Face & Skin picking support

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Jan 7, 2010, 10:04pm

Face & Skin picking support :: Other Stuff :: General Discussion :: Scalp Picking

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Topic: Scalp Picking (Read 35,668 times)

rock
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #300 on Jul 24, 2009, 3:21am »

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Initwithyou
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #301 on Aug 4, 2009, 2:26pm »

I am an eighth grader and have been picking at my scalp for about half a year. I found this board recently and was amazed that I wasn't a freak from some other planet and was the only one who had this problem. I also have a problem with picking at my scabs. I have done this for as long as I remember. I recently went to Italy and got eaten alive by mosquitoes. Once the scabs formed, I had a field day. I would pick until the layer of skin would come off, and then start all over again. I started my scalp picking around April. My school year was winding down and I would run my hands across my head. Thats when I found my first scab. It was on the right side of my head, about five centimeters in from the hairline. I would sit in class and put my hand to hold up my head, making it look like i was bored. I really just picked. It was so bad that sometimes I would have to ask to go to the bathroom to wash the blood off my fingers. I stopped picking at the left side of my head, and really just stopped picking all together. But then I found the scab on the left side of my head. It started out close to my hairline (like the other) but it moved further back to the center of the left side of my head. My mom started to notice me doing it. She yelled at me to stop to try to kind of embarrass me into stopping, but when she turned away I would start all over again. I see a therapist and psychologist for my OCD and separation anxiety and told her about my picking problem. She said that it was common with most OCD patients and gave it a name that I can't remember. She gave me some ways to help stop the picking. Here are some, they helped me to stop picking most of the time, but I still pick some. Mechanism 1: Wear something that acts as a barrier between you and the scab (mainly for scalp.). Mechanism 2: write down how many times you pick. I set a limit to myself of fourteen sessions (that's what I call the time that I pick, not the number of scratches I do,) and record all the times I pick. Once I see how many times I pick, I kind of shock myself into stopping, trying not to pick as much. Mechanism 3: Wear a rubber band around your wrist. Whenever you pick, gently snap the rubber band. Not to hard, just a light little snap. Kind of like a dog with an electric fence. You learn not to pick. Mechanism 4: Do something to keep your hands busy. I took up knitting and during, before, and after knitting I don't have the urge to pick. It really did help. I would also recommend a therapist. I know that after I see mine I feel a lot better. But therapy isn't for everyone, It really is a personal opinion. I hope that this helps. Keep trying.

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uiuyt
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #302 on Aug 13, 2009, 9:45pm »

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Chels
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #303 on Aug 24, 2009, 2:30am »

I have a HUGE problem with the scalp picking!! I've been doing it for years now and it's gotten worse. I'm 18 now and just graduated and I've been doing it since 7th? grade.It all started when I was in cheerleading and had hair glue in my hair to hold in the rhine stones... and it became a habit to pick off the glue every time.. and it went on from there. I am always picking at dead skin in my hair until my scalp bleeds and I find myself awaiting morning to see if a big hard scab has grown over the wounded area. I'm in therapy and have been for years, but I never really brought it up. I've mentioned it before (along with my other thousand OCD symptoms) and I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I am planning on talking to my therapist and psychiatrist more to see if this is truly apart of that and if there is a way to stop it. LADIES, I've found out on my own that wearing acrylic nails stops the picking for me! Because the nails aren't very sharp and it's hard to scrape or grab anything with them. So when I have my nails done I do still scratch at my head but no damage is ever done and the scratching/digging is much less severe. Just a little help there if you are or have been interested in getting your nails done!

Good luck to all of you! If I find out anymore info I'll be sure to post.

God Bless. ;D

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Julie702
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Re: face Picking
« Reply #304 on Aug 26, 2009, 6:28pm »

l dont have a scalp picking issue so much as a face picking issue but really anytime there is anything "crunchy" on my skin it gives me the eebs!!! I have to pick it off and make it smooth again. I pick any scab the crunchier/dryer it is the more i have to pick. I get a weird satisfaction from picking it but mostly I just like my skin to be crunch free even if it's bleeding. Thing is the scars take forever to go away!! Even now i'm fighting with two or three on my face that I'm TRYING to stop picking! it's like im masacaring my self! why do we do this?

