When you meet with the specialist, be sure to share as much detail about your compulsive skin-picking as you can. Tell your doctor when the picking usually happens and what you are doing or feeling before it takes place.
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are a special class of antidepressants found to be useful in managing obsessive thoughts relating to skin-picking.
CBT can help you and your mental health provider identify thoughts that may provoke skin-picking, like being worried about failing a test or being self-conscious about a facial blemish. In CBT, you can learn to challenge negative thought patterns that lead to skin-picking and reverse the habit with help from your therapist.
Search for support groups that specifically address dermatillomania, too. Ask your mental health provider for recommendations.
Did your boss yell at you? Did you feel rejected by a friend or lover? Did you react to catching a glimpse of your reflection in a mirror? Pinpointing common triggers can help you develop a plan to avoid or cope with them.
If you must use the mirror when you get dressed or apply makeup, set a timer for 5 to 10 minutes. Avoid looking in a close-up, or magnifying, mirror as well.
You might put up post-its on your mirror that read: “You look great just as you are!” Or repeat compliments to yourself, like “You’re smart and capable” or “You have a nice smile. ”
For instance, you might set a rule that you must ask permission before using your mom’s tweezers and you must use them in her presence.
Mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation are all strategies you can use to ease the anxiety that leads to picking. You can try these techniques before, during, or after you encounter a stressful situation.
If you pick at your skin unknowingly, wear gloves all the time. That way, you will become more aware of the habit.
This works especially well if you compulsively pick at the skin on your face.
Try applying vitamin E, olive, or avocado oil to your skin. Or invest in a nourishing moisturizer in a soothing or cheerful scent.
