Info on complusive skin picking? - Mental Health Message Board

Dika · 04-19-2006, 07:07 PM

I don't know much about it or if I should ask my doctor about it, I have so many diagnosis's it's getting quite depressing. >.< I'm always picking at my skin, I don't mean like picking pimples or anything, but hands, feet, arms, legs and I'll pick and pick until I've reached fatty tissue it looks really nasty and I don't even know I'm doing it until hours later and there blood all over the place. I feel no pain when I do it. Only after I notice I've finished doing it and I'm asking myself why I'm feeling pain and I look down and it just like, "not again...>.<" They'll get all puss-filed and sore. I recently picked all the skin off the bottom of one foot and now I can't walk on it anymore. What I'm thinking it is unfortunatly is because of my heroin addiction because I've heard addicts like to pick their skin, is this true? Anyways, I'm just looking for information on it. Any info would be much appreciated, thanks.

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 04-19-2006, 07:45 PM

I know next to nothing about drugs, but the compulsive skin-picking may very well be due to your heroin use, but I don't really know. I do know that some addicts often feel sensory hallucinations that there's bugs crawling under their skin and they have to scratch. I think this is common in crystal meth users, but I don't have any idea if it applies to heroin- I mentioned it because I read on another one of your posts that you're hearing voices. Anyway, I'm a compulsive skin picker myself, but I have OCD, so that's why I do it. Mine never gets nearly as bad as yours- I pick at my scalp and toes (mostly scalp), but I've never gotten such wounds as pus-filled, infectious areas. Mine also differs because I DO feel pain, and though I will pick my scalp when I'm just waking up and still half-conscious, I notice what's going on once I start. My mom always yelled at me before she found out it was the OCD, but the areas on my scalp are just scabs; they bleed when I pick them and ooze, but that's it. If you have gotten down to fatty tissue, you seriously need to get some sort of antibacterial bandage from a doctor because that could get really infected. But I know all about the urge to pick despite the painful consequences. I don't really know why I pick my head. I know my toes are because I want the skin to feel smooth and "perfect," but as for my scalp, I think I just like the feeling afterwards. Who knows? God bless, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

-GatsbyLuvr1920-

cinemachick · 04-20-2006, 01:11 PM

I pick at my forearms, but nothing as extreme as you're saying. I have one scar from when I picked myself until bleeding. I'm not on drugs so it may only be compulsive self-harm. Still talk to someone about it. Thanks for reminding me...that's something I need to share with my therapist.

SuchGreatHeight · 04-20-2006, 04:26 PM

Skin picking can be in result of a lot of things. And to take notice that you have multiple diagnoses and a dual diagnosis (mental illness and drugs), it could most likely be in part of one of those aspects.

Do you do other things like hair pulling; and afterwards feel relieved? What came to mind was Trichotellomania, I know it's another diagnosis; but Trich is usually in result of something else (i.e. stress).

Basically, I have no clue

. But I advise you to see a professional to really find out where this behavior is coming from, especially because it causes you distress.

SGH

visions · 04-26-2006, 02:07 AM

Skin picking, BDD, Trichotillomania, eating disorders, etc are not OCD but OCD spectrum disorders and the treatment is very different. Very often people with OCD have these comorbid disorders, but you can have them and not have OCD as well.

Have you been diagnosed by a professional? I have never heard of picking resulting from being a heroin addict. It is a very well known psychological disorder and from what you say you have a classic case of it, not scratching or itching from sensory hallucinations, that is something totally different.

It sounds like you have a pretty bad case of it and should look into getting treatment for it.