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Post by Frustrated on Feb 26, 2004 19:20:59 GMT -5
this is for the people who pick at there arms and legs. I was just wondering what your scars look like that is if you have any. I don't know if my arms have scars on them or if it is more the bumps that are on them. They just seem kindof lumpy to me and in the middle of my arm I think that the poors are large and noticable. They sometimes appear purple too, but I am not sure it just might be the bumps. I just wanted to know if anyone else has problems like this and what there skin looks like after years of picking. I just hate to think that I did this to myself. It makes me so sick.
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Post by Frustrated on Feb 26, 2004 19:24:26 GMT -5
Also any suggestions on how I can fix the texture of the skin on my arms would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by markers on Feb 27, 2004 1:59:21 GMT -5
well, as a fellow arm picker, I can tell you how bad my scars are. on my left arm I have a whole bunch of tiny scabs and where old sores are healing. I got some glycolic acid lotion from the dermotogist, called glytone, and it helps make the scars fade if I use it for a while. I don't really use it though, because it was pretty expensive, and i don't want to use it if i continue to pick. the scars on my left arm are way worse than my right. you can't even tell that i have any scars on my right. i know, its a horrible reminder of our picking, but you gotta keep trying...i think the lotion would help you though. after u start to see ur skin improve, u'll find it harder to find something to pick. my picking on my arms has reduced a lot since i got the lotion.
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Post by bluegem on Mar 14, 2004 21:31:00 GMT -5
I pick at my arms something shocking, but at least it's not my face anymore. I always used to put ungvita (vitamin e ointment - heals wounds quicker) and bandaids over all of my sores. Now I get an allergic reaction to bandaids on my arms cos I used them too much, but even just using the ointment helps because it heals quicker and you have a conscious reminder of what you are doing because the ointment gets on your hands. Also ungvita moisturises your skin a bit, so you get less flaky dry bits to pick at.
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Post by raerae on Mar 15, 2004 7:45:34 GMT -5
my left upper arm is a really compulsive zone for me right now. one thing that has helped is a salt scrub i bought but its really expensive and fragranced so i thought id make my own. the fine salt exfoliates and soothes inflammation (ive always found swimming in the sea helps inflammation too!) and the oil allows the salt to rub on gently (without dissolving it) and moisturises the skin... my skin is sooo soft after using it, and the bumps i pick at in the first place are reduced, and so is skin flaking. a friend who has beautiful soft skin (im so jealous!!!) uses pure olive oil in her bath and SWEARS by it, so i figured id use cheap fine grain table salt in olive oil- a jar full of salt and enough oil to just saturate it thruout. i guess you could add essential oils if you liked... and maybe a dash of vitamin e oil now i come to think of it. id be glad to know if anyone finds this helpful. rae x ps go easy over sores/ healing sores... i made a couple bleed by being a bit careless yesterday  |
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Post by Stef (Incubabe) on Mar 16, 2004 17:08:27 GMT -5
My scars look like zillions of purple/redish spots. Some are white and raised, others are dulling. Meh.
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Post by garfieldlover on Mar 22, 2004 9:22:29 GMT -5
My main picking areas are front of lower legs.....arms, and then shoulders/back. My legs have been my biggest problem for 20 years. So, of course my older scars are mostly white and blend with my skin pretty good. You can find them if you look. Some of my newer scars are really red/purple/dark. I don't know what looks worse, the scars or new scabs/spots. I recently found this site and realize my problem is OCD related. I used to hide my problem and would hide to pick. I have found that talking to my husband and a co-worker about my problem has made me slow down on the picking. Letting others know of what I do has made me embarrassed enough to try harder to stop. So far, it seems to be working. I had 20+ pickable scabs on one leg, now I can say I am down to one. I am currently trying New Skin Scar Therapy to make the scars disappear.... Good Luck to everyone!
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Post by kazza on Mar 30, 2004 18:06:33 GMT -5
Myscars turn purple and pink and horrible but after 6 mths or so they start to fade but when it is cold they will stand out. Eventually after picking my hands to pieces for a long time to get the dry skin off I can say all the scarring has disappeared and no more purple marks. It probable took 12 months for the scars to disappear completely. My legs are on the mend now not too much to pick but the purple marks are stressing me which helps me a bit to stop picking. They do eventually disappear. I suggest using lots of moisturises day night whenever you can it helps with healing especially vit e and makes the skin too hard to pick if it is moisturised and not dry. Hope this helps.
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Post by tidesong on Apr 4, 2004 12:17:24 GMT -5
the ones i am currently picking areon my leg and are pink and purple and raised above the skin surface... some quite old ones(not picking anymore at those) are raised but softer and same colour as the skin. the oldest one i have is level but has a pale scar there...
