Any sufferers dealing with this disorder have tips on avoiding touching my skin? Year by year it seems to get worse for me, what doesn't look too bad to me now would have looked terrible a year ago. I'm young and having the skin on my arms and legs look so bad is pretty humiliating, especially in the summer.
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Other Dermatillomania ... any tips?
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I wear UnderArmor pretty much year round (HeatGear in the summer, ColdGear in the winter) for a different reason (sensory issues). Covers me from neck to ankle. Regular clothes over the top. Nice thing about the summer, is that soaking them = natural air conditioning. Can be completely comfy, even being active, in 100+ degree weather.
I wear UnderArmor pretty much year round (HeatGear in the summer, ColdGear in the winter) for a different reason (sensory issues). Covers me from neck to ankle. Regular clothes over the top. Nice thing about the summer, is that soaking them = natural air conditioning. Can be completely comfy, even being active, in 100+ degree weather.
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I struggle so so so so so so very much with dermatillomania. It frustrates me even more so that so many people don't believe me when i say that it is a real disorder and I just can't stop picking at my skin. In my case, it's not triggered by anything; I just do it mindlessly. My problem area is my skin surrounding my nails. The one thing that stopped me was when I had fake acrylic nails for a few weeks. It was impossible to pick. But where I work now I can't wear anything on my nails so the problem has only increased. If you find anything that works for you, please tell me haha.
Where is your problem area (where you pick at most)?
Where is your problem area (where you pick at most)?
Candleflames
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I have trichotillomania which is related. The best possible thing you can do is to see someone who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy. They will start with having you chart you symptoms and how they correlate to your emotional states. Then they will help you find competing behaviors to help you through the rough times.
One thing I found to be most helpful was to keep a fidget toy with me and to play with. I kept a ping pong ball on hand. When the urge to pull was really strong I'd grab an ice cube or press my fist into my side.
I started a thread a while back that you might find helpful. It's https://www.myptsd.com/threads/tric...ther-body-focused-repetitive-disorders.36258/
good luck. I know how hard it is.
One thing I found to be most helpful was to keep a fidget toy with me and to play with. I kept a ping pong ball on hand. When the urge to pull was really strong I'd grab an ice cube or press my fist into my side.
I started a thread a while back that you might find helpful. It's https://www.myptsd.com/threads/tric...ther-body-focused-repetitive-disorders.36258/
good luck. I know how hard it is.
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Thank you for replying @Matilda and @Candleflames it is always good to hear someone understands!
My skin picking has been going on for a long time, my biggest problem area is my arms, and used to be mindless as well. I have had a couple traumas in the past several years, one was an abortion four years ago that seems to trigger my skin picking into an almost therapeutic thing. I like the idea of having a distraction, I will have to get something to keep at my desk. How to you keep yourself from picking/pulling when your alone.
My skin picking has been going on for a long time, my biggest problem area is my arms, and used to be mindless as well. I have had a couple traumas in the past several years, one was an abortion four years ago that seems to trigger my skin picking into an almost therapeutic thing. I like the idea of having a distraction, I will have to get something to keep at my desk. How to you keep yourself from picking/pulling when your alone.
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Distraction again. SImply being mindful of it, so that you learn to notice the urge as opposed to catching yourself after the fact, helps a ton. I used to have a really bad problem with picking, but I don't know why, and it's lessened over time. When I was trying to manage it I used to wear gloves when I was home. The gloves kept me from doing any damage.
But I second everything that @Candleflames said - CBT (or DBT) will help you get deeper to the root of the behavior and develop strategies to re-condition yourself.
Friday
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Coming at this from a sensory-perspective, again, so may or may not be useful... With sensory stuff we usually turn problems on its ear. Which usually means substitution. Find the source of the relief, alter the cause (to be non-damaging), and run with it. (Running with it, because the more one tries to stop/more guilt and shame? More intense the need to do it, and worse the injury or meltdown.) So sensory stuff is all about identify, distract, subvert.
Meaning:
- If the relief is from the fine motor? Or interaction between fine motor &'tactile sensation? Carry a sharpie & draw on your skin when you need the tactile, draw on paper when you can catch yourself & or don't need the interaction between skin sensation + fine motor. .
- If the relief is coming from the sting? Rubber band on your wrists & ankles, or BenGay / TigerBalm / other stinging lotion, or regular waxing. Some use band aids (sticking plasters), but that can eventually be just as damaging as scratching.
- If the relief is coming from the visual component? Being able to glance down & see the mark? Stickers (or drawing, again... Sensory people are often covered with drawings &/or tattoos). Later on people often carry paint brushes to paint water (or dry brush) their skin, so it's invisible. Some use black light pens so if they need to see sometimes, but not always. Ditto tanning with stickers on. Placing a sticker being instant relief, tanning with them on is long term.
- If the relief is coming from the relative motion? Rolling beads (like rosary or sandalwood) is a common substitution. Some others I've heard of are polishing silver, cleaning with Qtips (knew a painting restorer, whose thing with trichotill was what got them into cleaning the dirt of the ages off of oils; tiny, meticulous, detail oriented, pixel at a time level of back & forth).
