Anyone pick at their breat/nipples?

[Zoner]

I know this sounds gross, but I even pick at the little bumps on my nipples. Please tell me I'm not weird with this one!!

[FarmGirl]

Hi again Zoner.

I guess I am as weird as you too because I do it too. Skin "bumps" fascinate me and I'm always there to squeeze em to see what comes out. For me it's not the actual nipple, but the bumps on the areolas where the fine hairs grow out of. I squeeze them and solid sebum comes out, just like with a zit. Why do I do it? Sheer fascination really.

I've always wanted to be one of those people...what do they call em? Aestheticians maybe? You know, people who pop zits or drain cysts for a living. Gross to some but totally fascinating to me. I remember working in an office once where this patient came in with a HUGE cyst on his cheek--I mean golfball size. What I wouldn't have given to be able to go into that room and watch that puppy get lanced. Apparently it yielded like 1/4 cup of goo. The nurse who had to assist was totally grossed out but I was like, "Cool!"

Now THAT'S messed up ;D

[scarface]

I think one of the things about this that makes me feel weirdest and most shameful is that fascination with the stuff that comes out of pores. It's hard to talk about even with my doc/therapist who both know I pick. FarmGirl, I understand and relate to what you're talking about.

Zoner, no, you're not weird! I don't regularly pick there, but I have done. Bumps is bumps, and they're a picking target.

[anon12345]

Believe it or not, my breasts and nipples are the primary location that I pick! I pick my upper arms, back, and face too, but it's mostly my breasts and nipples. So I was like whoaaaa, when I read your post, because I was convinced that I was the only one in the world who did this. To some extent, I think picking of breasts and nipples is accompanied by even more guilt and shame than most other areas, since a. it's a sexual part of the body, and b. it's very bizarre to have relatively clear skin on my face and scabs and discolorations all over my breasts. But it's actually gotten much better since I started college this year, since I have roommates and hardly ever find myself alone to spend time picking there. So um, yeah, that's my story.

[touchingpeace]

My breasts and upper arms are also the primary places I pick and it has always been that way. It really makes a lot of sense ( not that it is acceptable). These are the two places on my body I found the easiest to hide. It also kept me out of intimate relationships-which is what I wanted in a way. It was sort of a safety mechanism because I felt too gross to reveal my breats to anyone. Over time I have realized that this is a way I deny my femininity to myself, and avoid sharing my sexual and sensual power with anyone. I wonder how many feel that they are numbing themselves from the outside in, I know I have set it up so that I feel no pain. I still pick, though it is much less than it used to be, but I still have little feeling in my breasts.

I know that some of this comes from being sexually violated. Instead of cultivating my great power as a woman I retreated, I thought I was protecting myself.

There is usually much more underlying the motivation to pick than we realize. Particularly with women who pick at their breasts.

For me it was the best way to hide in a world where I felt unsafe and violated. We must try moving away from the shame around this. We all always do the best we can with the resources we have in a given situation.

Thanks for speaking up and for listening.

-Jules

p.s. I don't think living in this culture helps us out here one bit, but actually perpetuates the cycle.

[pickles]

Hi Zoner,
Don't feel weird about picking at your breasts. I do it too. I pick at my face, arms/shoulders, back, and my breasts. I think that there are a lot more people out there who pick at their breasts than are willing to admit to it.
FarmGirl- I know exactly what you mean when you say your fascinated by what comes out of the pores! I'm just like that too!
Touchingpeace- I also know what you mean about staying away from intimate relationships b/c you pick your breasts. I know you said you had another reason for that, but I totally understand wanting to hide that part of your body. I'm engaged and I still haven't let my fiance see that area of my body.

Anyways, I totally understand all of you guys! It's so nice to know that we're not alone! Take Care!

pickles

[totalchaos]

Hi Zoner,

You are definitely not alone - count me in, too, for being a chronic nipple/breast picker. Even though I have been fairly successful in stopping my picking on my face and arms, it seems like these are such an easy target - they're right there, no mirror necessary, and nobody will see (not even my husband) the damage I've done.

A few weeks ago, I kept going at this one area that I thought something would come out of. It finally did - and so much so, that I actually kept thinking about it - replaying the experience in my head- over and over again. (It wasn't a normal pick, this was something really deep down, not like a regular pore.) Eeewww, I know this sounds gross.

It was such a relief to find these boards and know that I'm not alone here - so I know EXACTLY how you feel. Reading these posts, I got tears in my eyes - since I can relate to EVERYTHING that is said here. You are definitely not alone here.

[theta]

hello Zoner,
my girlfriend picks at the little bumps around her nipples sometimes , and she's not even a compulsive picker- she just enjoys squeezing pimples.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you never know, some behaviours may be more common than you would expect, it's just the way people tend to think in our society that makes you feel that there's something worse about picking at your breasts than say your arms or legs.
I hope this makes sense to you,
Eva

[Zoner]

Thanks everyone for the support! You all really made me feel less ashamed. And you're right- what's the difference between doing it on my legs or face or breast?
A few of you have said that you love to see what comes out. You're exactly right. Sometimes I get so excited when I have a good one. If It's good enough, I also will find myself thinking about it over and over again.... Hey- a gross story that I know you will all love.
A friend of mine had a blackhead in her ear. I told her she had to let me get it and she did. At first it was like a normal black head, but it continued to pop out the thick white stuff. I told her I had no idea where all of it could be coming from! It balled and balled up in her ear until it exploded- Actually making me jump back. We were both saying Holy shit- where did it go!! then we looked down and could actually see a big ball, I'd say literally about the size of a large pea (and I had already removed some of the white stuff before it popped- so you know this was a biggy!), on the bathroom carpet. I've never forgotten that! Impressive! We still talk about it!
I think the compulsive picking is always in search of that great big popper! I actually get disappointed when I have one I think will be great and it turns out to be a dud!
So how many of you now are running to the mirror, or feeling your back etc....??

[new today cindi]

hey, i pick my face, breasts, arms, thighs, legs, butt; everywhere. i never really realized it until now, but there isn't much i don't pick. i started picking my breasts shortly after i began nursing my first baby. before that, i never realized there was anything there to pick!!! i wasn't too aware of my breasts until i had to look at them over and over during feeds! the bumps are called 'montgomery's glands', just so you know, probably after the first doctor who recognized them. and i applaud you all for being brave enough to talk about it, so that i can too. this really is a problem for which i wish there were a magic cure. i don't know what else to say. i have felt kind of stupid about having this disorder, until now. i UNDERSTAND ALL OF YOU!

also, a funny story: i used to work in a clinic and we removed a cyst out of a man's back the size of a very large peach pit, and as the doctor was analyzing it, it slipped out of his fingers and bounced across the floor, making a desperate escape! i had to chase after it! it was all i and the other clinical student could do not to laugh and the patient never knew what happened, as he was lying on his stomach. we later joked that it was his 'mini-me' and that it said as it fell, "doh!" like homer simpson would. oh that made us laugh so!!!!!!!! ;D

[pickerdebra]

I pick at the center of my breasts until they bleed a bit. I just love to see this stuff come out. It is whitish-yellow, and thick. If I look closely at it, it looks like mini popcorn kernels. I too am fascinated with the stuff that comes out of pores all over my body, and others. I just love to pick zits. I noticed the yellowish white stuff after I stopped breast feeding. I thought it was dried up milk. I believe it is sebum, just like in regular zits. Don't feel ashamed fellow pickers. It's great to know i am not alone.