I just don't know how to stop picking at all! I just feel like it's a continuous cycle and a nightly routine for me. It's just so annoying because I just try to stop and I may for 1 or 2 days but then I do it again. Any tips?

I really like this quote and find it inspiring

It makes me sad that this habit has robbed my whole life from age 13 to now 28 I haven't let anyone see me in a short sleeve t shirt or vest (due to exposing picked shoulders and back) I don't know what the next 15 will be like :( praying it's not the same

Hi everyone, I'm a college student and recently had to move into dorms, and a lot of my previous habits to help myself are not working anymore. When I was back home, I would usually try to resist triggers by covering them up, physically moving out of the space (for example: brushing my teeth in a different sink instead of in front of the bathroom mirror) or otherwise implement "out of sight out of mind." In such a small space this does not work anymore, and to make matters worse, I have roommates who LOVE to do makeup (I don't, for fear of starting a picking session). So, mirrors are literally EVERYWHERE in our space. Even if I can't get close to the mirrors, most of my picking consists of subconsciously running my fingers on my face "looking" for something to pick, and the mirrors trigger that subconscious pattern. I am working on trying to notice when I am doing this earlier before starting to pick, but it's been a real struggle recently because of the new environment. My picking has increased significantly since going to college.

Another thing: back home I would often care for my scars/recent pick sites by looking in a mirror from far away so I'm not as tempted to pick but can still see what needs attention. However now, i have to store my items in a location that is really close to a mirror and this often starts off as caring for myself but then ends up as an hour-long picking session that makes things worse again. And then I can't care for myself because if I start doing it then I'll just keep picking. It's a truly vicious cycle and I'm really worried about infection and scarring.

I was wondering if anyone here had tips on anything I mentioned above. I've never posted here before but I really appreciate this community, you all have given me hope and a sense of being understood that I haven't found elsewhere. Thank you in advance for any advice and good luck to everyone on their own journeys! ❤️

hey yall, just found this today, have been struggling for over 10 years. i've tried a few things in the past, lets hope this works!

So for the last 2 months I've been getting what looks like acne but ive never had an issue with my skin. Maybe a zit or two around that time of the month thats it. It started in my nose, then had puss and sore in my ears, now my face. I think its all over my body. The worst part about this is No One believes me. I went to two different er's and my family doctor. Never again will I go to an er they treated me like a crazy person and even laughed at me. Even my partner didnt believe me. I noticed these white dandruff looking flakes but somehow they were getting in my pores and I would pick them out with tweezers. Id get one out just for another to take its place and usually I would end up with a big sore that was disgusting looking and wouldnt heal fast and was extremely painful. It would feel like glass coming out of my skin everywhere, from scalp to my butt. Before the sores I did notice little white worm looking things when I would blow my nose or clean my ears. This is driving me absolutely bonkers. Idk what to do, no one will listen to me and everyone just thinks im a nutcase. I can't take much more this is horrible and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Tea tree oil and witch hazel have been the only things that help. When I put the oil on my skin little white worms start coming out everywhere and I swear ive seen groups of them moving under my skin. On top of the worms little hairs have been growing on my face in places ive never had it, like my nose. When I pluck the hair out it just comes right back within 2 minutes. I need to know what I have to say or what tests do I need to have them do to get this taken care of. Im exhausted all the time can sleep for days, bad headaches that sometimes last for days. Please someone help. Home remedies something and my faith in the doctors of this country is absolutely destroyed after those experiences. Im not crazy, I know my body and something is wrong and no one will listen!

There’s no timeline you need to keep up with.

Someone else’s progress doesn’t set the pace for yours. You don’t have to be further along, have it all figured out, or get everything right.

Your journey is your own. Give yourself the space to learn, grow and move forward at a pace that works for you.

We explored why BFRB conferences matter, what happens when science and lived experience come together, and reflected on past and upcoming events, including the BFRB UK & Ireland Conference in Oxford.

