I have Dermatillomania

I never knew this was an actual condition until very recently. I just knew that I *can't* help the urge to pick and scratch and my skin. I've done research on it but all of the coping methods I've read seem stupid and illogical to me. Maybe I'm just more negative in this depressive phase, but I just make myself worse and worse. Even keeping my nails short doesn't stop me.

Does anyone else suffer from this or know how to cope?

Hi, awfulbeautiful! If you have an urge to do something unhealthy with your hands, you should do something else with your hands until the urge goes away. It does work for some people. Tear up some cardboard or peal an orange with your hands, anything that doesn't harm you.

So far I haven't had much luck with that. I try to wear clothes that prohibit me from reaching the spots that I attack, but I have to take them off sometime and that's when the urge overwhelms. I haven't given up yet, I just haven't found something suitably distracting yet. I don't even realize when I've done it sometimes.

How about wearing gloves in the house? Sorry if it's a silly suggestion, lol. How about keeping something that reminds you of why you want to stop on you at all times? It could be something related to somebody you love or the life you want to have.

The someone I love thing is probably out. She just broke up with me and I think the stress is partially contributing to why it's been so much worse lately. I'll give it some thought and see if I can come up with anything. The gloves would just drive me crazy though, lol.

Maybe you'd get used to the gloves! Good luck, let me know if there is anything I can do.

Thank you! And I will. I'm practicing always having something in my hands right now so I worry that instead of my skin.

I use gloves. The problem is sometimes the urge is so strong that I reach for other things than my hands to pick with. The best I can do is cover up the offending spot (when I can - my face is a big problem) and ride out the urge until I forget about it. I know how hard it is, believe me, but the urge does pass if you can ignore it.