I just reread the letter from the man who has the girlfriend with the obsessive face picking habit. The first time it nearly moved me to tears because I have the same problem. Now I am writing in hopes to help her and also myself because I think it may help just to acknowledge the problem. This is the first time I have really done so.

Here are a couple of things that have helped me in the past:

1. For a couple of weeks, stay out all day. After you get dressed in the morning, go out immediately. I know you won't do this (face pick) in the bathroom at McDonald's! I never have!

2. Try not to spend any idle time at home for the same reason. If you're busy, you won't have time to do it.

3. If you are going to be home for a while, take down the small mirrors and cover the big ones with blankets or towels.

4. Clip your nails extremely short.

5. After you clip your nails, I'm sure you know you'll find something else to pick with, so throw away all pins, needles, and tacks, etc.

6. Try really hard not to pick for three days, then look in the mirror and see how beautiful you are! (Just don't get too close to the mirror!)

7. Pray.

Good Luck. I hope some of these things help you as they have helped me.

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(2)
Dear Alice,

Reading this article has helped me realize I have a problem. I have been picking at my face and back for over five years now. Everyday I'll be certain it will end and it never does. I can't tell you how happy I am to know that others are dealing with the same problem that I am. One in 40 people (from all backgrounds, male and female) suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do about it yet, but I'm excited I can at least write and talk about it.

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(3)
Dear Alice,

Recently I have been diagnosed with Neurotic Excoriations, known as uncontrollable face picking. I have had this problem for over six years. It wasn't until a year-and-a-half ago my parents and friends started to really notice the problem. Everyone thought I just had acne; I was taken to a dermatologist to get medication to clear up my face. At the appointment, my doctor diagnosed the problem. For the longest time, I tried denying it, but after awhile, I noticed just how bad my face, back, neck, and legs were scarred up. I have learned I have to take this each day at a time. I start out trying to keep myself busy, whether it's typing at my computer, working on school work, or even watching television, I have to keep my hands busy and away from my body. I took up the habit of drawing so if I want to sit and watch a movie, I have a piece of paper in front of me to keep my hands busy. I also got rid of or hid most of my mirrors so that I can't stand in front of them and pick at my skin. I found that the worst times for me to pick is in the shower or when I go to bed because those are the times when I know no one will bother me. I have found that timing my showers so I don't have time to pick at my body has become very helpful. I still have a problem with picking when I go to bed, but that is still something I have to overcome. I am glad that you care for your girlfriend so much that you want to help her. I just hope someday I can find someone who understands what I have done to myself because it is too late to go back and reverse what I have done.

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(4)
Dear Alice,

This letter is in response to face picking in general. I have had this problem for over 30 years. Yes! That is true. I have had to use a concealer every day for over 30 years. I have been married for 18 years and recently went to a dermatologist for a non-related problem and during a follow-up visit asked the dermatologist if he could help me clear up my skin. To my amazement and embarrassment, he diagnosed me as a face picker. After admitting it to myself and my husband (who already knew that I had this problem), I was able to get some control of it. For the first time in all those years, I can now actually go without any concealer at all. Here are some of the things that helped me:

1. Get rid of any kind of magnifying mirror or close-up mirror.

2. Get rid of any kind of pin or knife or sharp objects that can be used to pick.

3. I got fake nails and I asked them to make them thicker so they are ineffective.

4. I wash my face and right away put on lotion so I won't start anything.

5. It is also helpful to keep the light off when you wash at night before bed.

6. The longer you can hold off, the easier it gets. I had to fight the urge many times, but as I saw results, it is getting easier. I am actually starting to forget about doing it as much.

7. It might be helpful to get a dim light in your bathroom if you can.

8. Admit the problem to yourself and others.

9. Pray for strength.

I know it is hard to stop because I am still dealing with it. It is so strange to realize this problem but as you stop with the habit, you will see your skin improve drastically. All those years I wasted feeling bad about myself when I had the power all along to change. It is powerful when you take charge and control of your own life. Just try for a morning and then a night and then a day and then another day. I hope this helps someone today because I am thankful that I have been helped, too.

