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Why can't I stop picking my skin? Scabs, pimples, any kind of bump, the skin around my fingers. I'm starting to get scars on my face but I can't stop. (I don't have OCD though)

1 Answers
Last Updated: 05/01/2019 at 10:18pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Stacey Kiger, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

My belief is that therapy is not about giving advice, but joining you on your journey

Top Rated Answers
intelligentDay992
May 1st, 2019 10:18pm
I have a similar problem. I used to bite my nails and slowly started leaving that habit, since I replaced it with biting the skin around my fingers. But that was long ago. I think it's better to accept the fact that the possibility of having skin excoriation disorder is quite high. You might also use picking as a coping mechanism, just as other people use self-harm or journaling. If you find yourself picking when you're bored, anxious or stressed, then you know the answer. In any way, I understand that the impulse of doing it is strong enough. I used to pick for two hours sometimes, other times I just couldn't even keep track of how long I had been picking. Try getting out of it slowly. You can download Skin Pick if you'd like and log the exact situation when you're picking to identify patterns. Good luck))