morning, I completely picked the bottom of my right foot raw. I just kept going and going. I mostly just do the heels. I'm like you that I won't do it for months and then my skin gets really dry and all of a sudden I feel the urge to pick. Or there is one small piece of peeling skin and I just go for and can't stop. One thing that I found that helps is that when it does get dry get one of those Pedi Egg things where you rub it on the bottom of your foot and it scrapes all the dead skin off. The dead skin collects and you have to empty it. That gives some kind of gratification if that sounds crazy then I don't know what. Put lotion on afterwards and wear socks! Obviously I did not do this. Lol. I have long natural fingernails (not a fingernail biter) and today for some reason it was to hard to resist.

Everyday I tell myself, this will be the day I stop, I'm stronger than this and I can stop, but then I find myself slowly reaching down, ripping, picking and pulling the skin from all over my foot. I constantly think to myself, if I could just get all this loose skin off I could stop, but I'm not sure if that's something I really believe or something I just tell myself. I only pick at one foot, and the other one hasn't been picked at all. Most days I can barely walk and other days I have to saturate my foot with vaseline or neosporen after. Once it's to painful to keep picking I finally stop, but just for that night or that minute. I tried keeping my hands busy by sewing things, I tried knitting, I even tried putting glue on my hand and letting it dry to pick it off, but nothing seems to be as satisfying as picking my feet. I'm tired of not being able to wear sandals, being embarrassed about being barefoot; I've always wanted to go to the nail salon to get a pedicure, but that's out for now. If anyone has a suggestion or just wants to chat about this mutual addiction we're trying to kick :-); I will check back as often as I can.

Yes! I pull the skin off my heals as well. I'ts so sore and I can't wear flip flops either. How do you stop from this!!

Wow! Ive been doing this for almost my entire life (Im 16) and i thought that i was alone. This has made me feel so much better that other people do this! I pick the skin off of the heel and ball of my feet and the underside of my big toe and then i eat it (I know that its gross) I also bite the skin around my fingernails and chew the inside of my mouth and lips. I have found that if i have something else to pick or fiddle with then im ok. I pick infront of the TV or when im on my laptop so i find having something to destroy (Picking apart a pen or something) or fiddling with a rubix cube really helps. I also find that painting my nails and then picking off the nail varnish is a good thing to do. I dont think that its anything to do with stress; ive heard that it is OCD related although ii dont think that i have OCD. I pick my feet when they are either really wet and easy to peel or dry and hard so i found that using a pumice stone and really wearing the skin away so that it is smooth stops me from picking once i feel the smooth skin (Something i have very rarely felt). Im very glad that im not alone and i think that it is more of a 'mind over matter' thing and we have to stop it, like giving up smoking, we have to be hard on ourselves and pledge to stop it. I hope that we all find ways to stop or find the cause of our problem! Thanks for being the first to post it, you're very brave.

i do the exact same thing except im only 11 ive been doing this since i was at the least when i new i could chew my nails i have deppresion angzity znd seperation angzity a big peice of skin fell off my foot it only hurts if i put my foot a certian way(wich is every way)i need help i will ask my therapist next appount ment but its good to know that im not just the gross discusting one(thats sortoof what people at my school say) that eats about any thing that comes out of her body(i dont eat my fecies or pee) HELP...

I am 29 (almost 30-ugh) and just hobbled out of my room and decided to google this. I have been picking the bottoms of my feet as long as I can remember. I had a rough childhood and although a functioning adult with a great family, still have issues with guilt etc. I think I do it as a coping mechanism. I mostly do it in the summer since my feet get dry and I wear flip flops etc. in winter it's not as often a problem since I wear socks. I too pick untill I bleed and have walked on my tippy toes so long it hurts my back and other leg. People at work as me what happened and usually I am honest, but not to people just passing by and ask if I'm ok. I usually have to tempt myself to stop by saying "if you love _____, then you would stop." works for the day but I go back, as a day is my personal rule. I also get satisfaction out of seeing the biggest piece I can tear off. I bite the skin off my fingers too, like you mention above. I'd like to stop but I think there is an emotional gratification aspect I can't figure out. I doubt I'll stop and had no idea other people do this! Oh forgot to mention it really bothers me when I see other people with skin on their feet that they don't pick. I have had that issue since I was a kid too and tried messing with my moms heals. So weird haha at least I'm not alone! I'd love to know if there was a medical term for this :)