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loulou
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #305 on Aug 26, 2009, 10:40pm »

Im so glad im not alone!

I have OCD and take medication which helps to manage my symptoms but doesnt always do enough. Ive picked my scalp before and managed to stop, but I started doing it again very recently...for one reason or another, I started getting dry flakey scalp, then just kept picking at it. Now I have large patches of dry flakey skin that is so rewarding for me to pick off. LIke others have said, I have to see what I pull off and the bigger the piece the more rewarded and accomplished I feel. It is so strange. I cut my nails down really short so that I would stop, but tonight I just used tweezers and it was really bad...I was able to pull off large flakes and see them in the mirror, and I was in a trance. My eyes would start hurting from the straining and when I looked at them in the mirror I realized they were really dialated. Which makes complete sense to me because I really do feel like picking is a drug for me and I was in such a crazy trance. Weird!

I think im going to have to gather up all the tweezers around the house and give them to my husband to hide, and only let me use them when I need to pluck my eyebrows. They could cause a big problem cause the only place I can see in the mirror is the area above my forehead which is the most noticable to others.

I think I really need to start talking to a therapist to learn some behavioral techniques to deal with my OCD and anxiety. Medication does help, but I shouldnt be using it alone because I need to learn how to cope.

Thanks everyone for posting your stories and good luck to all of you.

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AndreaS
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #306 on Aug 28, 2009, 1:36pm »

Im a scalp picker since 5th grade.. im 18 now, it really hard to deal with it. I cant go to a beauty salon cause im so ashamed of my scalp. I always think about quitting but then im catch myself picking my scab on my scalp. I do have anxiety problems and thats why i pick. I though i was the only girl who does this, i guess im not alone. Any tips on how to overcome this habbit and stop picking so i cant finally after 5 years go to a beauty salon.

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dcdodson
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #307 on Aug 28, 2009, 7:55pm »

I'm glad to know I am not the only one that is a skin picker, or any of the habits you guys are suffering with. I have suffered with this embarrassing little secret for so long. I have been a compulsive skin picker for 20 years. I have had many horrifying moments when people have pointed out the damage on my face and it has always been so humiliating. It is comforting to know that none of us are alone. For a long time I thought I was the only one. This secret of mine came crashing down earlier this week when I had a growth on the uvula in my throat. I went to an ear, nose & throat doctor and the first thing he said was that he sees I have some acne issues. I WAS MORTIFIED. This is why I don't like people to get close to me because they can see all too well what I have done (and trust me, I know I'm not hiding anything because my scars are really big and really deep). Amazingly this ENT also has a skin rejuvination center and a new procedure called Fraxel. I set up an appt for Tuesday. I also took a huge step after setting this appt...for the first time in 20 years I admitted my obsession to a friend of over 10 years. I have never told a family member, friend, or doctor of what I have been doing to myself for 20 years. I couldn't tell her directly (I tried many times over the years and had chickened out) so I sent her an email telling her all the details, all the lies I had told to everyone including her over the years, and asked her for her support. She took me out into the hall at work and hugged me so tight and told me that it was ok...that many people did this...and that she would always be there to support me.

I suggest to all those out there that have been hiding this secret for so long to tell somebody they trust. Most of the post I have read are from young people...I remember when I was that young and you will be surprised how long this habit will continue if you don't seek support. I feel like the world has been lifted off my shoulders just by telling that one person. If you don't feel that you can trust anyone, then tell me...I will be there to support you anyway that I can. I know how difficult this can be and understand how hard you are being on yourself for doing it...no matter what the type of compulsive, obsessive behaviour you may be dealing with.

