don't use tools you'll get hooked!

[playinwitfire]

k I'm really beginning to freak myself out. Does anyone use tools to pick? I think I've progressed to the next stage or something caus I spent hours pushing needles into my skin to try and empty the pores..I was actually pushing needles into my pores and gettin some sort of twisted satisfaction out of feeling it pop...and there's like nothin there sometimes! aaaah.

Oh by the way for anyone like me who doesn't like waiting around, seeking immediate help check this out (for UK):


www.ocdcentre.com

There's a number you can phone on the homepage and they do free over the phone therapy!! I started this week and it's surprisingly good.

Lataz xxxxxxxjesxxxxxxxxxx

[metric]

i have always used instruments. last year when i was at my worst i would use scissors, bobby pins, toothbrushes, nails/srews ANYTHING i could possibly get my hands on. and trust me, when you use scissors one little slip can give you stitches...

i definitely did a lot of damage. now, i try my best to only use my hands (i get no satisfaction which means i give up faster)

definitely DO NOT get into this habit

[playinwitfire]

Jeez that does sound nasty. I've really gotta curb this habit! It's like a stronger addiction or somethin u get wen fingers just aren't enough.

I woke up with little red holes all over my face this morning. Not pretty!

[Froglet]

I agree,
if you don't already use tools for picking PLEASE please please don't try. Its a bloody nightmare. I too have tried everything wit a point. Needles scissors tweezers, even the point on my computer drawind pen! At one time i actually owned 10 different pairs of tweezers! But they weren't as bad as the dreaded metal nail file. With is pointed but blunt end, I could use it to great effect as far as picking goes. However, like scissors, push to hard and whoops! There goes my social life!
The worst one was the nail clippers. If I couldn't squeeze the monsters out, Id simply clip them out. It was like a little operation to 'clean' the wound. Left me with gaping holes. Its amazing how I don't seem to feel the pain while i do this.
Anyway, as I said before... if you dont already, dont start. Makes things a whole lot more difficult!

[Froglet]

Oh, and and I nearly forgot...
One time, when I still lived at home, I was deep into a picking session with my trusty needle. My mum called from the bottom of the stairs, startling me. I turned my head quickly scraping my eye with the point of the needle. It was ok, felt like I had a hair in my eye, and healed within a week. But it could have been so much worse all for the sake of my stupid picking. If you have to use needles, be careful!
Best wishes xx

[D Dutchy]

I have used everything I get my hands on to dig out my skin. I can still remeber the trance-like state I was in clipping and clipping and clipping on the skin on my forehead. There was a 'thing' in there. And it got sooooo infected :-( 2 Days later I gave birth to my second child and still I cannot watch the pictures taken at that time....

Right now I don't dig anymore. Once a weekI gently squeeze the blackheads out and my skin looks like a million dollars. Finally overcame this nasty habbit (obsession).

Love, Dutchy

[Supervixen]

Ok, the 'tools' I use are nothing more than innocent-sounding cotton buds. I think I started using them because I discovered they were more effective at getting the crap out than my fingers alone. Now I never use my fingers, just the bastard cotton buds. I wish wish wish I'd never started using them. I know they're not as dangerous as needles or metal objects but they can leave bad scars if pushed too hard. I have tried everything to stop using them, and each time I run out I swear to myself I won't buy them again. But the little buggers have me hooked. I suppose it could be worse (ie needles).

[metric]

are cottonbuds the UK's equivalent of q-tips?
if that's true, then yup, they can do a hell of a lot of damage

"hooked", get it?!

sorry that was so bad but i had to say it

[pookadot]

The tool i first starting using was tweezers to tear the loose bits of skin of around the wound because i couldn't do it with my hands and i have been using them for 3 years or so now so it's hard to come of them. I then starting using pins to dig the puss out that was hard to reach so i didn't keep using my nails and damaging the skin around it and make it bigger also this was suggested in a magazine which gave me the idea as well to use a sterolised needle now come to think of it the magazine shouldn't have wrote things like that. I also use scissors now to make the wound into a shape or something so i think it will heal up propaly it's realy weird i can't believe i have these kind of thoughts. I find it sometimes better using tools because i don't damage the skin as much as i do with pushing my nails in hard and trying to get every bit of puss out and i try and do it very gently and i can't belive i haven't had none infected yet or any scarred.But i would advise people not using them to not try and use them because it can make it worser. I picked to do as usal and i left my tools out and my mum has now took them away and i feel ok now because i don't need to pick but im just worried when i do i might need them.

[nosleep5]

I started using pins about a year ago. It's hard to stop using them. Yesterday I was up till 1:30 trying to get an ingrown hair out. Once it was out, it felt great , until I got up and had to go to work. My co-worker asked what happened, I just said my acne. When I got home I threw out all the pins and tweezers I had. Also covered up the mirror with a small poster. It'll work for today. We'll see about tomorrow. :-/

[Supervixen]

metric said:

are cottonbuds the UK's equivalent of q-tips?
if that's true, then yup, they can do a hell of a lot of damage

Yes, I believe they are q-tips. Ironically, yesterday my son tipped my whole new tub of cotton buds into the bath (therefore ruining them). So I have had nearly a whole pick-free day. I am going to try really hard not to buy anymore.

[playinwitfire]

My friend has taken my beloved tweezermans into custody and I do my eyebrows at her house! As far as the needles go, I've thrown those away..it's not like I need them, what are mums for?

I've never used cottonbuds...well it put the idea in my head so i yesterday I was like shite and threw those out as well.

a point about mirrors..see if you can stick to handhelds..true every girl needs a full length mirror but what I do with mine is I put sumat in front of it as like an obstruction can a bit of a faf tho..basically put it somewhere you can still see yourself but not close enough to stir the picker in you!

bai xxxxjessxxxx

[Froglet]

Mooo! My room in the flat I rent came fully equipped with has this big monster of a pickers delux mirror! Its like a meter by a meter and its attached to a vanity table, with lots of little drawers perfect for storring my torture tools! Hiding mirrors wouldn't really work for me though, I don't need a mirror to pick at my body. Maybe I need to hide my hands! ;D

[playinwitfire]

Woah you are gona need some extra supa dupa strength willpower gal!! Don't worry you'll get nuf of that from Team zt Uk ;D

Quick fill the draws up with clothes and happy face stuff..no tools k?

If you have a picking chart (soz I'm obsessed wit them) pin it up on the mirror.

Love n hugs 2 all xjessx

[gottagopick]

Wow! I never knew that so many others had this problem! I just had a really bad episode and out of frustration typed "skin picking" into my search engine. It's a great relief to know that I'm not the only one who, after digging a large hole around a small white dot in my face, will get out the nail clippers to finnish the job! I haven't read anything about using sandpaper or emery boards to smooth off the scabs before applying really thick foundation. I absolutely love peeling off scabs, but if I need to look presentable, I will just file them smooth.