Together, we created small but meaningful reminders of kindness, simple affirmations written on “sticky notes” that can be placed anywhere we need a moment of compassion, grounding, or encouragement.

Each person wrote one note. Either for themselves or inspired by someone else in the room and then we read them aloud. In doing so, we didn’t just create a message; we gifted it to each other. And in return, we each received a whole collection of gentle reminders to carry forward.

With permission, we’re sharing these anonymously so that the kindness we created together can ripple outward to anyone who may need it. If one speaks to you, feel free to keep it, save it, or place it somewhere meaningful.

Here are some of the affirmations we shared:
-I'm kind to myself. I'm kind to my hands, to my skin, and to my mind.
-I am enough.
-It's ok to feel my feelings.
-This too shall pass.
-I don't need to run to or run from anything. I am safe.
-My only obstacle must be attitude — MOMBA.
-Live, because if not now, when?
-I'm able to take care of myself.
-Mistakes are gentle ways of growing.
-I am a distressed animal that needs help changing her environment.

These notes may be small, but they carry so much tenderness, courage, and truth.

If you’d like to share your own affirmation, feel welcome to add it in the comments. Your words may be a gift to someone else reading today.

Shame can make skin picking feel isolating, heavy, and impossible to escape. It can make you feel like you’re alone—even when you’re not. 💛

Join us for our upcoming webinar with host, Clinical Psychologist Maya Schonback: “Why Shame Keeps Us Stuck and What Helps Us Heal”.

Register here: www.skinpick.com/webinar-invite

In this compassionate session, we’ll explore how shame impacts your relationship with yourself, what keeps it going, and how self-compassion can help you start to shift it.

-Why Shame Keeps Us Stuck and What Helps Us Heal – Understand how shame affects recovery and how self-compassion can help you move forward.

-Calm the Urge: Using PMR for Skin Picking Relief – Learn a simple, body-based technique to ease tension and manage urges.

Both sessions are free to attend and open to everyone in our community.
👉 Don’t miss out. Register here: www.skinpick.com/webinar-invite

I’ve been struggling with skin picking for as long as I can remember, and some days it just feels impossible. Today has been one of those days, and I’m feeling really frustrated and kind of down on myself.

I was wondering if anyone has little ways they get through days like this? Just knowing someone else gets it would help.

Thanks for listening.

I had a pretty bad picking spree yesterday, I had to call out of work today because of it. What do you use for post picking healing? I'll use hypochlorous acid, hydrocortisone ointment, and zinc oxide ointment. I need to heal up soon for work

One of our amazing community members — who kindly gave us permission to share this — has created a painted fox on their mirror that helps manage urges to pick. She changes the image weekly, keeping it creative and fresh, which adds an extra layer of engagement and mindfulness.

It’s not just art; it’s a tool for stimulus control and a gentle reminder to moisturize and care for themselves instead of picking.

We’d love to hear from you: what’s your favorite strategy? Your idea could inspire someone else! 💛

Did you know we host monthly webinars designed just for our community?

Tomorrow, SkinPick therapist and Clinical Social Worker Laura Santner will be hosting a live Skin Picking Q&A. A safe, supportive space to get answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

💬 Want to submit a question in advance?
You’re welcome to:
-Comment below, or
-Email us at support@skinpick.com

🔗 Register here (Free): www.skinpick.com/webinar-invite

We’d love to see you there! 💛

Hello,

My name is Inês Pombo and I am a Master's student in Product Design at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon. I am developing a study entitled “How can design respond to the needs of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB)?”

I am looking for people who live with these behaviors to participate.

The questionnaire is short (≈15 min), anonymous, and the data will be used for academic purposes only.

👉 https://tally.so/r/3xexyd

If this applies to you, I would greatly appreciate your collaboration in responding to the form.

Thank you very much for your attention and availability!

This week is BFRB Awareness Week (Oct 1–7), and the theme is “BFRB Brave.” Living with a BFRB (body-focused repetitive behaviour) like skin picking or hair pulling can feel isolating, but being brave doesn’t mean doing it perfectly or announcing it to the world. For some of us, it might mean showing up for yourself, reaching out for support, attending a webinar, talking with a loved one, or simply being curious about what your body needs.

We’ve lined up live webinars with Lauren from the "Picking Me Foundation", personal stories from the community, a Q&A with SkinPick therapist Laura Santner, and Instagram Lives with Annela from "HabitAware" — all designed to help you feel seen, supported, less alone and not to forget to help spread awareness and help others understand this condition better.

I’d love to hear from you: what does being “BFRB Brave” mean to you this week?

