get rid of scars/spots? please help me

[kjbsfshdbf]

i'm a 15 year old girl and it is incredibly embarrassing not being able to wear shorts. I have these ugly brown spots/scars all down my legs. i don't know how to get rid of them or disguise them. Would a self-tanner help? Also, my arms are bad as well and I have some scabs on them from a recent "attack" on my skin.

I am so excited for summer and I have a ton of cute new clothes and I am sick of crying myself to sleep at night thinking of what I have done to my body. I am so excited to have found this. I just kept hearing from the dermatologist "just stop picking." My mom yells at me for it. I know I have a problem but no one seems to understand or be able to help. I hate being the only one in gym with pants on and a sweatshirt. I just don't know what to do.

Please help me.

[juleih]

i struggle in precisely the same way. i am looking for answers, too. i have found these things to help: straight aloe(especially when skin is newly damaged), vitamin e oil, gentle body scrub when skin is healed preceding vit. e application, self-tanner, moderate sun exposure, and limited amounts of ANYthing dehydrating(alcohol, sugar, saltly foods, etc.).

i am 27 and when i was 15 i never thought i would wear short sleeves again. i was wrong. now, my skin is far worse and i sometimes think if only i could have stopped then. scars DO fade, and it will surprise how much! but you have to stop. maybe you won't fully enjoy a summer for years to come, but make every effort to stop, now so that you can experience freedom.

i hope that is somewhat helpful. remember you are not alone, and people stop hurting themselves in this way(and other ways) every day. it is possible, so don't give up!

blessings, Jules

[Ken]

Fifteen year old girl - read my message of 4/25 titled Mental Exercise. And then e-mail me at [e-mail]. I really think I can help you. And no, it will not cost you one cent.

[MeMyselfandI]

Regular old sunshine tanning helps a little, I use Oil of Olay sunless tanning lotion. Love it!! I also have been picking since I was a teen. 15 years later, I am finally in therapy for OCD and an anxiety disorder(both a psychiatrist and psychologist). 3 weeks and I'm already feeling a whole lot better. The dermatologist told me to "just stop picking" over and over again and so did my mom, until she just gave up. Noone knew what I was going through not even my own mother. I couldn't stop!! It's hard, but I'm now 26 years old and I am getting the help that I have needed for soooo long now.

The only one that can help you is yourself, it's overwhelmingly sad, but get up the courage and tell your doctor or mom. I still have a looong way to go, but I'm headed on the right path. Maybe by next summer I won't have to wear long sleeves or long pants, it will be the first summer in almost 10 years. =) here is hoping!!!