12 Best Tips To Stop Skin Picking And How To Heal Its Wounds

Almost all of us are guilty of picking skin at some point. We may think that picking at bumps, pimples, or acne will help smooth the skin, but in reality, it can worsen the condition. Dermatillomania is a condition where someone feels a compulsive urge to pick at their skin, often leading to noticeable damage. If you are struggling with this skin picking disorder and don’t know how to stop, this article can guide you.

This article explains 12 effective tricks to stop this compulsive behavior and let your skin heal. You may try some coping strategies and tips to improve your skin. Scroll down.

Why Do We Pick Our Skin?

Here are the reasons we pick our skin:

• Skin Conditions: Acne, psoriasis, eczema, or fungal infections could trigger skin itching and picking.

• Skin Dehydration: Dry skin also triggers skin picking. Even your lips, cuticles, elbows, and the soles of your feet could go dry.

• Wound Scabs: When a wound starts healing, a thick layer of skin is formed. This scab can sometimes be itchy and dry and trigger scab-picking.

• Stress: Sometimes, anxiety and stress also cause the urge to pick skin. Biting the cuticles and constantly poking a bump on the face or body could get more frequent when a person is under stress.

Sometimes, skin picking, or dermatillomania, can become a habit without an external trigger. Chronic skin-picking, also known as excoriation disorder, is a mental health issue that can cause skin lesions and impact quality of life.

Symptoms Of A Skin Picking Disorder

People with a skin picking disorder experience a range of symptoms that affect their physical health and daily lives. These symptoms often include:

1. Frequent picking at the skin even when there is no noticeable skin issue, causing damage such as sores or scars.
2. Struggling to control or reduce the urge to pick at skin despite repeated efforts to stop the behavior.
3. Feeling stressed about the picking, leading to frustration or anxiety.
4. Interference with daily life, such as avoiding social situations or experiencing challenges at work or school because of the visible marks or the behavior itself.

A study was conducted on 10,169 US adults, aged 18-69 years, to understand the prevalence of skin-picking disorder. It was found that 213 (2.1%) participants reported having a current skin-picking disorder, while 318 (3.1%) reported a lifetime history of it. Further, people with the disorder also reported mental health comorbidities like generalized anxiety disorder (63.4%), panic disorder (27.7%), and depression (53.1%).

A study published in Comprehensive Psychiatry attempted to understand the onset of chronic skin picking. 262 subjects participated in it, of which 87% were female. The study found that skin picking was at its highest between 11 and 15 years of age, and it eventually reduced, with a small spike experienced by subjects over the age of 40. The study concluded that skin-picking disorder is closely connected with other psychiatric conditions, such as ADHD, OCD, and anxiety.

Age At The Onset Of Skin Picking

Whatever the cause, one can reduce skin picking to a great extent. Here are the 12 effective ways to achieve the same.

12 Effective Ways To Stop Picking Skin

1. Consult A Dermatologist

Whether it is a skin rash, an infection, or extremely dry skin, if you are picking your skin or scratching it constantly, you must first visit a licensed dermatologist. Your dermatologist will be able to prescribe the right treatment for the skin infection or allergy. Taking the right treatment at the right time will save you money and keep you from hurting your skin further.

2. Talk To A Counselor

When it comes to mental health, seek professional guidance. A counselor can give you expert advice to help you tackle any issues, even picking skin. Whether it is stress, depression, low self-esteem, or self-loathing thoughts, talk to a professional to get the best cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, or habit-reversal training, and practice the various prescribed exercises. You will not only stop picking your skin but also will have more energy, sleep well, and feel good. Moreover, if you are facing anxiety itching, he can guide you through this, too.

Quick Tip

A solution to manage skin-picking habits is to keep your hands busy. Get stress balls or fidget toys.

3. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can cause the skin to become dry and trigger skin picking. Drink at least 8 ounces of fluids in the form of water, juice, fruits, soup, smoothies, etc. Hydration will make your skin softer and smoother, which will reduce your need to scratch or pick your skin around the nails, elbows, lips, arms, toes, and legs.

4. Exfoliate Your Skin

The upper dead skin layer should be removed at regular intervals to reduce skin picking. Exfoliating using a scrub or a chemical peel can help remove the dead cell layers and dirt and clear out the clogged pores. Exfoliation will also prevent acne bumps, whiteheads, blackheads, and the peeling dead skin layers. You can use lemon and sugar to scrub your feet and elbows, a mandelic acid chemical peel for the face, or a homemade scrub made of rice flour, yogurt, and honey.

5. Use Face And Body Masks

A good way to keep your skin healthy and keep yourself from picking your skin is to apply face and body masks at least thrice a week. A nourishing and hydrating mask along with antibacterial oils like tea tree oil or neem oil will keep the skin smooth and remove bumps. You can use an avocado face mask or mix curd, gram flour, and olive oil and apply it to your body. Wash after 20 minutes.

6. Moisturize Your Skin

Another great way to stop picking dry skin or cuticles is to keep them moisturized. You may have oily face skin but dry skin near your nails and elbows. In that case, use a water-based moisturizer for the face and an oil-based moisturizer or body lotion for the rest of the body. If you have acne, consult your doctor to know the best moisturizer for your skin.