The recording is now available to watch!

▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/WF44SJuRc5E

How do you access the picking tracker? I think logging will help me the most, but I don't see on the app where that is

What happens when BFRB research and lived experience come together?

Join Meryl Da Costa and Prof. Clare Mackay as they explore why BFRB conferences matter, from sharing research and challenging stigma to building community and bringing professionals and lived experience into the same conversation.

Because these spaces are about more than learning. They’re about connection, understanding, and helping shape what comes next.

Register your spot here: www.skinpick.com/webinar

I feel nervous about going to a group therapy session. How has your experience been?

Hey, am I the only one thinking that Band-Aids aren't helping and are just prolonging the healing process? Same with showers - every scab is way softer and opens at every opportunity after it? Any life hacks for that?

Hi there! I am new here. I have had a recent increase in all of my picking activities. I have been picking forever. I pick my skin all over, I am currently missing a finger nail that I have totally destroyed. Ugh. I also chew the inside of my cheeks/mouth. I have pulled out hairs from time to time. It's like if I focus on not biting my nails my brain is like, "Ok let's chew the mouth up." I feel like I will never stop mutilating my body. I truly hope that this program helps me control this. I am so heartbroken everytime I see the evidence of my self destruction.

Am I the only one that picks their toenails? Very severely?

I was wondering if anyone who has been participating in this program has seen any positive results? I have had BFRBs almost my entire life. It started with nail biting as a child. I managed to kick that habit on my own but it got replaced with occasionally popping acne, picking ingrown hairs and the one I do most often which is pick my lips. The last one I do a lot and often without even realizing it. Unfortunately it's basically become automatic and various things seem to trigger it like watching TV, being bored or feeling stressed. I've tried so hard to break this habit on my own but my last attempt only lasted about 2 1/2 days. I'm currently not employed and paying for this program wasn't an easy decision but I am desperate for help. So I'm hoping my money was spent wisely.

Is it just me or is anyone else's skin picking habits triggered by body image or other insecurities?

What happens when a therapist also lives with trichotillomania... and another is also the parent of two children with BFRBs (skin picking and hair pulling)?

You get a conversation that's honest, relatable, and unlike most discussions about hair pulling and skin picking.

Join Meryl Da Costa and Laura Santner as they talk about the realities of living with, treating, and supporting people affected by BFRBs.

Register: www.skinpick.com/webinar

It ranges from picking at ingrowns on my bikini line to picking dry skin off my labia lips. I'm married and I'm sure my husband notices that I have my hands in my pants a lot (it's incredibly embarrassing) but I've never spoken to him about it and don’t know how to explain it. It's so weird because it's not masturbation or enjoyable, just compulsive picking until my skin is raw. I'm really struggling

I have read so many stories of people going months without picking before a relapse and my longest is 72hrs. Since starting the program about 3 weeks ago I was on track and felt confident but this week I fucked up and picked badly for a few days. I hate that my brain goes to "yeah it's fine to pick just one of those scabs to find the hair" I know I'm only human but if anyone else is having this frustration I would love to connect or for some peer help

I recently got an LED light therapy mask, the ones that look like a robot face, and I have been having good results with it, and I was curious if anyone else has experience with one of these?
The one I have is a cheaper model, but is certified to have light in the therapeutic range. I've been alternating one day with red light and the next day with blue light. Sometimes on flash mode, sometimes not.
It seems that the places I pick at on my face are healing a bit faster, and that it is decreasing new blemishes from appearing, areas that I would definitely pick at if they were there.
I originally was trying the red light saunas available at Sun Tan City (don't worry, I wasn't using the tanning beds, just the spa treatments! ♥️), but it was too expensive and time consuming. However, if I had the time and money, I would do the full body red light sauna all the time because it's so relaxing and would maybe clear up the spots I pick that aren't just on my face.
These are fairly new technologies, and none of my close acquaintances have done them, so I was curious if anyone else here had tried them.