82 replies to this topic

[DMBsDreamGrl]

This is going to sound odd but when you wash your face try to avoid looking at the mirror, it will prevent you from finding impurities to pick at.

[tdot]

I used to pick at my face too. But I decided that everytime I would try to pick at it I would force an image of a crazy messed up face into my head, one that was so badly picked at that it makes you want to cry. If you try to picture youself with a messed up face everytime you try to pick your brain will train itslef to automatically think of it everytime the thought of picking comes into your head. Just think of how beatiful you are with no scars in your face. just train your brain hahaha. Anyway OCD is very common, I used to have it relaly bad. I would do certain things everyday at the same time for the same amount of time and if I didnt do it then I felt like something bad was goig to happen. I swear I was craazy and still am a little bit. I dont thisnk that what goes on in my head is normal lol. Like I will even be lookign through my clothes tryign to decide what to wear and I will pick something out and think... okay what happend to me the last time I wore this? Somethign good or bad. And if somethign bad had happened I will literally put the clothing aside and wear something else... I am so werid LOL.

[stoppicking]

Thanks everyone for the support.

Today I didn't touch it. (day 5-ish?)

It looks clear and healthy.

[No I'm Amy]

That's great. I want clear skin so much. Grr lol

[stoppicking]

That's great. I want clear skin so much. Grr lol

don't worry, it will come.

day 6:

I didn't pick, but there is this annoying pimple developing by my lip (it looks kind of like a disgusting cold sore) I know if I picked it it would simply be red for like 3 days, and then it would be gone. Now I feel like i'm going to have to live with it for about a month.

[muneca]

That's great. I want clear skin so much. Grr lol

don't worry, it will come.

day 6:

I didn't pick, but there is this annoying pimple developing by my lip (it looks kind of like a disgusting cold sore) I know if I picked it it would simply be red for like 3 days, and then it would be gone. Now I feel like i'm going to have to live with it for about a month.

Don't pick it! I just picked a big pimple on my temple and I really regret it, why is it so hard to leave them alone? I'm joining your crusade against picking. Luck to us both.

[No I'm Amy]

I'm trying to quit a lot of distructive habits right now. hehe.

I also have a lip pimple, it dried out, but it reformed again.

[Mindolluin]

I'm a picker too. I really think it's connected to some kind of OCD. I just can't help it. I get yelled at constantly by both my bf and my dad. I started on sotret at the beginning of the month and have had to do everything but tie up my hands to keep from picking. I really want my face to look nice so I removed my bathroom mirror which seems to be working. Good Luck to all!

[stoppicking]

I've still been minimaly picking. Maintnace picking? Hopefully I'll break that habbit soon.

[Pandora3co]

Good luck, I have a huge problem with picking too... I too sometimes just stare in a Mirror and look for stuff to pick. Since I've started the CSR regimine i've been trying really hard to stop picking... I have my good days and bad days. Right now my skin is looking really good. I have a couple really red spots though from a couple things i picked at couple days ago. I'm getting better not picking but it seems some times I just cant help it ... whats really sad is the whole time I'm picking, I'm literally thinking " I shouldnt be picking, I shouldn't be picking" but I just do anyway! GRRRRR I was able to quit smoking after 10 years but I still cant quit picking!!!!!!

[DRice]

Good luck, I have a huge problem with picking too... I too sometimes just stare in a Mirror and look for stuff to pick. Since I've started the CSR regimine i've been trying really hard to stop picking... I have my good days and bad days. Right now my skin is looking really good. I have a couple really red spots though from a couple things i picked at couple days ago. I'm getting better not picking but it seems some times I just cant help it ... whats really sad is the whole time I'm picking, I'm literally thinking " I shouldnt be picking, I shouldn't be picking" but I just do anyway! GRRRRR I was able to quit smoking after 10 years but I still cant quit picking!!!!!!

we are all driven by the urge to scratch our pimples off, its horrible and ALWAYS makes things worse.

its never ok to pick, in certain situations its ok to pop and dain a whitehead, ghaaaaaaa

i understand about the OCD, i think i have it too. right now i am obsessed with my skin since finding this website. this site is s good thing but it doesnt help looking in the mirror every 10 mins to see if my pimples have faded.

stay strong peeps, ye are all sound

[Time4HighSelfEsteem]

I would like to do what you are doing on this thread if you don't mind. I am going to check in everyday about the picking to as I also have OCD with picking. I work from home and am in the bathroom every hor picking. In the morning I am in there 30-60 minutes. I also have sabotaged myself when clear. I really want to stop also as I see how much it makes a difference. Good luck on your tries. I am so happy you started this thread.

