"Excoriation disorder is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum mental disorder that is characterized by the repeated urge or impulse to pick at one's own skin to the extent that either psychological or physical damage is caused." This quote is not my words but it explains my OCD best . Anyone else who is diagnosed with this? And how do you deal with it? Currently I am obsessed with picking my scalp and I can't stop. If I don't do it, I keep thinking about it. A few years back I was so obsessed and driven, I cut off some of my beauty spots with scissors. I pull the skin off my nails and it bleeds. I can't control this. I am in the beginning of therapy but don't have a lot of sessions because my psychologist is very good but very busy. How do I deal with this for now, I can't stop.

I haven’t been officially diagnosed, but I do have this. I have compulsively picked at the skin on my lips for a long time. It’s also called dermatillomania. I do struggle with this. Maybe try to keep your hands busy with something else? You could also try setting a timer for five minutes and making a conscious effort to not let yourself pick for that time. As time goes on, maybe you could lengthen the time you allot yourself to not pick.

Had a psychiatrist note that I "appear to have trichotillomania", she said it wasn't an issue because my hair is thick enough to hide it. Thanks Ma'am. But yeah, not exactly the same but close enough and I do pick at my scalp a lot with it too. I don't know whether this is recommended but one thing I do to reduce the damage is pull at the hair but not pull it out. I guess you could do similar with your skin? Like, rub the spot but try not to pick it? Of course it doesn't always work but sometimes it does, and damage reduction is never a bad thing. :)

You’re welcome. I don’t believe you’re ever as alone as you believe you are. I hope those things work for you.

Omw cipherseven that actually sounds like a good idea I will definitely try it!!

b13, you could see a psychologist about it and just tell your mom you have to talk to one because you feel like there is bothering you a lot lately. Have you ever tried to stop and if you did did you have this obsession or struggle to do it again and you can't just "stop" it's normally a sign but if you want to know more here is a great video about is https://youtu.be/jFxoT3coHas I really hope you get help because it usually starts when you hit puberty and then it gets worse, I send you love

Thank you! I'm going to make clay and keep my hands busy. I was afraid I won't find someone with almost the same ocd but now I know, I'm not alone. Thank you.

So I haven’t been diagnosed and I’m not convinced it’s compulsive but I am CONSTANTLY biting, picking, ripping the skin around my nails. I do bite my nails too but I find myself always biting at the skin. I don’t know if it’s compulsive I just always realise I’m doing it once I’ve already started. I’ll pull my cuticles too. They bleed and burn and hurt a lot and there’s been times I’ve had to use plasters. I read it’s called dermatophagia but again I’m not sure if I actually have it. My mum thinks it’s just a bad habit.

Also b13 if you see a psycholigist, just show her your nails and tell her how you feel when you do it. Stress relief? Boredom? Both?