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Mags
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #308 on Aug 29, 2009, 12:15pm »

Wow. Theoretically I knew that there must be other people out there who did this, but I really don't know anyone else who compulsively picks at their scalps. I guess because we generally don't talk about it to anyone, 'cause it's just so humiliating/disgusting.
I've been picking at my scalp since I was in my late teens, or thereabouts (I'm 30 now). I'm not sure whether it starts with normal dandruff, or whether it's something like sebhorroeic eczema, but I do know that it starts out as my scalp being extremely soft. As in, I can drag my fingernails gently over my scalp and come away with white skin gunk under my nails. I then end up scratching my scalp compulsively to scrape away all the white soft stuff, which then leaves the skin totally raw, which is when scabs form. So, then I compulsively pick the scabs until they bleed or weep - I can keep them going for quite a while, though I'm not sure I've ever had them for longer than a month or two. I also get compulsive about scratching enough to cause injury to my scalp that will scab (admittedly, there's something very relieving/relaxing about compulsive picking). The solution for me is to over wash my hair - the more dried out my scalp is, the better it seems to work. I generally wash my hair once a day - it's murder on my hair, but it keeps the scabs small and less pickable, allowing them to heal. Once the scabs heal, it's just a matter of keeping up the once-a-day shampoo routine to keep my scalp from becoming soft and scratchable. It seems to help me if I start out with an anti-fungal shampoo (like selsun blue) for a few days, and then just switch back to my normal shampoo after a couple of days. If I can prevent/minimize the weird scalp condition that starts the whole cycle, I can stop picking. I've stopped for months at a time - I suspect that it's a stress factor that causes the initial breakout to occur, and then stress that motivates the compulsive picking behaviour. So I try to keep my stress levels low, too. One of these days I'll get around to asking my doctor about it - I also pop pimples compulsively, but as my acne days are over, it's not such a problem for me. My guess is that many of us with scalp picking issues have a) stress-caused (or exacerbated) scalp conditions - psoriasis, eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis, etc., b) chronic stress issues/anxiety disorders to whatever degree, and c) a tendency to compulsive behaviours relating to the anxiety disorders (OCD or what have you). Clearly, at least for me, all three factors need to be addressed simultaneously to stop the scalp picking.

Giant hugs and support to everyone here - we can all cope with this - we just have to work on our feelings of shame and get the help that we need. If we can do it by ourselves, great. If we have to get outside help from a doctor/therapist/psychiatrist in order to stop, that's okay too. There is no shame in needing help - only in denying it to ourselves.

So that's my story. I'm off to wash my hair.

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tara
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #309 on Sept 6, 2009, 9:32am »

i still remember the day i started. there were 2 days left of third grade and i was reading a book under the strong light in the kitchen. absentmindedly i started to scratch the front of my scalp. i saw dandruff fall on the book and asked my dad what it was and he explained to me.then i would pick at my head all the time. in about sixth grade i started picking at the sores on my head.i didnt care how much it hurt i just wanted to pick at them. now im a freshmen in high school and its gotten worse. i woke up an hour ago and immediatly searched my scalp to see if any sores that i had picked last night had healed into scabs.then i was disgusted with myself that i was hopeful to find scabs on my self.now my scalp burns when i wash my hair and my hair gets dirty faster.i think it may be related to ocd. i have some minor ocd symptoms. like how i have to have my bedroom door shut when im inside it and the clost door always has to be closed when im not using it. i also obsses over the volume on my tv.i lower it to an even number and the raise it to an even number whenever i feel like i need to. do i ocd??help please!!!!

