Dermatillomania is a condition where a person feels compelled to pick at their skin, to the point where it causes visible wounds.
Dermatillomania is a condition where a person feels compelled to pick at their skin, to the point where it causes visible wounds.
It's an impulse-control disorder – a psychological condition where the person is unable to stop themselves from carrying out a particular action.
A person with dermatillomania will habitually and excessively pick, scratch, gouge or squeeze at otherwise healthy skin.
They usually pick at the skin on their face and lips, but it can be any area of the body, such as the hands, scalp or arms.
They may pick at normal skin features such as freckles or moles, or at imaginary skin defects that no one else can see.
They might pick with their fingernails, or use tools such as pins or tweezers. The result is often bleeding or bruising, which carries a risk of infection and scars.
A person with dermatillomania will experience intense emotions as part of their compulsion.
It's typical to experience an intense urge to pick the skin, with increasing tension until they do. After picking, there's a sense of relief.
Dermatillomania can cause negative feelings, such as guilt, shame and embarrassment. It's common to try to deny it or cover up the skin with make-up.
A person with dermatillomania may feel unattractive and develop low self-esteem, avoiding others.
Impulse-control disorders in general are more common among teenagers and young adults.
Dermatillomania tends to develop in the teenage years or early 20s, and affects more girls than boys. It might start as a habit, then become uncontrollable.
It's regarded as a form of
. Learn about the .It's not known what causes dermatillomania, but there are several theories.
Some experts think it's a type of addiction. The more you pick your skin, the more you want to keep doing it.
Dermatillomania may be a reflection of a mental health problem. Psychological and behavioural theories suggest that skin picking may be a way of relieving stress or anxiety.
In some cases, dermatillomania may be a form of
, where you deliberately injure yourself as a way of seeking temporary relief from emotional distress.Another very similar disorder is
– where a person compulsively pulls their hair out. It's not uncommon for someone to have OCD and to both compulsively pick at their skin and pull their hair out.See your doctor if you're compulsively picking your skin or if you notice your child doing so.
Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for a form of talking therapy.
You may need to be referred to a dermatologist (skin specialist) first, if the skin is badly damaged.
Little medical research has been conducted into treatments for dermatillomania.
The most effective treatment is therapy to change your skin-picking behaviour, combined with a network of emotional support.
is a type of talking therapy that can be used to treat emotional problems and mental health conditions. It involves discussing emotional issues with a trained therapist. is a type of psychotherapy that may be recommended. It helps you to manage your problems by changing how you think and act.CBT often involves behavioural therapy, also known as habit-reversal therapy, which aims to change your behaviour – in this case, reducing your skin picking.
First, you learn how to become more consciously aware of situations and events that may trigger your skin picking. Then, you'll learn to use alternative behaviours as a response. You may be asked to keep a record of when, where and under what circumstances you normally pick.
The aim is to replace the harmful skin-picking habit with a habit that's harmless.
If you have dermatillomania, it's important you receive emotional help and support. This can be from family, friends or self-help groups.
Organisations such as OCD UK are good places to start if you're looking for support.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.