J.

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(5)
Dear Alice,

I would just like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences with face picking. I started picking my face about 8 years ago and I, too, thought it would go away. Then I realized it wasn't acne, it was just me messing up my face. Tonight I typed in a search for face picking just to see if it was just me or if other people are suffering, too. Not that I want anyone else to suffer this demeaning problem, but I was relieved to find out that I'm not going crazy for I felt like I was the only one who had a problem. I am grateful to all of you for now I have your combined strength in dealing with this. I only hope that other sufferers like myself tonight will get curious and seek help. Thanks again.

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(6)
Dear Alice,

Thank you so much for your section on Obsessive Face Picking. I have been doing this for 7 years and was never aware that it affected other people as well. Thanks for inspiring me to stop and all of the reader advice.

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(7)
Dear Alice,

I am moved beyond words — for finally, here I have found several others who suffer as I do. I'm 28 and have been squeezing/ picking at my face for 13 years. I do it with my hands, nails, and even go so far as to prick my face with safety pins. I lose track of time doing this for hours in the bathroom away from my husband. It's an escape of some sort. I am holding back the tears right now, because I now know I am not the only one. I have ruined my face. I have cystic acne that I have made look non-existent compared to the scarring this sick ritual has given me. I am so sad, because I didn't think I would ever find anyone w/ the same issue. Thank you for freeing me from this private hell. I am going to try to work on tips that others have provided. I am sad because everything others have said here are things I have first experience with. I am so mad at being so out of control. But like someone said, I have to take control. Thank you so much for this site.

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(8)
Dear Alice,

A few nights ago I typed in 'face picking,' hoping to find a support system of some kind. This segment has been helpful to me and I wanted to thank you for posting it. I have this syndrome for sure because I went on an over-the-counter acne pill a few months ago and my face is SO much better. Still there I am scanning the horizon for new flare-ups. Afterwards my face looks like I went squirrel hunting with a machine gun. I have felt so isolated and got sick of hiding behind cover-up (like I fool anybody but myself). I have tucked away my beloved close-up mirrors and spend as little time in front of mirrors as possible. Hopefully the trance-like state I craved will not lure me back to picking. I have read that certain drug abusers pick while sleep deprived and I must admit fatigue is my downfall also. So I am trying to get more sleep. I already look/feel better after only a few days. I am going to re-read these letters often. I guess it is true that misery loves company. The stories from others suffering from this self-inflicted personal hell have given me the incentive to really try and stop.

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(9)
Dear Alice,

Subject: Face Picking

I am almost 50 years old. I have been picking, squeezing, digging at the pores on my face and upper arms since I had my first pimple as a teenager. My worst fear is that it will eventually produce some sort of skin cancer, although I see no mention of that here. I was thrilled just to find out I wasn't the ONLY one with this problem. Now that I am more "aware" of it as a real emotional problem, and not just an old habit, I feel I will have more ability to control it. Thanks for making me "aware"! I feel that awareness will make all the difference for me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! I MEAN IT!!!

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(10)
Dear Alice,

My name is Katie, I'm 17, and I live in NY. I was reading the message board from all of these people, and the more I read, the better I feel to know that I am not alone. The tips for getting fake nails does help. Although it has not completely stopped anything, it has helped for my face. I have scarred my legs and arms, and I am desperate to find ways to stop. I didn't really understand there was an actual name for my problem (CSP) until today. Yesterday I watched 20/20 and it talked about Trichotillomania (excessive hair pulling), and they mentioned excessive skin picking, and I was interested to see. Today I have found different web sites to support people with my problem, and I am relieved. I am just glad to know there are people out there like me, who are trying to stop, and have been successful.

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(11)
Dear Alice,

Thank you for your section on obsessive face picking. I have been picking at my skin for 14 years now, but always denied it to myself. The truth is, my skin is very good. It's my picking that makes it so awful. I have tried a lot of the techniques other people suggested in their responses and found a few new ones to try. But there is one nobody else brought up. I find that I pick more at the end of the day because my skin feels oilier, or dirty. So I went out and bought a box of unscented Huggies baby wipes.

