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becc , 17 Oct 2015

Band-aids for small facial wounds?

Hi everyone,

TLDR: Skip to last paragraph

I'm Bec, I've had dermatillomania for at least 12 years but have only actually learned it was a disorder a couple of years ago, and despite having been through therapy over the last 4 years for depression and anxiety, I'm only now starting to tackle my skin picking behaviours. I guess they became so habitual and I didn't really want to lose the feeling of release. But after some particularly nasty episodes recently I'm really trying to face it. I mostly pick at my acne which is on my face, chest and back. I also bite cysts in my mouth and also ingrown hairs typically on my legs. Basically anywhere there's a bump where there shouldn't be a bump. Occasionally I'll pull out normal body hairs that bother me too - they're darker or out of place or just feel wrong.

Anyway I recently put a band-aid over an acne wound and was amazed by how effective it was. The pressure of the band-aid on the wound was satisfying, and if I brushed my fingers over it I just felt the smoothness of the band-aid rather than a wound or scab. I didn't take it off until it started to fall off a few days later and it was almost completely healed! I'm most conscious of skin picking when it's something new, I hadn't realised how much I subconsciously pick at scabs too. The band-aid actually felt like it had performed some healing magic.

My problem is. I have a lot of acne, scabs and wounds. My face would turn into a giant band-aid if I covered them all up. I'm using spot band-aids but they're still quite obvious. Does anyone know of any super tiny dot band-aids, or something that can be cut to shape and adhere straight to the wound without needing the sticky bit around the outside? Perhaps there's even some kind of make-up concealer spots? I live in Australia but can order stuff online too, even just having an idea of what exists overseas I might be able to find an australian equivalent.

Thanks for reading :)

10 Answers
becc
October 17, 2015

Ah sorry for the lump of text! Apparently my enters don't show up.

Rosa
October 17, 2015

Hey because, I'm based in Ireland and I'm on essentially the same journey and at the same point you describe. I found a Savlon healing gel which goes on clear and forms a protective layer over wounds. It's for cuts and grazes I think but I found the same thing with it that you have with the bandages - it forms a smooth layer over the unwanted bump also I was able to put make up over it as well - it didn't sit amazingly and starts to peel after a few hours but I still found it useful. Also there was something therapeutic about the idea that for once I was doing something good for my skin. Even down to gently taking it off with a warm damp cotton pad for reapplication. http://www.amazon.com/Savlon-Advanced-Healing-Gel-50g/dp/B001DYR15O

Rosa
October 17, 2015

Ugh sorry auto correct that was supposed to be: Hey bec at the beginning

becc
October 19, 2015

Thanks! For some reason I worry that those things will be just as pickable as the scab, especially if it starts peeling after a few hours. But I've heard a couple of people recommend it so it's worth a try!

myra
October 21, 2015

I recently started using Nexcare (by 3M) Acne Patches. They absorb oil and blood and usually keep an open pimple from becoming sealed and inflamed again. They are like a sticky little silicone disc. I often cut mine in half to get more use out of them. I clean the area with peroxide and dry it as best I can before applying the patch. They're not invisible but would be much less noticeable than a bandaid if worn out of the house.

myra
October 21, 2015

ALSO- on other areas of the body, such as a picked scab or a dug-out ingrown hair, I like to put neosporin on my bandaid. It really helps heal it up with no infection and less chance of scarring. It even helps recently healed scars to soften and lighten a bit.

myra
October 21, 2015

ALSO- on other areas of the body, such as a picked scab or a dug-out ingrown hair, I like to put neosporin on my bandaid. It really helps heal it up with no infection and less chance of scarring. It even helps recently healed scars to soften and lighten a bit.

myra
October 21, 2015

ALSO- on other areas of the body, such as a picked scab or a dug-out ingrown hair, I like to put neosporin on my bandaid. It really helps heal it up with no infection and less chance of scarring. It even helps recently healed scars to soften and lighten a bit.

myra
October 21, 2015

ugh, I need to stop being so impatient with page loads... if I could delete those multiple posts, I sure would!

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