What's the best way to stop picking at your skin?
20 Answers
Moderated by Maria Wasielewski, Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance, University of Arizona
Updated: Nov 16, 2021
Anonymous
on
Mar 2, 2015
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It's all by strong will. Whenever you notice yourself doing it (and try hard, because it's often unconscious) quickly get your hand away. The trick is merely making a habit of catching yourself as much a possible and stopping. Nothing much to it.
blackKitty40
on
Mar 4, 2015
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Keep your skin moisturized daily. You can take a vitamin E oil bath and massage the oils or moisturizers daily. This helps create natural circulation and natural blood flow through the body.
wonderfullWillow66
on
Jun 17, 2015
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Do something else with your hands. Sit on them. Keep a penny or other small item in your pocket so that you can get into the habit of fiddling with it when your hands are idle, rather than picking.
naturelovesyou
on
Dec 1, 2015
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Find fun activity that can help distract yourself from it. Find something that might help you soothe your skin.
Vamaranth
on
Dec 10, 2015
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I haven't found an answer to this, but know you're not alone! I have really terrible cystic acne and the picking is an actual disorder called Excoriation Disorder or SPD. It ranges in severity, I personally pick my skin and lips, and when I was a baby used to peel the paint off my walls.
I think getting your skin cleared up is a wonderful way of reducing the picking. I find I do the picking the most when I am alone, anxiety ridden or deep in thought (then I don't even realize I am doing it.)
If you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to reply and message me. I know how embarrassing it can be to talk to someone who doesn't understand that you just can't stop.
ciaraorourke333
on
Feb 1, 2016
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Keeping you hands busy doing something else. Maybe using a stress ball or a hair bobin or a Rubix cube to keep your hands busy...even wear a pair of socks on your hands
Anonymous
on
Apr 19, 2015
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Just don't think about it. If you ever think about it, do something else to change your mind. Anything...
wonderfulHeart72
on
Jan 18, 2016
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Picking at skin can be linked to an OCD behaviour. Find a distraction to not picking, a reward system works. No picking today, your deserve a hot bubble bath. Thing about your feelings, is stress related to your picking? Do you feel stress or anxiety which leads to picking? I can refer you to some professional health practitioner if you feel, this behaviour is not mentally controllable. Try to keep your hands busy, when the urge comes on, try making a journal of thoughts whetn the urge comes to picking.
blissfulPicture49
on
Mar 1, 2016
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Identify the triggers, limit them! also occupying yourself helps a lot. So buying a stress ball will occupy the hands
Anonymous
on
Mar 5, 2016
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It can help to find a displacement activity you can carry out with your hands instead of picking - for example if you knit, doodle, complete puzzles or find some other mindless activity you can occupy your hands with without needing to think about it much while doing other things. Also moisturising dry skin or scabs or covering cuts with a plaster can help to reduce the temptation to pick by smoothing out irregularities that may be bothering you and making you tempted to pick at them.
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