[girl-WITHOUT-acne]

i wish i had the will to do this. i looked in the mirror today and said, i will stop it. then i saw this thread. i pick out of frustration, mostly. if something hasn't healed up for a week or two then i get mad at it and feel i'd rather deal with a three day scab than a two week red lump.

[Time4HighSelfEsteem]

day 2 of trying not to pick. i picked the least i have in years. today i tried to peel off a scab on my nose and by my ear. The one on my nose bled a bit. Just the tiny thing I did today cause problems.I will not pick anymore today I affirm.

[Time4HighSelfEsteem]

day3
popped a pimple with a whitehead, but it was really ready and did no harm. did not peel any scabs or dry skin off! This is a first in years. I also noticed my face looks a lot better just from 3 days of not picking. I am realizing that 75% of my problem with my skin is due to picking. Wow! I am looking in the mirror less, and not wasting so much time. Looking less is helping. I even went on my morning run without makeup today. This is the first time I have gone out without makeup on in a year. After that, I went to the store! I had a hood and sunglasses on, but it was a start. Any thoughts?

[mrsdarcy]

I have a sneaking suspicion that my acne is really quite mild and would mostly subside if I STOPPED PICKING!! I think my picking is just a nervous habit, like biting your nails. I used to be a nail-biter, but I broke myself of that habit by replacing it with something else: picking at my face! My constant picking is leaving scars that aren't going to fade if I don't leave my skin be! I've been trying to stop for a few months now and I do pretty well for a few days and then I am always back to picking. I think my resolve has grown now that I've found this site so we'll see if I can kick this terrible terrible habit for good. Good luck not picking! I am rooting for you !

[Time4HighSelfEsteem]

Crap! I picked for one hour today. Day 4 of trying not to pick. I saw all these blackhead and little white heads everywhere and I just went nuts. Also popped a big pimple and it didn't really help. I feel very very sad and down and out today. I have been on antibiotics and B5 only for a few days but I want this to go quicker. Patience is so hard.I also have this cyst that nothing will make go down. Retin A, BP, Vitamin C Serum. I am so sad.

[girl-WITHOUT-acne]

Crap! I picked for one hour today. Day 4 of trying not to pick. I saw all these blackhead and little white heads everywhere and I just went nuts. Also popped a big pimple and it didn't really help. I feel very very sad and down and out today. I have been on antibiotics and B5 only for a few days but I want this to go quicker. Patience is so hard.I also have this cyst that nothing will make go down. Retin A, BP, Vitamin C Serum. I am so sad.

I had the worst cyst of my life a few weeks ago and Neutrogena's Salicylic Spot Treatment took it out, after three weeks of nothing else helping ...
I'm sorry you're feeling down but I support you. Besides, you're supposed to be able to pop the whiteheads...

[panic]

It takes 30 days for something to be a solid habit good or bad. So you go from the last time you didn't pick for 30 days and you're good. I need to reinstate this habit for myself. As a result of stress and weekends having to deal with my parents it isn't easy.

[Pushing Up Roses]

I have that problem as well. Why is it so hard to just leave them alone? I -know- that if I don't pick at my pimples, they will heal much faster than if I did pick at them, but for some reason I ignore that thought and pick anyway, hoping that it will heal them overnight or something. I just recently tried to pop an unpoppable zit on my chin, and I really regret it, because now the skin is torn and bruised. If I would have just left it, it probably would have healed by now. When you tear the skin I suggest using neosporin on the bruise, it will help to clear it up. Good luck with stopping, your log really gives me inspiration to stop picking as well.