i am CONSTANTLY picking off scabs and pimples on my face and even more so on my back. it's so embarrassing because i have tons of scars on my back and luckily on my face it isn't so bad. but whenever a new pimple or scab appears i pick it right away. i don't know why i do it. i don't even think about it when i am doing it. i don't have any disorders so i don't know if this is one and i want to know if i may have something that needs to be checked out.

I don’t know if you have a disorder or not but the most similar thing I am aware of is dermatillomania. You can search the site for that and also “skin picking.” There are some posts that mention both of these, but they don’t seem to be in any one particular forum. Perhaps going to a dermatologist may be a good idea too so there would be less acne to pick at. Take care.

Hi. My aunt has the EXACT same thing. She is seeing a psych, and she has gotten better. Go to see a psych, and they can help you. If I remember, I will ask her what she is on for it next time I see her.

If I remember, she is on wellbutrin, SSRIs, a lot of smaller enzyme things, and something that inhibits NGF (I don't know if it is local to the skin). I don't think they are all for the skin thing, she has other stuff too, so your doctor may be able to just give you a few medicines that don't even have any real side-effects.

The point is that it is possible to fix. You should go to a GP doctor first, and ask about it. They may be able to treat you. If not, ask for a psych.

She has scars all over her from when she used to pick for 40 years. She started seeing a good psych, and now she doesn't even do it at all.