Yes, it happens to me a lot. Its the same things that happens if you usually bite your finger nails, but want to stop.

Just stop touching your skin completely, even with a tissue. Don't ever let yourself touch the your face, and it will gradually decease if you keep it up.

There's a website called stop picking on me (should come up if you google that) that I remember finding helpful because, from memory, they talk a bit about what you're actually doing / the damage you can be doing to your skin. It's worth a look anyway.

What really helped me though was just seeing how much better my skin was when I didn't touch / pick / mess with it. Also realising my 'triggers' to picking. I would do it if I was really stressed or worried/anxious - so trying to keep these things under control by taking time to relax etc helps. Also spending less time near mirrors / where I can see my reflection also helps. And just generally, keeping my hands away from my skin / face.

I still cave and end up picking now and then but it's much, much less compulsive than before and it's more rare of an occurrence.

Just keep at it. Keep trying to stop picking. Maybe start with a short goal - try and go for 2 or 3 days without picking. Don't beat yourself up if you end up picking, but just start over with trying to stop. And it should get easier each time, with you being able to go for more and more days on end without picking - until hopefully you've broken the habit and have it under control

I find the easiest way not to pick is to have someone around. I've been trying to spend more and more time with friends after work. If I can't get someone to hang with me, I'll clean the house or do something that requires being up and using my hands. If I need to relax and watch TV, I'll get some granola to munch on.

Maybe keep a log of all the times you skin pick, and try to get better and better as each day goes by. You can keep track of your progress and really see your accomplishments.

Every time I start picking my skin I associate a bad mental image of me having a terrible breakout. I've done this so much so that it gives me mild discomfort when I DO pick.

Not that I'm trying to give myself anxiety, but this negative association helps me stop because I'm more scared of having a break out than wanting to pick.

Hi I have an ongoing struggle with my compulsive skinpicking as well.

Man, the only things that have helped me was realizing that this problem has a name and that other people are struggling with it, too. After realizing this....I sort of looked at it as a clinical problem that needed fixing. I sort of self-diagnosed myself with dermatillomania.

I also used to end up in trance-like states where I would just pick at EVERY piece of skin, blackhead, bump, zit, cyst, that I could get my hands on. I would sit in my sink and just look at each pore and pick and pick for HOURS. After a while, I started doing the tissue thing as well "to be more sanitary", but would end up putting it down and just obliterating my face again with my fingers. I tried cutting my fingernails, then I tried growing them out, but nothing made me want to stop picking my face. It was so defeating to me...I would get the worst satisfaction from "clearing my pores" and then an equal amount of guilt afterwards-- sitting there with a hot, red face covered in bumps. Sometimes I would do it before needing to go somewhere, and then I'd feel the discomfort the entire time I was out thinking "what will the blackhead that I picked over on my cheek turn into? Will it be a full-blown cyst by the end of the night?"...Most of the time (and still, when I get a relapse) I do it at night before bed. It pretty much consumed me and my life.

So, now I tell myself that I have a mental problem, an addiction-- one that I need to actively try to overcome or else it will take over my life. I'm 23 years old and live with my fiance. I told him that I need help getting over this and that it's a compulsive act that I do. This made it "real" for me. For a couple months now, I've really lessened the amount that I pick at my face. Here's what I do to stop myself:

-When I go into the bathroom at night, I tell myself that I'm a normal person who doesn't pick their face.

-I turn on only the dim lights in the bathroom.

-I tell myself that my skin is so delicate and that I shouldn't hurt it.

-I NEVER sit on the sink anymore (that is definitely one of my triggers).

-I try not to let my anxiety take over in the bathroom (also one of my triggers).

-If I DO pick now, I make it a big deal to pick just one spot. I swab it with alcohol, get tissue, pop it, swab it again with alcohol, put some witch hazel on it, throw some AHA on it, and then either put makeup back on or go to bed. I couldn't possibly put that much effort into 25 spots on my face, so I don't pick that many spots!

-I have clear nail polish on my nails that I'll pick at as soon as I feel like picking my face. It kind of looks like peely skin, so it gives me similar satisfaction ( I know I should kick this habit, too...as it only feeds my picking compulsion).

-Like Lilly, I see the results from not picking. I do not get as many spots as I used to, my red marks fade faster because I didn't dig at my skin. This is a HUGE contributor to my healing process.

-I went on tumblr and searched the #skinpicking and #dermatillomania tags and was able to see that there are other people who also pick at their skin in a trance-like state like I do. Reading their accounts, posts and struggles made me realize that I could get over it and that I could change the way I thought about my skin and my anxiety.

Anyway...haha, this sounds so dramatic, but I take it one day at a time. I picked a LITTLE last night, but I didn't destroy my face. This is a triumph for me...one day, I'll be able to say "Hm. I haven't picked in weeks!!" As for right now, though, I'm still healing my addiction to skin picking. It's nice doing something productive rather than destructive. Good luck and don't give up!