It sounds crazy, but I just gently wipe my back, and sometimes my face, with one each night and this is the absolute best thing I have found so far to help me stop. It prevents picking and somehow helps the scabs heal faster — so I am less likely to pull them off again! I don't know why it works, but maybe someone else will find this trick helpful, too! My back has never looked so good.

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(12)
Alice,

I have this same problem. The way the man described his girlfriend is exactly the way I behave. I can't even recall how long I've been doing this, but my mother does it, too. I never realized it was a possible manifestation of OCD. I know I have an anxiety problem, but when my boyfriend asks me if I've been picking again, I tell him it's just stress. It does get worse during stressful times, but mainly because I tend to break out a little more and then I have more to pick at. Another thing I have noticed recently is that I get VERY self-conscious if I'm out somewhere and I can't get to a mirror regularly.

I read some of the responses for how to combat it, but, as sad as this sounds, I caught myself doing it while reading. I am going to make it my goal for the next three weeks to really focus on just this problem.

The first three changes I plan to make: 1. Be aware when I sit down to read or work on the computer of what my hands are doing and to make a concentrated effort to keep them away from my face. 2. Wash my face in the morning, put my makeup on, and then only allow myself to look in the mirror at certain rare intervals. 3. Talk to my boyfriend about it, tell him I recognize that it's a problem, and that I'm making an effort to change. He will be supportive.

Thanks again for bringing this topic to light. It's something I've suffered with for so many years.

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(13)
Dear Alice,

I don't remember how long I have been picking at my face now. I want more than anything to stop this disorder or whatever it is. I have quit biting my nails and I have quit smoking... but for the life of me, I cannot quit my hand from touching my face. I hate the fact that people think I have acne when in fact they are self inflicted scars. I let them believe that it is acne because it is better than letting them know I pick my face. For the past few months, my face has improved. One of the things I realized is that an open scar will fade in about a week's time. Not completely, but enough to cover up with some concealer. One of the things I started to try is, if I get an urge to pick at a particular area on my face, I put a bandage on that spot. I find myself picking at the bandage afterwards, but better the bandage than my face. Another thing I've tried is wearing gloves when I am at home. A combination of the two will be fool proof... just don't answer the door if someone comes knocking.

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(14)
Alice,

Today, I finally decided to search for "face picking," and see if I have a problem. I have been picking my face, back, and shoulders for years and years. It clears up in the summer when I get a tan, but it gets worse again later. I pick mostly when I'm stressed out, or when I'm thinking about something serious. But once I start, I can't stop. It gets to the point where I'm embarrassed to wear tank tops that show a lot of my back, or bathing suits. I try to cover up my messed up face with makeup; it works most of the time, but not always. I don't make my problem very noticeable to other people, but when I'm alone, it gets out of hand. I do think my husband knows, though. Anyway, thanks to all of you who helped me realize I'm not the only one who has this problem!

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(15)
Dear Alice,

In response to face picking, which I have also been afflicted with, I have found that putting on an antibacterial cream helps after removing makeup. Since it is goopy, you have less tendency to pick at your face. Also, another had commented on leaving the house and staying busy, which is in fact the best way to combat the problem. Take up a hobby that keeps those idle fingers busy. I hope this helps others as it has helped me!

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(16)
Dear Alice,

Thank you for publishing your article about face picking. It is so great to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with it. I have dealt with this for 3 years and am finally conquering it. I still have the desire to pick, but throughout the time I have resisted, my face has healed dramatically. I have the hardest time when I am bored. I start to feel the little bumps and want to squeeze the stuff out of my face. I always think to myself that if I pick one small spot, it will heal faster. I am constantly convincing myself that there is a "quick fix" for my face. However, I know the truth is that it will take time and diligence. Any additional suggestions on ways to overcome this obsession would be greatly appreciated. I fear that this will always be a struggle, but it's great to know that I'm not alone.

