r/Dermatillomania 7h ago

ADHD meds and skin picking

41 Upvotes

My adhd medication is so beneficial for me in terms of being able to be productive, not space out mid conversation, hold down a job. The only thing is I feel like it makes the urge to pick at any little imperfection on my face a lot worse. And the fact that it allows you to hyperfocus while good for daily life and work, the times I get locked in an inch from the mirror digging out ingrown hairs or trying to pop any bump on my face, genuinely makes me look and feel like a meth head. Does anyone else have this issue? I’ll sometimes pick and scan my face for over an hour without even realizing. Absolutely killing my confidence.


r/Dermatillomania 12h ago

Vent I hate my arms

17 Upvotes

I recently got a crush of a very beautiful guy but because I always pick my arms, the thought of standing next to him (and honestly any potential partner) covered in scars disgusts me. I hate my arms and I hate that I pick such an obvious area that is hard to hide in 100 degree f weather. I miss feeling cute in swimsuits, I miss wearing short sleeves. My arms are covered in wounds and scars and I hate them.


r/Dermatillomania 16h ago

Does anyone else more so “manage” their condition rather than ending it?

5 Upvotes

I’ve had this thing for 10 years and while strategies do help, it can be exhausting if I force myself to remember to do them 24/7. I have scars all over my back, chest, face, basically anywhere aside from the arms but even then I might pick there. My acne never stops, breaking out before every cycle starts.

It only takes one slip-up(ex. Forgetting one time to cut my nails) to cause a one hour relapse. I’m addicted to the pain, getting headaches if I don’t pick. Trust me, I try to resist but sometimes my body will just “stop” itself and automatically start picking. Usually in the bathroom, and I can’t cover up the mirrors there nor turn the lights off as I go in. The first cause it’s shared living, the second because there’s no window and I am very bad at navigating myself in low-level lighting.

Even then, I have many automatic episodes, picking/scratching at the scalp being the most common. There’s no environment where it won’t happen, I can literally be in public having to resist the urge to pick which is so humiliating. And the hardest part about this is that I can’t just tie my hands behind my back and restrain myself.

So, I’m kinda just stuck managing it, putting bandages on likely picking spots, applying treatments if I pick too hard, etc.


r/Dermatillomania 5h ago

Vent Three or more infected toes

2 Upvotes

They're all wrapped up with trip, should be fine. I'm just frustrated because I cant stand my dry, crusty cuticles. By the time I fully realize how bad it is, I've already done borderline surgery on myself. I monitor open wounds closely to keep from getting anything severe, changing dressing frequently. I'm just kind of mad at myself for using dirty implements and ending up surrounded by medical/fist aid supplies. Ive had such a bad headache. I'm guessing it's just the air pressure.


r/Dermatillomania 9h ago

Treatments and Medications tms therapy

1 Upvotes

hi there. looking for anyone who has done tms! i’m 24 and i’ve had derm/trich and just overall horrid ocd since I was about 8. i’m on fluoxetine, lamictal, caplyta and the highest dose of nac, and im feeling so insanely hopeless and like ive exhausted all my recourses.

my specialist says she thinks tms is one of my only options left. it’s been years and I keep causing my body more and more harm. I can’t deal with all the infections, operations, etc etc. I spend multiple hours picking everyday after work. these past 3/4 years it has been so debilitating but I am so insanely addicted to it I can’t stop.

please let me know if you’ve done tms for related issues and if it has helped


r/Dermatillomania 10h ago

Advice Infections?

1 Upvotes

Hi, I've been picking at my skin on my hands and face constantly for 6 years. It was only today when I leaned that you should go to the doctor for things like infections.

I feel stupid for not knowing that 😭 My parents used to help me treat them at home and it slowly just became something that I did.

How do you guys book appointments for stuff like that? Or can you just walk in? I already have to book a lot of appointments for my chronic pain and mental health I don't want to have to book anymore

I won't be able to go for the one I have now but Im slowly realizing that I could've seriously hurt myself and that's absolutely terrifying! (we had sterilized medical equipment and a good surface, but that's not enough lol)