(Sorry for such a long post!)

Yes, it happens to me a lot. Its the same things that happens if you usually bite your finger nails, but want to stop.

Just stop touching your skin completely, even with a tissue. Don't ever let yourself touch the your face, and it will gradually decease if you keep it up.

I skin pick everyday and I've noticed that whenever I skin pick, I blank or zone out and I'm not fully aware of myself until I suddenly zap out of it and stop. It's like I enter a trance of state for an hour. I don't know if it's just me but I blank out every time I skin pick. Anyone else do this too? Also, does anyone have any tips/tricks to STOP skin picking completely? Because whenever I touch my skin, my skin gets majorly worse..

I've stopped skin picking with my fingernails but now I've been starting to put tissue around my fingers to reassure myself that "bacteria isn't going into my pores so it's okay if I touch my skin".

This is a major issue I have and I'm willing to stop, but it is so addicting.

Honey, I've picked for years and still pick to this day and I do not have a scar on my face. Picking your skin does not gives you scars that's a myth, it does however make you more susceptible to dark marks and staining. You'd have to pick pretty "deep" to actually scar your skin, I'm talking a surgical incision level.

Here's a video explaining the myths about skin picking

It will give you dark marks, yes, but scars? no way.

Yes, it happens to me a lot. Its the same things that happens if you usually bite your finger nails, but want to stop.

Just stop touching your skin completely, even with a tissue. Don't ever let yourself touch the your face, and it will gradually decease if you keep it up.

>I skin pick everyday and I've noticed that whenever I skin pick, I blank or zone out and I'm not fully aware of myself until I suddenly zap out of it and stop. It's like I enter a trance of state for an hour. I don't know if it's just me but I blank out every time I skin pick. Anyone else do this too? Also, does anyone have any tips/tricks to STOP skin picking completely? Because whenever I touch my skin, my skin gets majorly worse..

I've stopped skin picking with my fingernails but now I've been starting to put tissue around my fingers to reassure myself that "bacteria isn't going into my pores so it's okay if I touch my skin".

This is a major issue I have and I'm willing to stop, but it is so addicting.

Honey, I've picked for years and still pick to this day and I do not have a scar on my face. Picking your skin does not gives you scars that's a myth, it does however make you more susceptible to dark marks and staining. You'd have to pick pretty "deep" to actually scar your skin, I'm talking a surgical incision level.

Here's a video explaining the myths about skin picking

 

It will give you dark marks, yes, but scars? no way.

Didnt watch, but there are different ways of picking the skin. For example for me, I get nodules, which sometimes explodes and there is blood. Now, that blood stiffens and if i accedently pick this off, I may end up with a scar. Not me personally, I dont get scars from that, but you can. Its the same with active pimples though, just made an example.

Hi I have an ongoing struggle with my compulsive skinpicking as well.

Man, the only things that have helped me was realizing that this problem has a name and that other people are struggling with it, too. After realizing this....I sort of looked at it as a clinical problem that needed fixing. I sort of self-diagnosed myself with dermatillomania.

I also used to end up in trance-like states where I would just pick at EVERY piece of skin, blackhead, bump, zit, cyst, that I could get my hands on. I would sit in my sink and just look at each pore and pick and pick for HOURS. After a while, I started doing the tissue thing as well "to be more sanitary", but would end up putting it down and just obliterating my face again with my fingers. I tried cutting my fingernails, then I tried growing them out, but nothing made me want to stop picking my face. It was so defeating to me...I would get the worst satisfaction from "clearing my pores" and then an equal amount of guilt afterwards-- sitting there with a hot, red face covered in bumps. Sometimes I would do it before needing to go somewhere, and then I'd feel the discomfort the entire time I was out thinking "what will the blackhead that I picked over on my cheek turn into? Will it be a full-blown cyst by the end of the night?"...Most of the time (and still, when I get a relapse) I do it at night before bed. It pretty much consumed me and my life.

So, now I tell myself that I have a mental problem, an addiction-- one that I need to actively try to overcome or else it will take over my life. I'm 23 years old and live with my fiance. I told him that I need help getting over this and that it's a compulsive act that I do. This made it "real" for me. For a couple months now, I've really lessened the amount that I pick at my face. Here's what I do to stop myself:

-When I go into the bathroom at night, I tell myself that I'm a normal person who doesn't pick their face.

-I turn on only the dim lights in the bathroom.

-I tell myself that my skin is so delicate and that I shouldn't hurt it.

-I NEVER sit on the sink anymore (that is definitely one of my triggers).

-I try not to let my anxiety take over in the bathroom (also one of my triggers).

-If I DO pick now, I make it a big deal to pick just one spot. I swab it with alcohol, get tissue, pop it, swab it again with alcohol, put some witch hazel on it, throw some AHA on it, and then either put makeup back on or go to bed. I couldn't possibly put that much effort into 25 spots on my face, so I don't pick that many spots!

