About dermatilomania (skin picking disorder)
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Feb 13, 2014
Malu P.
I've read the article on Skin Picking Disorder here on Beautylish, but since the comments are disabled, I needed to create this post to tell my story and hear more from you girls.
I have dermatilomania. I am constantly picking the skin off my lips. They are aways very dry and chapped, and I just CAN't simply put on some lip balm and let it heal. I pick. They bleed and get scabbed, but, at least for me, It's a source of pleasure. I actually enjoy picking my lips, at the same time as the lack of control makes me really mad.
I've been picking my lips since ever. Ever. I've tried every lip balm and ointment available. No matter how nice my lips ended up looking, if any tiny dried up skin appears, I'm there, picking and hating myself for not being able to control this urge.
I do have General Anxiety Disorder and OCD, and I'm already under treatment. The treatment is extremely effective, but it did nothing to cease the picking.
I just wanted to take it off my chest and hear you girls.
Love.
Feb 13, 2014
Kaite P.
I do the same thing. My mom always did it, so when I was little, I started doing it and now I can't not do it.
Feb 13, 2014
Malu P.
Really? And how did it worked for you Shelby? I'm on anxiety medicine, but it's not for it.. Actually this is a subject I never talked about to my therapist (stupid, I know).
Feb 13, 2014
Raylene I.
OMG! I never had this problem until I got acne, and even though it's cleared up the scars are horrendous from me picked them so bad, and small bump and my fingers are right there pulling at the skin 😞 I'm on anxiety meds but it doesn't help the picking, I just do it out of boredom and habit it's completely self unaware!
Feb 13, 2014
Alyssa S.
I have ADHD and when I was 6 7 &8 years old I would pick the skin on the inside of my ears especially when I was stressed it was a side affect of my medication but grew out of the skin picking when I was about 9
Feb 13, 2014
Malu P.
Your word means A LOT Jenna :) I'm happy to hear other girls experiences, I thought I was the only human being that did it, really.
Feb 13, 2014
Lia L.
I'm doing it right now. I've been doing it since always. I don't wear any lipstick because my lips's skin is horrible I make them bleed too. I'm not conscious that I'm doing it until somebody yells me Girl, stop eating your lips!! You know what I mean? I have to use lip balms everytime. I'm under a lot stress I think is maybe that. also I do clench my teeth until they hurt and I notice. I didn't even know there was a name for it. Dermatilomania.
Feb 13, 2014
Janet M.
I'm sorry to hear how many of you are suffering from it. I never have but I guess in a way I did have it. I was a cutter, burner and picker for 7 years and it took a lot to stop. I have manic depression, OCD, and bpd. Medication worked to help but therapy was the best option for me.
Feb 13, 2014
lianne C.
Malu what treatment you on for OCD as I have bad OCD too
Feb 13, 2014
Malu P.
I'm taking Lexapro (escitalopram) for OCD. I also take Bach floral essences, since they help stabilize my mood while taking the medicine. I'm really happy with the treatment, but you should definitely see a therapist before anything.
I know skin picking is a disorder of the anxiety spectrum, but it is not like OCD, for example. Skin picking, theoretically, is more similar to an addiction: you know it's bad for you, but it gives you some sort of pleasure and relief, and you can't stop.
Feb 13, 2014
lianne C.
Mines with my eyelashes
Feb 13, 2014
Malu P.
Donna, you probably have tricotilomania, a hair picking disorder. It's the same as dermatilimania, but instead of picking skin, you pick hairs. I had a friend who would pick the hairs off her head and then eat that white part (the roots maybe?).
Feb 13, 2014
Amelia L.
I constantly pick at my skin. I use lancets that diabetics use to test their blood sugar to poke and prod at my face and chest. most of the time my face is covered in blood and scabs I don't care if it scars. buying a magnified mirror was the worst thing I have ever done, I spend at least two hours a day picking my skin. also, when my hair gets too long I pull it out. when I study my laptop and clothing is just covered in my hair. the hair pulling is getting better though, it was really bad when I was 17. I made a bald spot that is just grown back now, 6 years later.
good times haha
Feb 13, 2014
Hannah C.
I pick the skin around my finger nails and bite it, pick my lips and bite the inside of my mouth. I also suffered from depression and anxiety. I never realised it before but I tend to pick and bite more when I'm more anxious.
Feb 14, 2014
Malu P.
Yes, my picking will worse anytime I get anxious too. But it's something so natural, it's so much a part of me, I really don't see me free if it :( I never wear lipsticks, they never look good, and I'm aways do ashamed when people ask "what happend to your lips? Are you sick?".
Feb 15, 2014
Jocelyn S.
I thought I was the only lip picker! I do it when I'm stressed...bored...anxious...hungry...whenever. I'm not OCD by any means, but I've always done it and probably always will.
Feb 15, 2014
Malu P.
Yeah, skin picking does not necessarily happens only with those with any anxiety disorder. Waaaay before I had any OCD symptom, I was already picking my lips. I've been doing this since I'm a kid.