Etc... Since the relief can come from any of dozens of areas, but you get the drift.
Meaning:
- If the relief is from the fine motor? Or interaction between fine motor &'tactile sensation? Carry a sharpie & draw on your skin when you need the tactile, draw on paper when you can catch yourself & or don't need the interaction between skin sensation + fine motor. .
- If the relief is coming from the sting? Rubber band on your wrists & ankles, or BenGay / TigerBalm / other stinging lotion, or regular waxing. Some use band aids (sticking plasters), but that can eventually be just as damaging as scratching.
- If the relief is coming from the visual component? Being able to glance down & see the mark? Stickers (or drawing, again... Sensory people are often covered with drawings &/or tattoos). Later on people often carry paint brushes to paint water (or dry brush) their skin, so it's invisible. Some use black light pens so if they need to see sometimes, but not always. Ditto tanning with stickers on. Placing a sticker being instant relief, tanning with them on is long term.
- If the relief is coming from the relative motion? Rolling beads (like rosary or sandalwood) is a common substitution. Some others I've heard of are polishing silver, cleaning with Qtips (knew a painting restorer, whose thing with trichotill was what got them into cleaning the dirt of the ages off of oils; tiny, meticulous, detail oriented, pixel at a time level of back & forth).
Etc... Since the relief can come from any of dozens of areas, but you get the drift.
Can this disorder come and go and get worse during certain times of the year or times of stress?
Like said above by @Matilda and @Candleflames it's a mindless thing and hard to know what is going on inside making me want to do this.
I pick skin on my lips until they bleed and cover the redness with lipstick, even though that stings. Usually, I can stop before it gets that bad, but accidents happen.
I also twist my hair into knots that have to be cut out or pulled out. This leaves broken hair.
Both of these are most addictive to me when stressed and unable to verbally ventilate/bored at the same time.
Ideas, Hmm. Could you replace picking with something like applying differently scented lotions during spring and summer for one year, and then give yourself space to go back in fall and winter to a routine? I don't know if that's a dumb question or not.
With lotions, people would expect that and not notice it much and it may be cooling and allow your skin to heal and feel more smooth. I had an office mate who was always applying lotion to her hands and arms. After a while, I recognized that it was not for moisturization so much as to soothe herself and give her hands something to do.
It was something she could do in front of people that people don't mind at all and actually see as "normal." It also smelled of lavender, and she said she liked that smell, so that became the reason for the constant lotion applications. Whatever her reason, nobody minded and it didn't smell up the office.
When I got really into a needlepoint project, at night, I found it surprising how I didn't need to eat or drink like normal at night. I lost weight! I also didn't need to twist and knot my hair, so my hair wasn't all broken and cut underneath.
Now I use typing! See! :)
It's not stopping altogether but replacing with something that will do for a time. Just an idea. Not sure how it works for you.
Like said above by @Matilda and @Candleflames it's a mindless thing and hard to know what is going on inside making me want to do this.
I pick skin on my lips until they bleed and cover the redness with lipstick, even though that stings. Usually, I can stop before it gets that bad, but accidents happen.
I also twist my hair into knots that have to be cut out or pulled out. This leaves broken hair.
Both of these are most addictive to me when stressed and unable to verbally ventilate/bored at the same time.
Ideas, Hmm. Could you replace picking with something like applying differently scented lotions during spring and summer for one year, and then give yourself space to go back in fall and winter to a routine? I don't know if that's a dumb question or not.
With lotions, people would expect that and not notice it much and it may be cooling and allow your skin to heal and feel more smooth. I had an office mate who was always applying lotion to her hands and arms. After a while, I recognized that it was not for moisturization so much as to soothe herself and give her hands something to do.
It was something she could do in front of people that people don't mind at all and actually see as "normal." It also smelled of lavender, and she said she liked that smell, so that became the reason for the constant lotion applications. Whatever her reason, nobody minded and it didn't smell up the office.
When I got really into a needlepoint project, at night, I found it surprising how I didn't need to eat or drink like normal at night. I lost weight! I also didn't need to twist and knot my hair, so my hair wasn't all broken and cut underneath.
Now I use typing! See! :)
It's not stopping altogether but replacing with something that will do for a time. Just an idea. Not sure how it works for you.
Candleflames
Platinum Member
For me it has been a year since I completed CBT. Through that process I was able to identify the source of the urges and stop them before they start. When I first started I had almost no hair on my crown and was reacting to my near constant pulling with anger and disgust. Often I didn't even realize I had pulled or picked. Now I can see the internal and external triggers that will likely result in an urge to pull or pick and find another way to soothe myself. It's different for each of us.
The best thing you can do is to find a therapist who can help create a personal plan of treatment. It's a real eye opener. Don't be discouraged if doc don't want to work with you because of the PTSD. Just move on down your list. There are organizations that can help you find a T or an online program too.
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