damage control?

[pixelmonkey]

hi there~

i'm new here, just found the board through a web search. i'm 27, been dealing with CSP since i was a teenager. glad to find you all as i've had very little in the way of support. my husband and family, while they know about the problem and are as sympathetic as they can be, really aren't sure how to help.

i wanted to see what you all could recommend in the way of damage control, after a long session (particularly on the face). i usually try for the zero tolerance policy like you discuss here, but slipups happen.

so what do you all do to soothe & heal your face after a really bad incident? my usual method is to either re-wash my face with an antibacterial soap, or just disinfect with peroxide. but i know this is really harsh on my skin & want to see what other people have tried.

thanks all & glad to be here.

[Lucy]

That's what I usually do. Also I put neosporin or vasiline on to take down the redness and help healing.
xxxooo
Lucy

[sagacious too lazy to log in]

Forget the peroxide it will burn the top layer of skin off, creating more damage and takes forever to heal. I wash with Nuetragena face wash and use vaseline on the spots.

[sagacious again]

Oh I forgot, welcome,,,,,, this site will give lots of good ideas!

[pixelmonkey]

sagacious, which neutrogena do you use? i've been using the new "triple clean" stuff, and it's great except that it seems to run out too quickly.

also, doesn't the vaseline/neosporin clog pores?

[Secret]

Hi! I'm new here too. These people are great, we try hard to support eachother. I've been on the board for about a week now. I recently had a relapse. I'm really depressed about it, but I know it's just a sign that I need a stronger program. I'm now working a program in a book used to assist with OCD. So far so good. When I hurt myself the other day I took a salt water bath and afterward, put a cool rag on my face. I didn't put anything on my skin, I'll probably heal in a couple weeks.

[pixelmonkey]

ooo, salt water bath sounds like a good idea. i used to use epsom salts a lot; i bet that would be soothing when i do a number on my back/shoulders.

thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. it is *such* a relief to be able to discuss this with someone! i feel so motivated right now! i'm planning on getting acrylic nails this weekend, to see if that helps, and am going to start back on inositol as well.

[Secret]

I just started taking powdered inositol, and I meant to put up a post about it, but never got around to it. Does it help with csp?

[pixelmonkey]

i was taking it last year and it is the ONLY thing, in six years of attempting to treat this, that has worked for me. it's easy to take, tastes good, and is just a safe water-soluble vitamin with very few ill side effects (i just got a little bloaty).

the big thing that stopped me taking it, though, was the enormous quantities required. i would take it for a few weeks, build up to my goal level, and then run out & get too busy or too broke to order more. this time around i'm going to find the most potent/concentrated stuff i can & order it in mass quantities.

[Carree]

Pixelmonkey-

I got fake nails on a little over a month ago. I pick all over, I pick my legs, back, hands and face. I find sometimes it just makes me try harder to pick that one spot that is bothering me, making a mess out of it. They have worked before and I guess they have somewhat helped this time but I do more damage when I do pick.

Carree

[FarmGirl]

Welcome Pixelmonkey!

I'm fairly new myself and I try to say hello to everyone but I've been terribly busy for the past week. I'm a recovering face picker myself and I just wanted to throw in what has worked for me.

Nite-lite in the bathroom just about instantly solved my picking problem. Who knew?!

I wash my face with just a generic antibiotic soap in a handy pump dispenser. It sudses a lot and it doesn't sting at all. I had to learn to PAT my skin dry, as I was rubbing it raw to remove dead skin/scabs. Then I apply a few drops of a GREAT moisturizer I found in--of all places--the baby section! It's called Aveeno Calming Comfort Baby Lotion and it comes in an 8 oz tube. It's lavender, vanilla and oatmeal and all I need is a teeny amount and it makes my face feel so soft and supple. I haven't had any reaction to it at all and I have the world's most sensitive skin! I mean hell, it's made for babies so I guess it has to be gentle!

I've been pick free for a couple of weeks now and I have this board to thank

I did have to pop a zit on the inside of my nose though--it was KILLING me everytime I blew my nose! Does that count against me? It was one of those not-fun zits to pop though because it was SOOO painful--it actually brought tears to my eyes!

I ramble a lot, but again welcome! I'm looking forward to catching up on all the other threads this morning

[pixelmonkey]

Carree said:

They have worked before and I guess they have somewhat helped this time but I do more damage when I do pick.

yeah i wondered about that. i tend to be a very surface level picker -- i cover lots of area but never spend much time on any one spot. i'm wondering if the nails will change that, make me try harder on one area & therefore cause more damage. i do have worried visions of great big acrylic-nail-shaped bruises on my face.

but damn it would be a nice alternative to no nails at all, if it does work. i usually have to keep them trimmed to the quick to keep from picking. doesn't make me feel real feminine, that's for sure!

[pixelmonkey]

FarmGirl said:

I've been pick free for a couple of weeks now and I have this board to thank

congrats farmgirl! i will try the nightlight in the bathroom, that's a really good tip.

ugh, and here i just got up from the computer and spent a half hour ripping up my forehead. i have to get this under control!