Skin picking is something that nobody talks about and it is more common than we actually think. It is a form of self-mutilation that affects a lot of people. Nobody talks about it because it is very personal and shameful to the people that do this. I know somebody very dear to me that suffers from this type of problem. She started in high school. She began picking at her back because she could easily hide it with shirts and sweaters. As blemishes spread and scars began to form, she focused on her back even more. She would peal away layers of skin in the hopes that it would make the healing process go faster. That mentality was of course wrong…but just made things worse. She would bleed often and have spots of blood soak through her shirt. She started doing everything to prevent herself from this type of mutilation. She put bandaids all over her back. She put alcohol and harsh chemicals on herself in attempt to somehow miraculously cure herself. My friend’s love life was affected, she was always hiding her back from any boyfriends and during any intimate contact. It became a full-time job to keep this part of her body hidden from the world. She would look at models and people with beautiful skin and feel so disabled about her own body. Eventually she began picking her face and then applying tons of makeup to cover the blemishes. At the peak of her problem, she had carved a large hole on her face in attempt to remove the ‘pimple pulp’ as she called it. The hole was ‘the size of Africa’ she said. It was really the size of a nickel, but shaped like a mini Africa. She was so embarrassed about it that she called into work for a week, so she could allow herself to heal. Since the blemish was on her face and she could not hide it as well as her back…she confided in me and was seriously in a lot of mental distress. I wish there was more I could do to help her. To me, skin picking is a lot like over-eating…but worse. Any advice…anyone know anyone like this?
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She may be suffering from anxiety or depression, or both. Perhaps you could encourage her to seek some professional help.
I think you are right. I wonder if it is because of her condition or if her condition caused it. Chicken or the egg?
I would tend to believe anxiety or depression or both contributed to her starting to pick. After all, I doubt anyone without anxiety or something would just begin picking at his or her skin for no apparent reason. Then, the picking probably helped add to or accelerate her condition.
I would consider it a compulsive behavior, but I wouldn't necessarily link it to depression. It's sounds more like a form of body dysmorphic disorder. But I'm not really qualified to say.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
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I tend to agree with it being a body dysmorphic disorder. She is a beautiful girl...but feels ugly all the time.
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