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So I used to have pretty much flawless skin in high school. I'd get the occasional bump or two on my cheeks and forehead, and I obviously thought it was the end of the world, but looking back, I'd kill to have the skin I had then. Now, I think I've screwed it up beyond repair. I'm a sophomore in college, and my skin really isn't that bad. If I leave it alone, it looks pretty clear, but I just HATE the texture of it. I HATE IT. It looks bumpy at times and my pores look big and I can see tiny little clogs in my forehead that drive me absolutely crazy. Anything that isn't completely smooth I will pick at. I took a mirror in the sunlight today and just picked at my forehead and picked and picked until I created a bunch of scabs, and now my forehead looks absolutely horrible. I have cuts and scars on my cheeks and around my mouth from pores that I've tried to unclog. I seriously don't know what to do, because I don't think I can restrain myself from trying to unclog clogged pores, but it's ruining my life. My boyfriend wanted to go out to dinner tomorrow but I don't think I'll leave bed all day, just like today. Can my skin go back to normal? Or am I stuck in this perpetual cycle of mutilating my skin and letting it heal then repeating again? HOW DO I GET RID OF CLOGGED PORES?
YES. YES IT WILL HEAL. EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T "GET ALL THE STUFF OUT", IF YOU LET IT HEAL IT WILL BE GONE. I am a picker. I call myself a "recovering picker", but I have found that even in this time of my life that I try relentlessly to control it, I pick every few days. So I can relate 100%. I know that hopeless feeling when you mess with several areas and each day you wake up wanting it to look better but you feel like you have messed it up beyond repair. I have dug such a deep hole in my skin that it literally appeared to be a crater, I have made myself bleed and kept digging, I have made a square inch on my chin raw from picking a whitehead that was the size of a pen head. I HAVE DONE IT ALL. It forced me to move home and give myself time to heal, whilst leaving school, my boyfriend, etc. That was almost 2 months ago, and I am still only about 70% healed mentally. Here are a few things that helped me:
1. Stoppickingonme.com - this author is a face picker as well, pimples, blackheads, just like us! This makes the articles extremely relatable and had a huge impact on how I view picking/popping.
2. Hide your mirrors, avoid your trigger moments, and keep your hands busy- My mirror and being alone are my triggers. Only allow yourself to look in the mirror 3-5 feet away. Also, constantly examining my face with my fingers plants ideas in my head about what I want to pick next. Once you get some control on touching your face, within 3 days your redness will be down 50% or more. Guaranteed.
3. Personal computer log- write down everyday how you are feeling; how you feel when you picked all day, and how you felt after you didn't pick for a day. Re-reading these accounts will open your eyes to how mentally straining it is to pick at your face, and how much less stress you feel after a day of not picking. I write in mine at least 3 times a day, and it has honestly helped me as much as expensive therapy did.
4. Diaper cream- this is my own personal trick. 40% zinc oxide protects the skin, completely stops oozing, heals, an best of all kicks redness down in a matter of hours. Another unintentional advantage is that it's so thick you can't see the blemish and therefore won't pick! So if you do pick, this is the first thing that should be applied after. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
5. Forgive yourself- you have recognized your picking problem and are seeking help. You WILL relapse, it will suck, you will have ups and downs, but you can do this. I am always here!