I began picking at my face when I was 14- it used to be maybe once a month- then in the past 3 years it been almost every day- and this years it's been multiple times a day. I have tried everything to stop- pick pads, sending money to someone else everytime I did it, watching pimple popping videos, spending hundreds on skin care (even though I create the acne by picking) making threats/punishments for it, making rewards for not doing it, trying to transfer it somewhere else on my body, going on medication, going off medication, doing copious amounts of handcrafts, almost anything you can think of doing I have tried and it only gets worse and worse. It has genuinely destroyed my self esteem and desire to go out. I have now for the first year ever created permanent visible scarring on my skin, and makeup looks awful and I feel like just makes it look more obvious. I have become way more antisocial, and I never feel pretty anymore- my fiance also has this issue, and we both get so ashamed by it but also almost enable eachother because I think "Well she did, so I can do it too." I'm out of answers, and I won't even plan a wedding or take engagement photos because I can't handle my appearance- people have told me before they don't even notice- maybe their being honest but it's all I can see. Have any of you found long term success trying this program? I've had OCD therapy before but never for this specific issue- which is now my biggest one.

hey so i am a fifteen year old girl with a really bad skin picking problem. i have a little bit of folliculitis on my legs, pretty bad keratosis pilaris, and a little body and face acne. so basically i constantly have something pick at. it honestly just makes it worse and when i get stressed out i break out put my pciking also flares up which just does more damage. i feel like i'm always trying to get better but i never can. i really don't want to be stuck with this feeling my whole life. almost every part of my body has scars or red marks because i just couldn't stop picking, and i don't feel comfortable in swimsuits, shorts, lowcut shirts in the front or back, and showing my arms. i hate explaing to people why randomly a spot on my face started bleeding or on my arm, or why i can't go to the pool with my friends because my legs and bikini line are so jacked from picking. i don't know what to do.

I would like to start off by saying that I have missed you all, whether we've interacted or not.
Secondly, I am grateful for skinpick and the people putting in the work to help us through.
Next I absolutely love that this resource is available, with regard to this wall to post and chat with one another.
I won't tangent on this post, but I hope to help and be helped in everyway possible.
I love you all and know that I SEE YOU

Many times I've said "ok, this is the time I'm going to finally stop picking", then I'll get really excited about it, stop for a few weeks, then gradually relapse and return to the same amount of picking.

I just started another round of "finally gonna stop" and joined this community to try to get serious about it. Does anyone have suggestions for how to keep the momentum going and not relapse?

I'm new here. My 8-year old picks and has been picking for many years already. I’m trying to support them without making it worse, but it’s hard to know what to do. I often feel like I say the wrong things, and almost always, just don't know what to do to help them. Has anyone else been through this with a child?

Today was rough… my partner made a comment about my skin. I know they didn’t mean to hurt me, but it just made me feel even more ashamed. Does anyone else deal with this?

hi everyone, I'm finally taking the step to get some support for this struggle. I am 63 years old and have been dealing with this since I was probably nine with periodic times of less or more severe. I'm looking forward to connecting with people that are dealing with the same thing since it's just not talked about at all. Thanks so much for everyone in this journey.

Hey all, Sam here. Been around this rodeo a while - did therapy a few years back, mostly in maintenance now. I’m weirdly excited this community exists! early days can feel like you’re yelling into a void.

For me, two things survived the test of time:
swapped the bathroom bulb to something warmer/softer (the surgical spotlight vibe was not helping), and I keep cuticle oil on the sink. If I catch myself hovering, I do a quick hand massage. 60 seconds. It interrupts the autopilot.

Otherwise its ups and downs, depending on my general mood, the amount of excercise, diet etc. I learned to accept there's no magic cure to it.

Looking forward to getting to know folks in this community!

hey, i’m Ella. i pick mostly at my face + cuticles. just started actually doing things about it (timers, keeping nails short, that sort of thing).
saw the welcome posts and figured i’d try saying hi.

last night’s experiment: i played one short playlist while getting ready and forced myself to finish skincare at my dresser, not in front of the bathroom mirror. it wasn’t perfect but i got out of there faster and my hands stayed busy with hand cream. small win?

if anyone’s also new, what’s one tiny thing that didn’t feel overwhelming? even like “i turned the light down and left.” i’ll take crumbs of hope:)

Hi Community,
I can only absolutely agree with Meryl’s words.
As the Clinical Lead here at SkinPick I work closely with many clients suffering from Skin Picking Disorder.
One aspect, beyond the actual urges and picking that is so important to work on and resolve is the feelings of shame and embarrassment that many are burdened with.
So, my clients often ask me – how do I get rid of the shame. And, while there are therapeutic approaches that can help you change your mind set, become more self-compassionate and challenge negative beliefs – the best way to fight shame is sharing. Your shame wants you to hide yourself away. Opening up in a safe space is one of the best ways to relieve shame. So, joining our community and even a support group is part of the therapeutic process – no less than the sessions and talking to your therapist.

Hi, I’m Meryl Da Costa-Rohland, the Community Manager here, and I’m so excited to welcome you!

I work in this space every day, and as a parent with personal experience of BFRBs, I’ve seen how overwhelming and isolating it can feel and I want you to know you’re not alone. If you’re here, it’s likely that you or someone you love is living with skin picking. Shame often convinces us we’re the only ones, but the truth is we’re not, and we don’t have to go through it alone.

The BFRB community (which includes skin picking) is one of the most supportive and understanding groups I’ve ever been part of, and I’m so glad we can bring that support directly to you here.

This is your space to share, connect, learn, and feel less alone. No judgment. Just compassion, encouragement, and community.

We’re so glad you’re here, and I truly look forward to getting to know you.