-On the road to recovery

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(17)
Dear Alice,

In regards to "obsessive face picking," I thought that I was extremely abnormal and that nobody else had that problem. My friends and family tell me how horrible that I look. It clears up, and then I start picking again. I know that I have other compulsions and therefore have OCD, but I didn't realize that this was part of it. It's so great to know that I'm not alone. Thanks.

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(18)
Dear Alice,

I am smiling because all of us think that we were the only ones. But when I typed in face picking on the search engine, I was surprised!! Thank you, everybody for your input. I have not been picking obsessively for long, but I want to nip it in the bud. Just knowing others do it has helped me not want to do it. Good luck with your recovery, and wish me luck, too!

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(19)
Dear Alice,

In response to ocd face picking:

The more people that reply and admit to this horrible self-inflicted compulsion, the better! I already feel relief knowing that i'm not the only one. I want to free myself of this!

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(20)
Alice,

Thank god this thing has a name. I thought I was the only one... it started with me watching my mother do it when I was around 16, when a lot of trauma hit. I'm 33 now, beautiful but scarred. I don't do it in the mirror, just when I'm concentrating, watching TV, well all the time really. I have hated myself for so long not being able to stop picking and have felt today for the first time reading this site that I can maybe come to terms with the self abuse and start doing something about it. I'm also co-dependent, abused child, and a drug and alcohol dependent, but intelligent with a degree, great jobs behind me, and I know I can't be all bad. I know it is a symptom on deeper-seated issues, but one step at a time to recovery is right. Thank you, thank you, I'm not a freak!

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(21)
Dear Alice,

My comment on OBSESSIVE FACE PICKING:

The photographic evidence of when I started picking at my face is in my pre-school pictures, almost all of them. I finally got some help beyond "well stop picking at yourself" when I saw a good Psychologist (for anxious depression), who recommended a sympathetic Dermatologist. The Lexapro I am taking for my anxiety helps a great deal. The big breakthrough came after the dermatologist prescribed Benzaclin topical to keep the acne down and Atarax (given to kids for psoriasis) for the itching, to take at night. It was helping a bit, but after I got poison oak, I started taking a few to get through the day (it makes me drowsy like cough medicine). Doing this for two weeks proved that if I did keep my hands off my face (and I did!) — it would work. Knowing that for sure has made it a lot easier to hold out... One other major thing that has helped, and I wish I'd done this sooner, is to get electrolysis. The stiff hairs (not many — but it doesn't take many, does it?) coming in on my jaw line used to be the worst ones to deal with. I'd tweeze them, but waiting till the tweezers could get them was excruciating. And I'd go in under the skin to get them. Now they are gradually thinning and disappearing!

You are entitled to help to beat this! Don't let anyone tell you you just have to stop without help.

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(22)
Dear Alice,

Like so many people who have written in here, I have been a picker for as long as I can remember. I'm almost 38. My mom does it, my sister does it, and now I see my 2-year-old son's fingers sometimes scratch at his face for no apparent reason when I'm reading to him. It seems to me to have a genetic component, but I've seen about 10 counselors/psychiatrists over the course of a lifetime and no one has come up with a specific diagnosis or cure. OCD meds haven't helped me somehow.

Like others here, I don't just pick my face. I have scars all over my body — even my breasts — from the damage I've done to my otherwise fairly clear skin. I, too, like one reader, have even wondered whether all these years of cell damage might result in cancer. It's like being a chain smoker, the compulsion is so strong for me.

Just reading this site tonight, however, I am extremely moved and encouraged. Thank you to Alice for addressing this topic and to all those pickers out there who have courageously shared their stories and vowed to quit! Just knowing there are others like me out there, who have shared what I've always thought of as "my own private hell," makes me feel even more resolved to quit myself.

