Scalp Picking

[kaydede]

Hi there. I am so happy to have found this website. I was begining to think i would never find anyone with problems like me. I have been picking since i was a little girl. It started with my face. I would pick till there were scars. Luckely i hardly ever break out so face picking isn't my main problem. I used to break out with white heads on my arms and would keep picking no matter what. I still have scars to this day on my arms. People used to ask me "whats wrong with your arms" But now the scar there are faded. My scaple problem started about 6 years ago. I remember i got a pimple on my head and just kept picking and picking. Eventually i just scratched at any imperferction on my scalp and now i can't stop. The longest ive had one scab in the same spot was about a year. Right now i have 3 scabs on my head. Sometimes they hurt so bad i want to cry. There is nothing i can do to stop. The longest i went with out pick was a week but that quikley ended when i got stressed out. Its so gross. When ever i get my hair done i say i bumped my head. I think i pick at my scalp because that way in my subconsious mind not one will see them. I have also found that this scalp picking stops me from cutting on myself. Im happy that i haven't cut on myself for 6 months now. Its hard though knowing that i really have on moved most of the problem on my scalp.

Than you for listening to my ramblings.
Some times i think im never gonna heal

[De]

I have been a scalp picker for a very long time and am also in Michigan. Just keep working at it limit stress any way you can and you will make progress.

[Nathalie]

I have exactly the same problem.. I found this board a long time ago, and I was improving so much until a while ago. I've been picking since I was very little(maybe around 6 or 7?) on my legs and arms. This girl in band just asked me on Friday what happened to my arms because it looks like they were burned. The scabs are healed, but the pockmarks are still there. I've also started on my scalp a few moths ago. I feel that nobody can see the scabs if I pick there, but I was planning to get my hair done and I don't know how to stop so I can do things like that that other people would find very trivial..

[Beefree]

Hello,

I scalp pick too. I started picking my scalp ten years ago. I really really want to stop. It is so compulsive. I am here so that I can find support and get some ideas to quit.

[Aimee]

I totally agree with everything you said. I have been scalp picking since I was in 4th grade and now I'm 31 !!!! Sad isn't it? I feel like a loser. It's such a compulsion. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is feel my scalp for scabs to pick. I even do it in my sleep. AHHHHHHH! I can't believe I'm even sayng these crazy things. I never knew that anyone else had this problem. I used to feel good when I only had one scab, I even felt proud of myself for not having more. My mom used to cut my hair when I was a kid and she used holler at me for the scars and scabs. Maybe she should have gotten help for me. I used to pick my back and face too, but now I don't. My compulsion is my head. My scalp hurts so bad at times and my hair falls out and it makes me very sad. I am to embarrassed to get help.
What now???
Picking in Philly!

[Hannah]

Wow. I am so glad to find people who do this. I am a major scalp-picker. I've been doing it for about 7 years, and it's so hard to stop! I'm up for hours at night picking scabs on my head. I pick at school, at the dinner table, everywhere. Often I don't notice I'm doing it. It's really gross. I'm embarassed to let anybody near my head because it is all scabby and bloody and gross. And it hurts like hell to wash my hair.

Thank God I'm not the only one. Anyone know how to control it? I'm really getting desperate.

[Canadian picker]

I've been picking for about 7 years. I know we all have the same problem with picking our scalps but what can we do about it? I'm too embarassed to even ask my Doctor. My husband gets so frustrated with me because I pick my scalp everywhere I go. I have made an honest effort to stop and I can't! I can't stop picking for even 5 minutes. I have stopped going to the hairdresser completely because the last time I went they were grossed out by my scalp! I need help really bad! Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Katielax21]

I'm 17 years old and I've been picking for about 5 years now. Mainly on my scalp but if I get a little bump on my arm or back I just destroy it until people started asking what happened. The sad thing is... reading all these replys, I found myself picking and just thought to myself how sad that is that I can't even stop when I'm reading about how people want to stop! My parents are constantly telling me "stop picking! stop picking!" and it never really bothered me before because I figured that if nobody could see them and if I liked doing it... it wasn't a problem for me. Recently though I've noticed that where I'm starting to scar permanently... Im losing hair in little patches. I have really, really thick hair and the idea of balding anywhere on my head has NEVER crossed my mind and now I'm getting somewhat self conscious about it. Sometimes I can't wear my hair in a certain way because u can see a small scar on my head. Maybe other people dont notice it but I definitely do. I feel like when I'm picking, I can't stop and I'm constantly thinking about how I'm going to regret it when I'm done picking. I'll either bleed, or sometimes lose the little scab in my hair and one of my friends will be like ew there's something in your hair!! At times I'll only have one scab or sometimes none and I feel like I HAVE to find that other one... and by doing that I subconsciously make one One time in 7th grade I think, I went to Key West and me and my sisters all got our hair cornrowed in tiny little braids and they were to stay in for about 2 weeks. Of course while they were in, I was going insane because I couldn't "scan" for scabs and I ended up taking the braids out early and just went at the scabs hiding underneath. (I guess getting your hair cornrowed would be a good solution if u promise you wont take them out haha). I feel kinda "zoned out" when I'm picking... I'll stare off somewhere and daydream... like it's some kind of relief from stress. So I finally went to the doctor about it. I told him everything I've just typed about how I sometimes dont know when I'm doing it or I'll find myself picking in the middle of my basketball game! He told me that I had a compulsion disorder and he wants to put me on anti-anxiety drugs (not sure which?) ... I have a sinus infection now so he doesn't want me mixing medicines... after I'm done with that medicine hes going to put me on these anti-anxiety pills. He also gave me a prescription shampoo that he wanted me to try but honestly... its not my skin that's the problem, its the bad habit. He thought I should try it just in case the problem WAS my scalp. It's this weird red shampoo that barely lathers that I'm supposed to use every 3 days and use my regular shampoo in between.
It's a relief to see that other people have the same problem. I thought for sure I was a total wacko... and maybe I am but at least I'm not alone ;-)
I appreciate all the personal experiences and I'll make sure to write back when I try the anti-anxiety pills!
email anytime... [e-mail]

