November 30, 2012
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I have dermatillomania part 1
If you’re unsure of what dermatillomania is, you wouldn’t be the first one. I didn’t even know it was an existing condition until this year, and it’s something I’ve had my entire life.
Dermatillomania is a skin disorder that results in the self harming of skin. (Ex: picking, scratching, etc.)
A person with this, such as myself, can go to great lengths to destroy their skin. They can pick their skin from anywhere if they find flaws within it. An example might be, if a person has acne, they might pick at their pimples and scars continuously to the point where it basically never heals. Just about any area of the skin can be targeted and picked. My main picking spots are my fingertips and toes, just because these are places that aren’t looked at constantly like a face would be.
It’s actually a fairly common disorder, and most people might not even realize they’re doing it. I know that when I pick at my skin, I do it because it relieves a lot of tension, anxiety, and stress.I even do it just for the simple fact that I’m bored. I’ve been doing this since I was in elementary school, so now I just do it so frequently that I’m unaware that I’m doing so.
It gets quite painful after awhile too, and it’s become an addiction. I’ve actually read that it’s so addicting, that you need therapy to quit doing it. I know for me, I’ve tried stopping for many years, but I simply can’t. It’s not like having a smoking problem where you can buy a nicotine patch. I wish it were that easy though, that would be great!
—I’ll make a second part to this, my class is starting soon.
Comments (5)
I did not know that existed. Now I do. And I’m starting to itch. Note: If you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.
@TrainTrack - muahahaha,that is such a genius idea!
I have heard of it because my friends’ Black Lab has it….Labs are obsessive anyways so this was not surprising. Oatmeal baths help to soothe the damaged skin .
Huh, and here I was told I was cutting myself but in a different way. I’ve been doing it for years, more like for as long as I can remember. My back and shoulders are the worst. There are times when it’s gotten so out of hand that I’ll go to pick at a scab and my sister or husband will yell at me to stop, but I was doing it unconsciously. It is definitely a stress reliever. A part of me finds relief and euphoria mostly when I pull off a deep scab, it’s like I can breathe again. And I thought I was just strange…lol. at least now I can claim I have a disorder
@wyckdstorm - I totally get what you mean about the euphoria thing. You’re definitely not alone in this! I’m just glad to know there are other people with this that can understand, it’s like talking to people without this is like talking to a brick wall!