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Ga
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #310 on Nov 3, 2009, 11:41pm »

Hey there, I'm going through pretty much the exact same thing as you guys. When I bleached my hair a couple years back it burned my scalp a bit. When I was running my fingers through my hair I felt a small scab. I started to pick at it about once a day. As the days went on I couldn't help but to pick at it more. Then my scabs started spreading as I searched for new areas to pick. I was this way for awhile. During school, I would sit there dozing off in class picking my head and trying to pull the bloody scabs down my hair. Sometimes, they would get lost which would stress me out even more because I was embarrassed because of this situation. I didn't want anybody seeing the scab thinking I was dirty or I had a severely dry scalp. One day, a teacher was concerned because I had my hair clipped in a way you could see one of the scabs and she confronted me about it. It was the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me. She thought I was going through something extremely emotional and that was the way I dealt with it. After I dyed my hair back brown, the picking pretty much ended. My scalp healed and it was all good for about a year. This past summer I had only one scab that I would pick at. That ended up healing because I got Acrylic nails put on and I wasn't able to pick them off. At first, it bothered me a bit, but then I got over it. A couple months later, I took them off. That's when the picking got worse. About a hour before this I was sitting on my bathroom sink picking my scalp and looking through my hair. I noticed that I'm loosing hair in the areas and that the scabs are bigger and bleed more than they ever had. So I decided I'd do a little research on this topic to see if there was anybody who had the same problem as me. I'm surprised to see that many people do this as well. I'm looking for help, I don't want to continue this habit. I have a major fear of loosing clumps of hair. I've actually had a dream that I was picking a scab on the back of my head and along with it came a huge chunk of hair. This problem really needs to stop. I'm getting close to putting out the money to get nails put on again.. but I know that will only be a temporary solution for this. By the dates of these post I'm not sure that anybody really looks at this board anymore. But if you do want somebody to talk to about your situation just reply to this. I'll check up every once in a while

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addlady
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #311 on Nov 11, 2009, 3:10am »

I just started recently after beginning adderall for add do you think there is a connection?

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no name
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #312 on Nov 17, 2009, 9:23am »

This is really helpful information. thanks guys!

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TH
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #313 on Nov 26, 2009, 2:44pm »

I decided today to look up my skin picking problem to get some insight as to why I do this. All of your posts made me cry because I always felt so alone and it is an incredibly humiliating habit. I started when I was 9 and am now 41 and still do it. When I was a kid my mom used to yell at me and embarass me in front of my friends, hoping it would make me stop. If I have a scab, I will pick it. I try to limit the picking to my scalp so others will not notice. I do it so often that I have bald spots around the sores. If I need to get my hair cut, I go cold turkey and let them heal but it is incredibly difficult, especially when they start healing and begin to itch. Once my hair is cut, I start right up again. I did manage many years ago, to go several months without picking. I was diagnosed with a mild case of bi-polar disorder about a year ago and am on Lamictal and Prozac which has really helped my mood but not the picking. I am so sad that I do this. It is so humiliating. I want to stop so bad! My mother used to tell me when I was a kid that I would get cancer if I did not stop so that has always been a big concern because I am not sure if that can happen. She has brought it up several times over the years and ask me if I still do it. Of course I lie and when she mentions it, I have the most horrible feeling of shame. I only pick when I am alone, usually when I wake up in the morning and before getting out of bed. I notice that I do it more when I am really stressed. Please tell me what to do. I don't want to do this anymore.

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JuJu
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Re: Scalp Picking
« Reply #314 on Nov 30, 2009, 8:19pm »

i'm 35, and have been scalp picking for over 20 years in some form or another. yesterday i came to the realization that i need to stop...my sister told me about her husband's 12 yr old nephew that has started picking his eyebrows...and that just made me sad. i don't want my 2 kids to see me do this. i pick subsconsciously and at other times with such determination. i pick til i feel a piece of "tear off" and bleed. i have some form of rash that has developed on my hands as a result. i think it's ringworm.
it's been over a day now of no picking. i need all the help i can get.
oh, and i'm a nursing student studying OCDs right now. perfect time. the most effective way they say is cognitive behavioral therapy. i am wearing a rubber band on my wrist. i have a hat on. and i am trying to be super vigilant about where my hands are.
please keep me in your thoughts as i navigate trying to stop the first time in my life.
julie

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