7. Get Regular Mani-Pedi

Not getting regular mani-pedi can also cause the cuticles to become dry and hard. As a result, you may feel the urge to pick your cuticles, which will create uneven skin texture triggering you further to poke your skin. If you do not want to go to a salon, you can try this foot soak (it works!) or just soak your hands and feet in warm water, along with two pumps of shampoo and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Soak your hands and feet for 30 minutes at least once a week. Apply a moisturizer afterward. Cut your nails to avoid picking skin.

8. Use Hydrocolloid Patches

Hydrocolloid patches are pimple patches that you can apply to the bumps on your face or body. These patches not only treat pimples but also create a barrier over them to prevent you from touching and picking them. Here’s a list of pimple patches you can check.

9. Avoid Oily And Junk Food

Oily and junk food cause inflammation in the body by disrupting the omega-3:omega-6 fatty acid balance. This imbalance causes acne and clogs pores. The bumpy skin can make you squeeze the pimple or poke it, resulting in scarring and hyperpigmentation. Hence, avoid consuming fries, fried chicken, potato chips, burgers, sugary foods, aerated drinks, packaged foods, processed meat, etc.

10. Eat Healthy Food

Consume veggies, fruits, animal or plant sources of protein, and healthy fats. Changing your diet can also affect your skin in a good way. Fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants and have antimicrobial properties, which help fight skin diseases and treat dry skin and acne.

11. Meditate Every Day

Stress, anxiety, and depression may also cause one to pick their skin. Meditation helps a lot if you have any or all of them. Start by meditating for a minute every day. Increase the time gradually to 20 to 30 minutes every day. You will see great results and will stop picking your skin.

Quick Tip

Other energy-cleansing activities like yoga and tai-chi can also help. They are known to reduce stress, relieve tension, and keep negativity that triggers bad habits at bay.

12. Learn A New Skill

Learning a new skill is a great way to keep your mind off those things that are worrying you. Channel your energy to a more creative and productive path. Try pottery, painting, creative writing, learning a musical instrument, etc.

13. Create A Support System

Having a strong support system may help effectively manage this skin picking disorder. Talk to close friends or family members about your challenges so they can encourage you and hold you accountable. You may also find it helpful to join support groups or online communities where others share similar experiences, offering advice and understanding as you navigate this journey.

Emma Pickins, a blogger, shares her struggle with skin-picking and her search for resources to overcome the habit. She shared insights from the book You Are Not Your Brain which provides a four-step approach to dealing with it. She writes, “To kickstart the process, every time I’ve had the urge to pick or notice my fingers scanning my face, I say: ‘This is just a brain message and it’s NOT worth my attention. I will not feed the monster!’. This is a mantra I came up with through an exercise in the book, and I encourage you to make one up for yourself. It’s been great for coping when the urge arises (i).”

These are the 12 effective ways you can stop or reduce picking skin. But if you have skin-picking wounds, you must heal them as well. How? Here are a few ways you can fade the scars from skin.

How To Heal Skin Picking Wounds

• Protect the wounds: Use a bandage to protect the wounds and prevent bleeding.
  
• Keep the wounds clean: Dress the wounds regularly to keep them clean and prevent bacterial infection.
• Apply topical ointments: Betadine is a topical ointment that helps prevent infections . For acne and pimples, get a doctor-prescribed ointment and apply it regularly.
  
• Apply topical natural remedies: Some people swear by using a mixture of sandalwood and rose water for drying out and treating skin wounds. However, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence that this natural remedy works.

Infographic: Everything You Need To Know About Skin Picking

Picking your skin may seem like an innocuous habit, which may turn serious if ignored. It is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, similar to trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).

Check the infographic below to learn more about skin picking, why most people pick their skin, its prevalence in the general population, and how it impacts an individual’s mental and physical health. Keep scrolling!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is skin picking a part of anxiety?

No. Skin picking is not part of anxiety. However, anxiety may trigger a person to pick at their skin.

Is skin picking related to ADHD?

Yes. Studies indicate that people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may develop skin picking as a coexisting issue (1).

What should I do if I can’t stop picking my skin?

If you are struggling to stop skin picking, it’s a good idea to reach out to a mental health professional who understands behavioral disorders. They can guide you with personalized strategies and treatments to better manage this habit.

Is skin picking a form of OCD?

No. Skin picking is considered an impulse control disease while OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is considered an anxiety disorder.

Check out this video on overcoming the habit of skin-picking. Find valuable tips and tricks that can empower you to break the cycle and regain control over your skin.

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Sruthi Alla MBBS, DDVL

   

Dr. Sruthi Alla is a certified dermatologist, trichologist, and aesthetic physician with over 10 years of experience. After graduating from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, she went on to do her postgraduation from Rajah Muthiah Medical College.

Read full bio of Dr. Sruthi Alla

Ramona SinhaEditor

 

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

Read full bio of Ramona Sinha

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

Read full bio of Eshna Das

Shiboli ChakrabortiCommerce Editor

Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.

Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti