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I Only Pick My Lips
I'm 20 years old and I've been picking my lips obsessively for as long as I can remember. I pick them until they bleed and I don't even realize most of the time. If someone points it out and I force myself to stop, the urge is too strong and I continue anyway. My lips are scarred and constantly chapped, bleeding, flaking. I live in a dry climate so that doesn't help much, though I use chapstick often it almost makes them worse. I'm not sure if I fit the diagnosis of dermatillomania because I only pick my lips. When I was in jr high/high school I would pick my face also because I had acne, but now that I don't have acne I don't have the urge to pick my face at all. When I was a child I would chew my nails and cuticles constantly and when my mom bought the nasty tasting nail polish and painted my fingers with it, is when I think I started on my lips most often. I never thought it was that big of a deal until my husband started getting on me about it. Now I'm wondering what I can do to stop - I really don't think I can stop to be honest. Anyone else pretty much exclusively pick their lips all day long?
If you're picking until you have visible damage, and still continue and can't stop, then I'd say yes, you are suffering from dermatillomania.