30 replies to this topic

[addicted101]

heyaa everyone, ok so I have decided to do a diary type thing on here because my skin picking is out of control! First i will tell you abit about my life and picking lol.

I don't really remember when I first starting picking or why, but I'm a 21 year old female and my acne/picking is terrible. My problem is that i get spots I wouldnt say badly but I pick at every single thing i can find on my face until i look awful, red and scabby. I can't stop myself although I really want too. I don't really have a good regime for my face, I have simple wipes and a moisturiser but I tend not to take my makeup off at night! Bad i know. Another thing is that I want to stop picking but im finding it really hard because I put make up on to cover where i have picked so end up picking more whilst i put makeup on... and so on!

I'm thinking about maybe going to see someone at my uni because i feel like theres an underlying cause as to why i keep picking, anxiety and stress and everyday things, maybe it might be easier to talk to somone along the way!

Ok so there you have it, any help or tips or anybody who has successfully stopped picking who would like to give me advice i would be v grateful!

Once I buy a few things for my face and start a regime I will start my stop picking challenge! I'm looking for organic cleanser etc, and maybe the dermalogica clearing gel?

Soph. x

[addicted101]

is anyone going to help me or at least drop in and say hi instead of just reading and going away...

[New Disciple]

hi addicted101
not picking is one of the best things you can do for your face. i am on my way to being pick free to. i havent picked at my face for about two weeks and it is truly amazing! at first your skin will look worst (at least it did for me) but then it's like BAM!! and one day i woke up with much clearer skin. so if you have any Q's or need help please look me up i know what your going to go through.

[addicted101]

heya thanks for replying! well atm its not going too well! i think the only way i can stop picking is if i tie my hands behind my back lol. but i really want to stop. I also want to take more vitamins but not sure where to start, i wonder if coconut oil or apple cider vinegar actually helps aswell.

[pickles.]

good luck! recently i've been trying to do the same, by telling myself that i'll only make it worse, and i have actually seen an improvement. when you feel a need to pick, just walk away from a mirror and keep your hands off of your face at all times. Try to find a good regime that works for your skin also, maybe then you'll feel like things are getting better, so you'll refrain from picking. let us know how it goes

[jimmyjammy]

Going to talk to someone might be a good idea, like you said there may be an underlying cause which is manifesting itself as your picking compulsion. As the above poster said try and spend as little time as possible in front of a mirror and maybe keep a written acount of your picking-it sounds lame but it does make you more aware of the problem. good luck.

[addicted101]

yeah im going to go see someone at my uni though i'm not too sure if they can deal with my problem or not! thanks for the support everyone, this site make a big difference for me. Also does anyone know if there is any bp that is clear in the uk? I have panoxyl 2.5 at the moment but its cream texture and i wanted to start dan's regimen but i can't seem to find clear bp anywhere! Or is pan oxyl ok to use?

[Hexie]

If you have lots of mirrors around that you use when you pick, throw them all away. Don't stand to close to the mirror when you put makup on. Think that most of the marks on your face are self inflicted and if you leave your face alone it will look much better.

[plexus]

i got some pairs of those really cheap gloves from the drugstore (the "magic stretch" kind) and whenever i'm reading (which is when i tend to involuntarily pick) i wear them. it really helps when i feel the texture of the gloves on my skin - makes me remember that i'm really not supposed to be picking. also, covers my fingernails so i can't really scratch at things. hope that helps...

[Tyga]

How is this going?

Gloves aren't a bad idea. You should try to avoid boredom. While bored, I believe you're more susceptible to falling back into bad habits. This link helped control my habit. Whenever you have the urge to pick, stick your hands in your pocket. Leave them inside until the urge is gone. I'd even suggest wearing dirty socks on your hands. That will make you think twice about touching your skin!

[whiteness]

sounds alot like myself.just dont pick,ive been so good about not picking and my face looks 10 times better than before and dont stare into the mirror! FIND other things to do.picking does not help.

[stylophonico]

i my self used to pick on my face a lot too. but i found it useful to not touch my face at all! and it help my theory is if you dont touch your face you dont feel the imperfections and have less need for picking also once i stopped picking i found that i would get less scars! yes! so i do not pick anymore for anyreason. besides im on accutane which mean if i pick im screwed,....

[CooleyxD]

Whenever I feel the urge to pick I just rub the side of my fingers against the edge of things. You could say I itch my fingers! haha other times I touch my arm because it's really smooth and convince myself that's how the rest of my skin is

[Hexie]

When I started picking at the few whiteheads i had, more and more appeared! as if the picking somehow makes more blemishes appear. I've kicked the habbit now and what an improvement!

[thesweatyfox]

Picking spreads the bacteria and causes scarring. I reckon most of the scars i have wouldn't be if i didn't pick! Very self destructive!!

I know i tend to do it more when i angry...almost like i'm picking on myself!

A lot of people say hypnotherapy can help get rid of this habit, so maybe see if there is one in your area.

[WasianPrincess]

is anyone going to help me or at least drop in and say hi instead of just reading and going away...

Having someone to help you through it is a good step to take. My dad would literally slap my hands away from my face (not hard, lol) to get me to stop. I do have a bit of scarring, but not as bad as it could be had he not basically broken me of the habit. I'm not saying to have anyone slap you, lol, but having someone to help you through it and finding the underlying causes may be your best bet. Hope this helped. )

[Neya]

Picking is the worst thing ever!! U spread bacteria so the pimple doesnt heal as fast as it should and u get a new zit next to it (ugh!) plus once it heal it will leave a scar. And that is a noooo-nooooo!!!! Seriously i used to ALWAYS pick at myself. Watching tv, reading a book, etc. Or just taking my mirror and piiiicking. So I threw the mirror away. Freaken helped like there is no tomorrow! My picking was 50% down. And then I promised myself that if I dont pick my face for TWO days I will reward myself by buying a nice nailpolish, if i dont pick for a week then I go to the movies and if I dont pick for a month - well then im a fucken queen hihi. It been 2 weeks I didnt pick at my skin. And my skin feel much much muuuuuuuuuuch better. Sometimes, my fingers just go on my skin without even me knowing but I stop right before the nail gets the skin.

I really encourage everyone here to just stop picking at their faces, seriously it really made a change for me!

[shereece182]

ya its like you cant help it ... i did it alot to. but try to occupy yourself and not think about it. pick pimples can cause it to spread to another area and giving you more ... picking scabs can cause scars and take foreveer to finally heal up, so if you keep your self from picking for a week you definetly will notice a difference and it will make you want to keep it that way . so avoid it!

[scarlet187]

I feel awful I'm getting married in a few weeks and my face looks like CRAP. I can't stop picking. I've been to a therapist and started taking anti-depressants...but I still can't stop! I went for a week without doing it and my face looked great! It's like I'm TRYING to ruin my face and no matter how bad it looks, I keep doing it! Ugh, I read all the other posts and I agree, it is a way to relieve stress for me just like others mentioned. But I'm starting to get scars and it makes me feel so bad after I do it. I have issues!!!

[chino xl]

i feel if i dont pop a pimple its going to stay on my face for a very long time and for some reason every time i pop one it goes away in like 2 days i jus hate the fact of walkin outside wit a white head sticking out my face i find that gross the ones i suggest not to pop tho are the ones that dont have a white head coming out of them and are red as hell they jus swell up and make it look nastier