THANKS

Amy

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(23)
Alice,

Wow. Wow. Wow. I also typed in "face picking," like many of your readers, and boy was I stunned to find out that I am not the only person who does this. I can stand for hours (I MEAN IT) in my bathroom mirror just hacking away at my skin. I'm eighteen-years-old and I have been doing it since I can remember, usually when I've had a stressful day or have felt excessively self-conscious about my skin. I don't have acne, just random zits and black heads that turn into huge scabs and messes all the time with my habit.

I never thought it was a problem until my parents pointed it out... I waste a ton of time in the bathroom and I make my skin look terrible.

The best things that I can do is keep my nails extra short and try to stay conscious when I am going to do anything where I'll see myself alone. I have to tell myself that picking will make it worse, and I give myself a reward if I can handle not picking (i.e., shopping). I also go tanning (bad for your skin, really), but having color helps me from noticing any flaws. Lastly (and probably the most beneficial), I take Zoloft, which is prescribed for my depression, but is also good for obsessive thoughts.

It's nice to know that I'm "not alone"... good luck to all of you... (oh yeah, I use Neosporin or vitamin E to help fix scars, and also if there's a bunch of stuff on a zit, I don't touch it!) Take care!

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(24)
Dear Alice,

I would also like to thank you for your posting on obsessive face picking. I, too, suffer from it, as well as hair pulling. I'm currently seeking help for drug addiction, as well, and I feel extremely overwhelmed and hopeless. I've tried having people in the bathroom with me at night while washing my face, and that didn't help. But I want to thank everyone for the suggestions about fake nails and leaving the bathroom lights off at night... I'm so thankful to know I'm not alone.

-Kait

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(25)
Dear Alice,

I really can't believe this. I knew there was something that would not let me stop, but I was ashamed and had no idea it was a real obsessive behavior. My face and neck have had sores (the same sore) that would last 6 months because I continued to pick at it. I visited this site for something completely different, but I am so excited to have read this. Thank you.

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(26)
Alice,

I am fifteen-years-old and have been picking at my face for maybe five years now. It's really hard because I have darker skin and it scars really badly. I know that picking at my face is why I look so bad, but I seem to have no control over it. It's like I have to squeeze it all out, and dig and pick until there is no sign of the zit left, just a bloody mess. And of course, the kids at my high school are just awful and make me feel even worse. And it's hard to use any suggestions like covering mirrors or wearing gloves when you live in a house where parents or siblings or their friends are always around to see. I'm just relieved to know that there are other people with this same problem and I think writing about it just now has helped me some, too.

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(27)
Dear Alice,

This topic and this article really helped me a lot. At least I realized I'm not alone like everyone else. I'm in my twenties and my skin is really good, that's what the dermatologist said, too, but I'm an obsessive face-picker. The habit is ruining my life. Sometimes I, too, lock myself up for at least a couple weeks, till my scars heal, and just don't leave my house. I call in sick and don't show up at work, and also cut lectures in school when I look "bad." Thanks to you, I'm going to the psychiatrist now to help me overcome the problem, and I can actually do things. I can leave my house and go out and my skin looks great. I realized I never actually had a problem with my skin, except the one I created for myself.

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(28)
Dear Alice,

I am 20-years-old and I, too, have been suffering from this problem for about three years. I also do not have bad skin, but rather inflict these horrible things upon myself and create marks on my face. I have been diagnosed with OCD and was at one time on medication to help me with my obsessions. The main reason that I seeked medical help was because of my obsessive face picking, which at one point was so bad that I had scabs covering my entire face. I eventually went off the medicine because it was making me exhausted (a common side effect of anxiety and obsession medications), and even though I have learned how to better deal with my OCD and picking, I have flare ups all the time. It seems that my picking is a constant problem and I am so tired of having to cover up my face and deal with this. I think the hardest part is trying to explain to people about this disorder because they don't understand that you cannot just stop and make it go away. This is a constant struggle that can only be dealt with, but not completely cured. I agree with a lot of the tips given by people and thank them for sharing their experiences. I have also found that applying cortisone cream after picking helps heal the skin and the redness. I also used to obsessively pull my hair out when I was about age two and was misdiagnosed with having night terrors, when it was probably the start of my life long struggle with OCD. I mostly recommend that poeple go seek help about this problem because it is a mental disorder that is not controllable. I had to learn that having OCD is not my fault and talking to someone really did help. I used to feel guilty about this until I learned that it was not my fault, and everyone else who suffers should know that, too. Good luck to everyone and thanks again!!