My names Colin & I'm 28 years old, I been picking the bottom of my feet for the past 13 years & if I can't find nothing to pick I'll get a Razor blade or a pair of scissors & make cuts just so I can pick them until they get sore or bleed. The reason I do this is because I'm deeply unhappy in life & can't find the help I need and instead of smashing things up like I use to I'll pick my feet instead. I got a lot of issues... Guilt, Self hate, Depression, Social anxiety, Not good enough (too many 2 list) Childhood was not good, I was bullied at school then stopped going altogether & ever since then I have locked myself away from all people & been stuck in my room, it's like being in prison. During that time I put on a lot of weight & got to 19st, Since then I have lost it all by doing 2000 rows every other day & just eating salmon & broccoli. I am now 11st, You would think to lose all the weight would make me happy but I still hate myself. I was suicidal at 1 point & didn't look after my teeth that well. I went to the dentist about 4 mounts ago & he could not believe that someone who has not been to the dentist for over 14 years had such healthy teeth, No tooth decay nothing. The problem for me is the cosmetics of my teeth. Never had a gf because of extreme shyness & I Don't want to show them my teeth because I know I would see disappointment on there faces if I was to smile which would not make me feel very good inside. I've said too much but I just needed to get some of it off my chest. Because of all this I'm picking my feet even more & it sucks, It's a messed up situation. Take care all x.

Wow, I was completely unaware that people actually did this. I am 19 years old and I have been on and off with my foot picking addiction. It started when I was young, when I'd go swimming I'd pick the dead skin off my feet, I think you all know what I'm saying. I would do it every summer when i'd swim, until around 10th grade, when my feet started to show signs of callus's and tears in skin whenever i'd go to the river, which would cause me to pick at it, and I had to deal with that for about a year. I also just realized that I pick on the sides of my big toenails. I oddly get some satisfaction from doing this.. Anyways, I went to the river recently, and I've been at it again! But this is worse than any other time that I pick at my feet, because I have been stressed recently so I pick constantly even though I tell myself not to.. 1. My mom and dad announced that we can't afford to live where we live anymore so we are moving away from where I grew up. 2. I can't get a job, which means my girlfriend will get a ride over here and start whining about being bored. That means that I have to drive us places which kill's my parents' gas. That leads to me stealing from them by telling them we are going job hunting when in reality we are going to the mall. 3. I am also afraid my parents will kick me out because I can't get a job and I am too lazy and forgetful to get into college. And 4. because of all this I feel like a useless bum, because I really want to try pumping out job applications, but I just see the World of Warcraft icon or League of Legends icon on my computer and will forget everything and play games for 2 hours. All of this causes me stress, and also I went to the river so my feet got all nasty, which means I pick at them constantly. This morning I woke up because it hurt to walk for the first time and I am getting worried. I am not asking for help, I will attempt to get this done myself with cold turkey, so thank you for listening to me if you read this. Goodbye.

Wow,This is i great to know there are others out there that picks at their feet.My feet crack and is peeling.At night when i don't have anything to do,but lay on the couch and put my leg up and start picking,I will pick so much and take off so much skin,The next moroning i can't step down on my foot.I thought this was a medical condition.But i can't find anything on the net about this condition.My husband,hates me doing this.He keeps telling me i have to stop,Theres only so much skin on the bottom of your foot.I have ugly feet and i hate for anyone to see them.My husband says he loves everything about me,but my feet.Is this a medical condition or not?????I thought it was like a nerves problem.If anyone knows,,,,,LET ME KNOW.

I find a cream like Lamisil or Canesten Once Daily Bifonazole Cream, Im from Australia, I dont think you can get this over seas, but its an Anti Fungal cream that you use for Athleats foot or Tinea , It helps to prevent any infection and helps the feet to heel, once they are healed and fungal free, maybe a regular pedicure to help keep the skin on your feet healthy and remove any dead skin, As for you other body parts, keeping them moisturised will help reduce the dry skin and prevent there being anything to really pick, your scalp, finding a shampoo and conditioner that doesnt dry out your scalp will help as well. Hope this has helped, and Good Luck :)

Ok, so I'm relieved that I'm not the only foot freak. However, I'm clueless a to why I can't stop. Yes I am suffering depression but I'm getting treated and I'm not convinced the foot thing is linked. I savage myself as lots of you also admit to doing. I rip myself until I bleed and have to walk on tip toes. Every day I think, I have to stop. I use creams. It doesn't work. Its satisfying, ripping it off. And even when it hurts like he'll and I can barely walk, even that satisfys me. Basically, its it self harm?

your deff not the only one. i hate doing it but i absolutely cant stop!! it sucks going in the water and having to hide my feet from people because it gets so pruny and weird looking:(

I do too. I've hidden this for years.I do it when I'm feeling anxious or nervous. and then again I do it while I'm watching TV. for some reason I find it comforting. I will actually get tweezers or nail clippers to assist. I hate doing it but I can't stop either. there is 1 more thing that I do that I haven't heard mentioned here. this is the first time I'm even saying this or the mentioning it. the pieces of skin that I pull or cut off, I eat them. I'm not kidding and I know it's messed up. I don't want to be judged by this,and I'm glad and ever so grateful people even share my foot picking problem.I thought I was the only 1 in the world.I am 46 now and I have been doing this for 40 years, at least. I need help. this is a disgusting habit. Not only am I am I mutalating myself, I'm devouring it.