[Kizzatee]

well i just started picking my scalp recently .. and I'm only in high school! i get very self conscious when I'm doing my hair at a friends house. sometimes it is like they can see the scabs and don't say anything! first my head started to itch then i found white scabs (or like mounds) then they turned red from picking them and now i have scabs. sometimes sub consciously in class i will start and theres alway this girl who is watching i don't know how to react. THE WORST is when you lose it in your hair and someone notices (once your start finish it up) i recently researched it on-line and i found out i might have eczema or ringworm! psoriasis is also another thing i could have! the type of eczema is seborrhoeic. my mom and dad are doctors so of course when i was finally brave enough they only gave me my dad's shampoo (tgel) which smells manly and gross. (you would think doctors would be rele easy to diagnose you but they think you are a "dramatic hypochondriac" (sp?) (id advise never to marry a doctor either because there neve home. So finally today i had a breakthrough.. i told my mom of how the problem was getting worse and when i brushed my hair i would bleed. i have an appointment for the dermatologist next week. i suggest going to one. Stress or no stress ask yourself how did it start. Did my scalp scab then i picked? or did i pick to make the scar? chances are you didn't pick out of the blue someday.... also try wearing gloves when you sleep, it Will keep the temptation away while you sleep. another idea is if you can find the scabs put neosporin on then 3 hours before you shower, take a shower and then apply a small amount, (so your hair isn't too greasy), some websites recommend hydrogen peroxide rinses on your hair DON'T they will bleach your hair (and not a pretty way, orange!)

SO good luck with this endeavor, i hope you will end this annoying habit

email me for more tips, questions, and motivation

[e-mail]

Sincerely,

Kate

[Katielax21]

thanks for the advice kate!
when I started picking I think it was because I found a little bump on my head... (I have really oily hair) but the problem now-a-days is me creating the scabs... I feel like I have to have at least one to pick at. if the dermatologist thing doesn't work out u should consider thinking about whether or not is psychological. My doctor seems to think that for me its stress related and for some reason I get relief from picking so he wants to try medication. Good luck with the dermatologist and let me know how it went!
-katie

[OUCollegeChic85]

WOW, I cant believe I just found a site on this...I have picked at my acne on my face for the past 8 years and Im 20 years old...I love when I have no acne cause that way I dont have to worry y my face is bleeding...But my face usually doesnt stay clear very long...I also have to spots on the right side of my head that I always pick at...I HATE ITTTTT, but then sometimes I love it...Its weird...I can go sometimes like a day causeI feel like if I pick them they will go away. When I pick they bleed and scabs come up and hair comes out...GROSS...When i get my hair cut I pray they dont see it, I know they have to...When I was younger I told my friend that I was sitting up against the teachers desk and a stapler fell on my head, lol...But no I really wish I could stop...I try to cut my nails always really short...but then i just use eyebrow tweezers to pick...or i try to do something else...like smoking which i thin thats y I kinda started but usualy that doesnt work I still pick while im smoking...I had them for a while the first time and it finally went away...But they came back and Ive had them for over a year now...I honestly dont even know how they got there...I never picked at my head until the scab got there at least i dont remember doing that...SOMEONE HELP!!!!

[Katielax21]

I know exactly what you're talking about! Dealing with the face... I used to have some acne around my face that I would just destroy so my solution was obviously to get rid of the acne... (easier said than done right?) have you tried Proactiv?? I had tried everything under the sun (prescription drugs, medicated lotion to keep in the fridge, every face scrub out there) Proactiv really worked for me for my face issue I highly suggest it... its worth the money. As for the scalp goes... I'm having the same problem as you are! good luck!!
-katie

[kizzate]

[glow=blue,2,300]so i just got back from the dermatologist and wow! i was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis and he gave me some foam to put on my scabs whenever they itch. Sadly he gave me a shot of cortizone (Sp?) which hurt badly. worst of all the nurse refused to give it to me in my arm so in my butt was the only option . The shot was huge (the neddle i mean) and it was a thick medicine so it stung for 10 minutes.(i cried ) but im a baby when it comes to shots. He also provided some shampoo to use. dhl is the shapoos name andd you can buy it at the store. tgel also works but dhl smells better (tgel smells awfu :-Xl) and dhl works better. I completely recommend going to your dermatologist. also he notifyed me that this is very common and to never be embarres infront of your doctor. [/glow]

good luck and feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[glow=red,2,300]<3[/glow] kate

[Katielax21]

well thats awesome you found the solution!! I'm sorry about the whole situation tho... doesn't seem to pleasant can u tell me what it is exactly seborrheic dermatitis is??

[kizzate]

ok actually the name of the shampoo is DHS