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(29)
Dear Alice,

I have been picking since I was 12, about when my parents got divorced. As a teen, I begged my mom to take me to a dermatologist and get me treatment; she said it was just hormones. At 25, I am still suffering from these 'hormones.' I am tired of feeling like a monster so I looked to the Internet. First, I typed in homemade masks for acne treatment... After a strange trip to the store for various ingredients, I started mixing 20 different concoctions of cucumber, plain yogurt, honey, and other kitchen ingredients. Throughout the weekend, I decided this was not working. (Perhaps it was part of the OCD to try all 20 in two days.) So I decided to check out the laser surgeries online, before and after pictures, etc... That upset me, because I know I can't afford it. So I went into the bathroom and tore up my face as best I could. I backed away from the mirror and looked at the swollen red face I had given myself in less than 10 minutes. Finally I mustered up the courage to get out of the bathroom and type in the dreaded words, "help me stop picking my face," into the search engine. Eureka, there is an issue! The problem is that every over-the-counter and home remedy is useless against my picking, not that my acne is that severe. It feels good to know that this self-inflicted torture can come to a halt. Thank you, Alice, and thank you for all the other comments. It is really comforting to know that there are others who suffer from this. I am going to put post-it notes on my bathroom mirror that say "stop it," "It will go away if I quit!" and "Give it time." Thanks again.

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(30)

Dear Alice,

I am twenty-one and have been suffering from dermatillomania for about seven years. I wore long pants even before I started, so no one has noticed the scars on my leg, except my doctor. She gave me the 'domestic abuse' survey once, and as my family life is perfectly normal, the scars were never mentioned again. I don't wear tank tops in public, I don't own anything that shows my back, I can't wear low-cut shirts, and I own five different types of concealer. . . but I've never had acne, all my skin problems stem from this compulsive behaviour. Reading these letters has given me the courage to begin counseling at my college. I'm tired of hiding in long sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, and sweaters. I'd like to wear a strapless dress to the graduation party and NOT have to put make-up on my back and shoulders, but I know I have to start working now. Hopefully, with the short term solutions suggested here and counseling, some day I can be pick-free!

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(31)

Hi Alice!

Everyone has guessed it by now. Me too. Picking, squeezing, scratching, ... anything to get the horrid stuff off my face and of course, the more I pick, the messier it gets. Each time I pick at one, I am convinced that its the last one standing between me and a flawless face. It never works that way, but an observant and understanding boyfriend helps. Without knowing any fancy names, he figured that like everyone says, scratching was spoiling my face and helped distract me each time he saw me do it, till I started expecting it and even anticipating it myself whether he was there or not. Slowly, I began stopping myself too. It's tough, but not impossible. I found that whenever the urge gets really bad, it helps if I massage in an anti acne cream. That way, picking gets difficult, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm doing something about it. I do wash the cream off, if I overdo it, but it still beats trying to kill the stuff bare handed.

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(32)

Dear Alice,

I'm stunned that my situation is shared by so many. Reading these entries has helped me realize that I have a serious problem, and that I am not alone. I notice when I pick it's usually when I am stressed out, anxious, or bored. I'm not a perfectionist by nature but when I am in that "zone" I feel the need to purge my pores of everything that's in them to get "clean." It is, as others have described it, a torturous cycle. You feel this uncontrollable need to do it, even though you know that by doing it you are making your skin worse, and yet it feels good. I feel accomplished when I get a lot out a pore. And then afterwords there is that feeling of utter dread, helplessness, and disapointment, of asking oneself "why?" and then waiting till the morning to see how much damage was done. I think part of the reason I do it is because in a way, odd as it may sound, it makes me feel like I have control. I have problems with body image and emotional eating, but when I pick, to me its as though the pimple is a problem I take care of simply and immediately and be done with it. Of course, that's not really how it works. It's humiliating to have hide away from public or even intimate situations with other people because of this problem. I've only been doing it for 2 years and I am going to stop. Thank you for offering an outlet for sufferers and those who support them, as well as for the tips on how to stop.

