Support--and some remedies

[Chaumiere]

Hi everyone --
I just wanted to add to this board and say that I truly understand the sorts of feelings you are experiencing. I am still quite young, but surprisingly I have had this strange compulsion for a rather long time. I am getting better, but I acknowledge that I can never truly be free of my own personality.
Personally, I have found that timing myself while I am in the bathroom has been helpful--this is where I do the most damage (since it is private and, of course, since there is a big mirror). I give myself a time limit, only allowing myself to do what needs to be done. I also want to remind everyone who is reading this that we need to be content with not being perfect. A lot of this has to do with a sense of perfectionism that is out of control. This compulsion will not make you flawless; your face does not need purging, and neither do you.
That said, if I have a particularly bumpy patch or a sudden outbreak of acne, I have found that using a mild salt scrub (which can be made using ordinary kitchen salt) diminishes the problem rather well. For spots, lemon juice does indeed lighten, as many others have claimed. If you have a recurring acne problem in a particular place, generic benzoyl peroxide cream is usually the most effective thing (just be sure to pay attention to the cream's strength--drugstores are now making generic 10% strength cream, which is quite high and therefore quite drying). Take care, and I will probably be back with more tips.

[Chaumiere]

I am back indeed, mostly to update. My progress has been positive; I have not damaged my skin for almost a week now. Everything is still healing. I get discouraged sometimes since my skin is still blotchy, despite my recent success in restraint. I remind myself, of course, that with time my skin will be more even; it is still recovering.
I find that using a gentle facial scrub periodically helps the healing process. A friend of mine recommended a simple sugar scrub (ordinary granulated sugar should suffice). It is relatively gentle and dissolves with water. My skin was much softer afterwards. Any recurring acne (which is much less than I thought it would be; it seems that most of my "acne" was self-induced) heals much more quickly with the use of a little tea tree oil. Its popularity is justified; it works quite well. For anyone reading this who is having a lot of trouble with existing damage or wounds, I recommend taking a full dose of aspirin first and foremost; reducing the swelling and redness will minimize the tempation to pick more.
This condition is a type of anxiety disorder, which leads me to believe that it could be genetically linked. So, it isn't your fault and it is understandably very hard to fight the compulsion. Your self-esteem is closely linked to it, however, which is entirely individual. While the tendency may be pre-existing, it is nevertheless a form of self-abuse, I think. That said, just remember, it will heal. It may take time, but it will heal.

[Chicago1]

I'm basically in the same place you are. (Yay for us!) I've reduced my picking by 99.9% in the last few weeks and still going strong.

I, too, am in the healing stage. The redness, inflammation, and bumps are decreasing. It leads me to believe that my acne is mostly self-induced, also. It seems to practically disappear when I don't touch it, which is weird because I've hardly been without acne since I was in 5th grade. I didn't know it was physically possible not to have a breakout every day!!!

I'll take your word on the tea tree oil. Yes, I've heard the hype, and it's good to know that it's warranted. I must admit, though, being someone who's overly concerned with their skin, the idea of putting oil on my face is like... an arachnaphobe rubbing a tarantula on themself. Does not compute, but I'll try it anyway. I'm anxious to move the healing process along, especiallybefore my next relapse!!

[Chaumiere]

It's hard, but it really is a cycle that needs to be broken. I'm glad that you've found some encouragement from this support board! It gets easier and easier, I think.
About the tea tree oil--it won't feel oily at all. In fact, it's pretty astringent and drying; you will not have an greasy feeling.

[zqs9te5]

you can only use the tea tree oil local on a pimple or wond because if you put it on your whole face, it will shine. But you can also buy i tea tree moisturiser.