"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I'm tired of constantly worrying about infections and noticing bloodstains on all of my clothing. I've lost a lot of time to skin picking and I'd like to find healthier ways to handle myself. I began skin picking when I entered middle school at 11 or 12. I have always had poor skin quality, as I have eczema and acne, and was met with traumatic experiences and bully from a fairly early age. Skin picking quickly became a method to control this anxiety, sift through memories, and meet other sensory needs I didn't know I had. This unintentional and often mindless self aggression has brought strain to many of my personal relationships (as it has been misinterpreted as self harm). While I was able to bring it down from gouging to more tame picking, I have not been able to drop this habit after at least 10 years of trying and any attempts to do so have been met with the arrival of new, more harmful habits. Finally getting diagnosed with autism, adhd, and ocd as well as getting the medication I need to handle that, I feel empowered to try again with a new understanding of why I pick. I am hoping to explore the different techniques offered here and elsewhere in order to do that." -Anonymous

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I want to take care of the one and only body I have, and that short "relief" only causes a world of hurt. I had a wake up call very recently. I couldn't stop touching my skin, and I sat in front of the mirror until my whole face was swollen and red. I have so much inflammation that, days later, the fluid is still draining from my face, my eyes are swollen, and I have multiple large areas of raw skin trying to heal. It's terrifying to look in the mirror and not recognize yourself. I'm missing out on fun plans with friends, because I need to heal.

I've picked at my skin and bitten ny nails from as young as I can remember, but until this episode, I didn't realize the extent of my struggle with excoriation disorder. Many times I've gone to the point of drawing blood and leaving open sores. During high school, I also suffered from cystic acne and along with my skin picking, and that combination absolutely destroyed my confidence and self-love. I hoped to have clear skin as I aged, but it hasn't happened (yet). Whether on my arms or shoulders or face, I could always find something imprefect to try and "fix."

But it's time to confront this, instead of running from and hiding it. I'm pursuing professional help and telling those closest to me about my struggles, as well as reaching out to lovely groups like this for support. Thank you all for letting me share my story." -Anonymous

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I’m tired of explaining why my fingers are bleeding. I’ve always been a picker and a nail biter. My entire family has anxiety so I’ve grown up thinking that it was normal. My dad picks at his fingers as well, but not nearly to the degree that I do. I’ve been told to “just stop” and that it’s “just an anxious habit” from dermatologists, therapists, and psychologists. It is frustrating to not have the validation that this is a real disorder to treat. I’ve always wondered how to answer the question, “what happened to your fingers?” without getting into a big explanation. This page has helped me so much in getting specified solutions for this problem." -@sally.janeee, Sally R., 21, Charlotte, N.C.

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I am beautiful with or without scars, because I am ready to embrace and love myself and accept me for who I am! I am ready to be free and happy and I refuse to be a prisoner to this condition anymore! I shared my story in an earlier post but I'd like to update. I am still picking at my skin, mostly my legs and feet now and my scalp. My feet hurt so bad, one of my feet is constantly swelling and I am in such pain. I have been using Dermablend to cover my arm and leg scars for years now. But I'm sick of covering it up! Yesterday I had to go to a meeting with this junk all over my arms and I was getting it on the car arm rests and my jeans and it felt ick and gross, and I noticed my skin looked all wrinkly and dry. And I thought to myself, how is this better than just going with clean, moisturized skin??? Even with scars? Yes, people are going to stare, but guess what? They already stare because I can't cover it completely with the makeup and it looks the wrong color and so it's not like I'm really hiding anything. But more than that...I'm just tired of hiding this, of having to feel ashamed that I've done this to my body and worrying if others will accept me and not laugh and point and whisper. They already do. So why not just own it, embrace it and feel comfortable and refreshed in my own skin? Because like it or not, these scars are part of me, and if people can't get past that then that says more about them than it does me. And if anyone asks what happened to my skin I will tell all about this condition, that it is real, that it not a "nasty habit" and hopefully finally educate some people out there. I hope others can get to this point too, it won't be easy and I'm sure I'll have many moments of feeling judged but I just want to be me, finally, scars and all!" -Anonymous, Michigan

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I want to live a normal teenage life (without dermatillomania), and because I know that I’m so much more than my mental illnesses. I want to feel good in my skin again. I’m a 14 year old girl, who struggles with dermatillomania for a couple years. It all started when I was in a toxic relationship, and absolutely lost myself. That was the time when I first started to lose control over skin picking. Since the breakup I’m trying to give myself the love that everyone else didn’t, but healing is still hard, especially when it comes to stressful situations (which I can’t handle pretty good). I can say that it’s extremely hard to struggle with mental illnesses at such a young age." -Anonymous, Budapest