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(33)

Alice,

I'm a 27 year-old from the UK who typed in 'face picking' half expecting a cosmetic surgery site to appear, which would let me pick my new face! However, I was amazed to find people, like me, who also picked at their faces.

I have been doing this since I was a teenager, convinced my face is full of pus, bumps, and spots that only I can see. I spend ages in front of the mirror making sure I remove all these 'imperfections' because I would be embarrassed to think that someone could see a spot on my face. The irony is of course that instead of spots on my face (that would probably disappear in a couple of days) people can see red raised marks, usually in the shape of my fingernails. Yet, incredibly, this doesn't stop me. When I am lost in the systematic destruction of my skin, none of these sensible thoughts occurs to me.

I think everyone who has contributed to this site is very brave. To admit a problem like this in a world where imperfections are not tolerated, let alone self-inflicted ones, is to take a stand against the impossible pressures put upon us to look 'perfect.' Good luck to you all, and thanks for the advice.

Louise

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(34)

Hi everyone,

I am in my early twenties and have been picking for ten years! In many ways, my acne has dictated my life. My skin is only clear for maybe one week a month and the rest of the time I WILL NOT go out because I am ashamed of my face. I feel like everyone looks at my skin and knows I pick at it. I wish I could stop but I do it automatically.

I have tried every kind of reasoning from "I'll just scratch the white head off" to "I'll just flatten the bump" to "I'll only pick the bad ones" to going "cold turkey" and nothing seems to work. I can't stand bumps on my face. If I don't pick I will touch the spot all day until I actually pick.

I think it is compulsive because before I had acne, I would pick off my scabs. I also hate seeing my pores filled, and I release them even if there's no bumps present. I have done enough research to know that I'm just making it worse, but I can't seem to stop! I sympathize with everyone inflicted with this condition.

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(35)

Alice,

I too have had this disorder for a long time, almost ten years, I believe. It is a struggle that continues. I go through periods where I get better and, of course, through those where I cannot seem to stop destroying my face. I just want to be free from wearing make-up every day. I am ashamed of my face sometimes.

I am steadily defeating my compulsion despite my periodic setbacks. I find that, indeed, keeping busy and distracting yourself is truly helpful. Doing so helps you avoid mirrors, in fact. If you must look in the mirror (I would avoid it), refrain from getting very close. I have learned to keep trimming my nails so that I am less capable of inflicting damage. That said, get rid of any "tools" you may have--tweezers, needles, pins, and the like. This is a vicious cycle that needs breaking; I find that it is better to simply prevent yourself from starting. I remind you that this problem is a compulsion (meaning that it is a state of being forced to do something or being unable to resist stopping).

I often find that I need to keep my hands busy in order to avoid touching my face. I just tell myself to stop before it's too late; I may end up with terrible scarring. Remember, one day at a time. You have had the power to change all along.

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(36)

Dear Alice,

I found your website today and it was a relief to find so many people suffering from the same thing I felt I was suffering from but was not sure. I usually feel alone because it is a devastating disease which leads me to be antisocial in my personal life and at work. I have been seeing a dermatologist and have undergone some procedures in hopes of starting me on the right path. All of your readers had great suggestions about methods to help stop the compulsiveness. I too look in the mirror several times a day and cannot seem to stop. As long as I keep busy, I do not think about picking or looking in the mirror. I recently told my husband and my father what was going on with me and I got total support, especially from my husband. He goes to all appointments with me and constantly encourages me to fight this problem. If it weren't for him, I do not know what I would do. I will keep reading your website and feel that it can be somewhat therapeutic to hear that others are dealing with the same problem.