-I have clear nail polish on my nails that I'll pick at as soon as I feel like picking my face. It kind of looks like peely skin, so it gives me similar satisfaction ( I know I should kick this habit, too...as it only feeds my picking compulsion).

-Like Lilly, I see the results from not picking. I do not get as many spots as I used to, my red marks fade faster because I didn't dig at my skin. This is a HUGE contributor to my healing process.

-I went on tumblr and searched the #skinpicking and #dermatillomania tags and was able to see that there are other people who also pick at their skin in a trance-like state like I do. Reading their accounts, posts and struggles made me realize that I could get over it and that I could change the way I thought about my skin and my anxiety.

Anyway...haha, this sounds so dramatic, but I take it one day at a time. I picked a LITTLE last night, but I didn't destroy my face. This is a triumph for me...one day, I'll be able to say "Hm. I haven't picked in weeks!!" As for right now, though, I'm still healing my addiction to skin picking. It's nice doing something productive rather than destructive. Good luck and don't give up!

(Sorry for such a long post!)

I have checked your galleries and you don't have it that severe. I think you look incredible, regardless of the state of your skin.

I have checked your galleries and you don't have it that severe. I think you look incredible, regardless of the state of your skin.

Thank you, that's nice of you to say.

However, all the times I've been clear (and posted in my gallery), I've been able to control my picking and therefore, my acne. My acne has definitely been moderate/severe in the recent past. My picking and my hormones are the main causes of my acne. Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. My gallery isn't the best representation of my acne, though.

Here's the breakout that I had in September that made me want (and semi-successfully) to stop picking and start treating my skin well. Even though you can't see it well, I have small cysts all along my jawline.

I have checked your galleries and you don't have it that severe. I think you look incredible, regardless of the state of your skin.

Thank you, that's nice of you to say.

However, all the times I've been clear (and posted in my gallery), I've been able to control my picking and therefore, my acne. My acne has definitely been moderate/severe in the recent past. My picking and my hormones are the main causes of my acne. Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. My gallery isn't the best representation of my acne, though.

Here's the breakout that I had in September that made me want (and semi-successfully) to stop picking and start treating my skin well. Even though you can't see it well, I have small cysts all along my jawline.

Wow you have terrible skin! I feel sorry for any man that ends up seeing you without makeup **The Horror**. Get to a dermatologist fast!

Also all the BB cream/foundation and other garbage you put on your face isn't good for your skin. I notice you're American so maybe your terrible diet also contributes to your skin.

Well that certainly makes you come across as incredibly rude and insensitive!

Heitea - pay no attention to what Lovelorn's said. Your skin is in no way 'terrible' - I remember some of your recent posts so I know, you know your partner loves you and does not care about your skin and why should he?

You're gorgeous regardless of your skin and with or without makeup!

I have checked your galleries and you don't have it that severe. I think you look incredible, regardless of the state of your skin.

Thank you, that's nice of you to say.

However, all the times I've been clear (and posted in my gallery), I've been able to control my picking and therefore, my acne. My acne has definitely been moderate/severe in the recent past. My picking and my hormones are the main causes of my acne. Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. My gallery isn't the best representation of my acne, though.

Here's the breakout that I had in September that made me want (and semi-successfully) to stop picking and start treating my skin well. Even though you can't see it well, I have small cysts all along my jawline.

Wow you have terrible skin! I feel sorry for any man that ends up seeing you without makeup **The Horror**. Get to a dermatologist fast!

Also all the BB cream/foundation and other garbage you put on your face isn't good for your skin. I notice you're American so maybe your terrible diet also contributes to your skin.

Really Lovelorn? Get off of here if you're going to be like that. Don't listen to this person. I've read their other posts and they're just being rude for absolutely no reason to people on here.

I think you look beautiful.

haha, wow....Lovelorn, you poor soul. I shouldn't have to explain myself because this IS acne.org (so, naturally...I have acne) and this is the Emotional forum.

Anyway, my skin doesn't look like this anymore. I was just trying to prove a point. My skin used to get really bad and my gallery does not represent that (like I said). I wanted to be fully honest with the acne.org group about what my skin condition WAS like. This is a picture from September after a truly bad picking session. It has since turned around A LOT. My hyperpigmentation is almost gone (which is mostly what's in the picture above...most of those red marks aren't active acne). This is a picking thread....picking is a terrible problem for me and I almost have it under control. Btw....I am American, but my fiance (who has seen me without makeup and thinks that I am beautiful!) and I eat quite well. I'm a vegetarian and I eat whole foods and limit sugar. I hardly ever eat poorly.

Lilly and Solaire Thank you guys! It's so nice that there are people here that are friendly and caring! You both are so sweet

I picked only once and got scars. Living with those scars ever since. So don't pick.

I've been picking really bad this week. Fortunately it's dead flakes, so it hasn't hurt the skin. Still, I feel like I can't control it... GRRR Really need to find a moisturizer that doesn't break me out.