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Post by Tiffany on Apr 6, 2004 21:33:46 GMT -5
Mine look almost like bruises all over my arms. They're flat and dark. In the summer, people always ask about them. I'm running out of lies.  |
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Post by Moonshadow on Apr 7, 2004 20:13:41 GMT -5
Hi! My scars aren't very visible. But what I used to apply, to avoid dry and itchy skin was a mixture that is prepared in drugstores containing talc and sodium bicarbonate. This compound is mostly used by chicken bumps, but it also results in pimples. To smoothen your skin you can also try almond oil or cocoa butter, it makes your skin really smooth, and so it's a way to decrease your picking urge! It resulted for me!
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Post by Red on Apr 9, 2004 12:26:19 GMT -5
I am 33. Have been picking at least since elementary school. I relate to all of this scarring discussion. I am curious if any one on this board is in their fourties or older.
I know this is about arms (the thread) and i have the purple healing scars like everyone else, but am wondering about pores. I've noticed that my face pores are getting larger as I age (NOT fun) and I have been amazingly lucky with scaring on the face. There are scars but not to a disfigurement stage. As I see my pores become larger and more pronounced I'm afraid that years of picking are going to start showing up, the way that you see people with pocked faces from cystic acne.
If anyone has any information on this it might help to ease my worries. Do the scars (resurface) as your skin loses it's elasticity (collagen?)
Thanks!!!!
btw, i pick pretty much anywhere that has a bump (so legs, back, arms, neck) it is all fair game. Having eczema and oily skin mixed helps none of this!!!
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Post by Weirdo13 on Apr 12, 2004 11:08:07 GMT -5
Hey Red, I don't know too much about skin and aging as I am only 20. But I know there are pore minimizing lotions by Neutrogena and such. Maybe you could try that.
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Post by Red on Apr 12, 2004 15:46:28 GMT -5
think i'm gonna have to post a thread entitled "delayed scarring". I'm REALLY interested in that.
i'm looking into the pore minimizer stuff. thanks for the suggestion. I hear that Clinique's is effective.
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Post by araxia on Apr 12, 2004 23:19:49 GMT -5
Hey everyone ~ I'm new to this board, but not knew to understanding the power of our lovely little dermatillomania!! I'm also a rcovering alcoholic and drug addict (sober for a few years now - YEA!), and a life long picker. I remember doing it consistantly by the time I was 3. Anyway, I've developed raised scars the last few years, called hypertrophic scars, often mistakenly called Keloids. I never had this problem until 4 or 5 years ago, and now, especially on my chest or back, a scar will develop from even just the presence of acne, let alone if I try to extract anything from it. I've had steriod injections into some of the larger scars, which has caused them to 'deflate' if you will, but I can't stop picking.
I've gone through cycles over the years, and I've worked my ASS off in therapy, and tried a load of meds before being correctly diagnosed w/depression and ADHD (something i didn't give much credit too until I tried adderall and was finally able to finish things I'd start!) Anyway, I scar DARK!! I am caucasian, but scar VERY dark, having an olive undertone. To further complicate matters, I relocated to Arizona 3 years ago, and it's not easy to get away with long sleeves and pants in 115 degree weather. I am miserable most of the summer.
I am constantly late from trying to cover up scabs, or scars, especially on my arms. Getting dressed & finding something that will cover my problem areas of the day has been awful. I haven't worn shorts out in public since 1998, and I'm an in-shape, 30 year old woman. I actually finally like the size and shape of my body after years of not being comfortable with it, but I can't even put on shorts for the horror of my spots.
I feel like an Appaloosa, or a Dalmation. And I look like one. People ask me what's happened when they see my arms, even in line at the grocery store. They don't mean to be cruel, but they just don't understand how could I have gotten all of those things. I'd say 'misquito bites' or something, but I know that my scabs on my face would deceive me.
And there are literally hundreds of little spots.
They used to fade after a few years, but now, with the development of the hypertropic scarring, it's become even worse. I can't seem to stop, I've applied my 12 step background to picking, and it sometimes works for a short time, but I even do it in my sleep.
I've woken myself up from the pain of ripping off a scab on many many nights! I feel pretty hopeless about it at times.
Cocaine was easier to kick than this...kid you not!!!!
I've got cystic adult acne as well, and I'm thinking of going on accutane to at least help from getting this deep and scarring formations in addition to my own picking of ingrown hairs and whiteheads. I am worried that I'll be told I can't because the cysts aren't numerous enough or something, but it's worth a try. I know that I still have to find a way to at least handle the picking, if I can't stop it all together.
Picking used to actually help me in that my extreme fears of rejection were catered to by the excuse that I had picked up my body/face so badly I couldn't go to this party, or out on that date....
Now that I've done so much work on myself (& yes, there will always be more), I really would like to start dating, get more active in outdoor group activities, etc.
But I have been, thus far, unsuccessful in my efforts of stopping. Efforts that have gone on since I can remember.
Okay, I'm done with my rambles;-)
OH, interestingly enough, I became a sculptor, and my hands and their sensitivity to form, smoothness and shape are actually an asset there! Unfortunately, when I finish working for the day, I can't turn off the touch factor, and I go from stone, to skin.
One is obviously a little less resilient!
I'm really glad people on this board seem to be so open, helpful and yet without any apparent pretentiousness! Thank you guys for being here -
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