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I don't want to wear bangs in public anymoreI'm Clara. I am from Italy and I am a skin picker. I am 12 years old. I found out three months ago that I have dermatillomania. I manage it (albeit still a little badly) with a psychologist who does cognitive-behavioral therapy. As said, I'm not handling it very well. I will often update you on my status, but just as I write this I bleed a little from my forehead. However, I would like to be present at the Zoom meeting on July 30th." -Clara, 12, Italy

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking I am worthy of overcoming this disorder and the emotional and physical damage it has caused me.I began picking around 11 years old the years before that I endured a lot of bullying regarding my appearance and just about every aspect of me. It first started on my scalp and lasted for 2 years since I was able to hide it. Then I was able to stop for a little bit but then it moved onto my face, mouth, chest, and back. I felt isolated, alone, scared, and felt like the odd one out. I know now that Social media expectations, anxiety, bullying, depression are a big part of why it started. I have gone to therapy for it which has helped some but much more research is needed because my therapist is not to informed on it and the effect it has on someone. So that’s why I’m sharing my story today. I don’t want to hide it anymore it’s something that is so draining and hard to battle. I really want to be able to see myself as beautiful regardless of my progress but continue to try not to pick. I have been logging down the days I have and haven’t picked and plan to buy myself a treat after 2 weeks of not picking. I am still having a hard time coming to terms with it because sometimes I think well mines not that bad but the thing is no matter the severity of my skin it’s something that has taken away the quality of my life. So, you reading this if that’s you please don’t compare yourself! I am more than this disorder and am worthy of feeling loved by not just myself but others too." -@consciousmessanger333, Mariela, 15, Texas

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I need to have a mammogram soon and I feel ashamed of my sores on my breasts. Hi I'm a 50 year old female who started picking and gouging at my stomach/chest/legs about 4/5 years ago. I don't know why I do it and I've tried so hard to stop. I wake up covered in blood with no memory of picking. I go to bed promising myself I won't pick. I have really good weeks when my sores heal up and I don't pick. Then I wake up and feel sore. I know I've picked. I feel ashamed, guilty and don't know what to do." -Nicci, 50, East Yorkshire

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I am tired of seeing judgement when others look at me like I am 8 years old again. I know I am worthy and I want others to know that too. I am not doing it for others though. I am doing it to get back my time, cultivate self love, and overcome a challenge. I have done hard things and I can do this too. I have struggled with picking at my face since my little sister was born 12 years ago. Upon her arrival I promptly pulled out all of my eyelashes and was punished and shamed by my family and peers. This habit moved to my eyebrows and back to my eyelashes as I grew but gradually disappeared as I was shamed so harshly. During late high school I started getting little bumps on my face. I picked at them and I couldn’t stopped and I haven’t stopped. My picking has progressed to the skin of my back and chest but mostly my face as I can stare at it forever and pick at any tiny price of skin that is not perfectly smooth. I feel intense shame and try to cover it with makeup daily." -Anonymous, 20

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because I am deserving of happiness and healing. I hid my picking for a long time and it felt inauthentic. Picking is a HUGE part of my life whether I like it or not and I was allowing it to own me. So I decided one day, I was going to own it. I started to nervously share and then before I knew it, I had created an Instagram page solely dedicated to that. Dermatillomania ruins you. It steals so much and is incredibly isolating. After I would pick (and then slump), I would always start searching on my phone, seeking connection. Needing something to help me in some way to make me feel less alone. It took me a long time to see my marks and still think I was beautiful. Recognizing that made me see where beauty comes from and that’s the inside. You shine from the inside out. You can struggle and pick and heal and struggle and pick and heal, endlessly. And you are still beautiful, worthy and completely enough. We can’t expect ourselves to be perfect all of the time but as long as we always show up for ourselves because we embody being worthy, we have the upper hand. What you truly are, is a healer. So keep healing and never ever doubt your worth. I have been picking for about 13 years and also struggle with OCD, anxiety and depression. My biggest motivator was becoming a mom. That’s not to say I have to be able to completely stop forever because that’s totally unrealistic for me. It’s to show my son, that I always tried and never give up on hard things. That I believe I am enough and worth it and always showed up for myself and him." -@markedskinkaralin, Karalin, 29, New York

"I'm #PickingMe over Skin Picking because ever since I picked my scalp I’ve suffered from tender head (which is sensitive scalp) and my scalp hurts every time I touch it. I’m also tired of people giving me weird looks every time I scratch I need it to stop. Ever since I was 11 or 12 I would pick my scalp, I didn’t know why but I felt like if I didn’t it would itch more and more and ever since then it’s gotten worse, it’s gotten to the point where I’ve woken up with a little blood on my pillow. I try to stop but I always have this endless need to itch cause if I don’t I feel like it wouldn’t get better." -Anonymous