Below, you'll find up-to-date, useful skincare products for treating and managing dermatillomania, skin-picking disorder (SPD), or excoriation disorder. A summary of the skin-picking disorder is just below, and the article ends with more resources for those suffering from this body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB).
I suffer personally from dermatillomania and aim to provide hope and support to others with the same disorder. You are not alone! There is hope and help for dermatillomania and other BFRBs.
Created by Kay Uimari, creator of Rose-Minded, B.S. in Psychology, MSW Therapist Student Intern, Recovery Specialist and Case Manager in IOP for serious mental illness (SMI), Mental Health and Social Justice Advocate, and specializing in crisis intervention, management, and safety planning. Kay also has personal experience managing mental illness. She is currently facilitating groups and educational courses for adults with SMI and finishing her Master’s program.
You can find Kay on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. For more about Kay, visit Rose-Minded's About page to continue reading. This page may contain affiliate links and/or ads; for more information about how we protect your privacy, please read our disclaimer.
I also have been diagnosed with Dermatillomania, or Skin-Picking Disorder (SPD), which is more than just popping a few pimples each night.
What's Included in This Article
Dermatillomania, commonly known as 'skin-picking,' is an excoriation disorder. This disorder affects many people suffering from anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar, or other mental illnesses. Dermatillomania is an intrusive, destructive, painful, and often embarrassing disorder that affects around 2% to 3% of the general population (SP).
These numbers seem small, but 3% of the population equals around 22.8 million people (not including the high number of unreported cases). Some research suggests that 1 in 20 people may suffer from dermatillomania, raising the previously estimated number to 38 million sufferers.
What is Dermatillomania?
This skin-picking disorder is precisely what it sounds like, the behavior of repeatedly and uncontrollably picking at one's skin. Dermatillomania is an impulse control disorder and Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) with signs and symptoms of body dysmorphia.
This disorder can cause plenty of physical and sometimes permanent damage. Many people with a skin-picking disorder pick at the pores or skin on their face, chest, arms, legs, hands, and more until scarring, bleeding, or open wounds occur. Sometimes individuals with SPD will pick at scabs, open wounds, infections, dry skin, and more. Certain individuals do not feel pain during skin-picking behaviors, while others do not mind the pain. Part of the SPD diagnosis has persistent and dysfunctional behaviors that disrupt everyday life. Be sure to seek a professional diagnosis if you feel your skin-picking behaviors may be abnormal.
A similar condition, trichotillomania, differs from dermatillomania. The sufferer doesn't pick at their skin but pulls their hair and damages hair follicles. These body-focused disorders, or Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), can co-occur and cause excess tissue and hair follicle damage.
“It feels like the ultimate loss of control. Loss of control over my own body. How it feels, how it looks, what it does to itself. If I can’t control these things, what can I control? It feels like helplessness, hopelessness, and unworthiness all tied together into something others tell me I can just stop doing.”
— Nikki G.
“I don’t have hobbies. My skin is my hobby. Constantly reading, researching and trying to figure out why I do this, how can I stop and what is wrong to make me want to pick and pick and pick.”
— Lauren D.
“I [sit] in front of a mirror with tears streaming down my face, telling myself not to [do] this again. But knowing until I’m a bloody mess, literally and figuratively, I can’t pull myself away.”
— Nikki C.
“It feels like not even letting your closest friends see you until you’ve put cover-up on. It feels like masking pain… It feels like I’m ruining my body. It feels lonely.”
— Cat R.
Examples of Skin After Picking and During Healing Phases
[Warning- May be disturbing, triggering, or otherwise uncomfortable for some. Please be advised before looking through photos.]
The pictures above show my dermatillomania progress as I learned the products and practices that worked and those that didn't. The following seven products are recommended from using them personally or hearing/reading from others with dermatillomania and what works best for them.
Keep checking back; we will update this list as we find new skincare products recommended by us or others! If you have a recommendation you would like to be included, leave us a comment at the end to let us know.
7 Skin Care Products for Dermatillomania/Skin-Picking Disorder
Pick and choose from the following products below for help managing physical side effects from a skin-picking disorder.
(I am a mental health professional, not a psychiatrist or dermatologist, so always consult your doctor if you have any concerns!)
1. Glue-On (or Acrylic) Nails
One of the biggest helpers for reducing the damage that skin-picking can cause is using fake or acrylic nails. These nails have a much duller edge than your real/natural nails and will create fewer scrapes, cuts, and damage from scratches. My psychiatrist constantly reminds me to put on my fake nails when my skin gets bad (see below), so I can't cause that damage!
2. Finger Cot/Gel Finger Covers
I recently discovered that if I don't have time to put fake nails on, and if I want to put makeup on or look in the mirror for any reason: I should put on finger cots to prevent any picking! These cots are gel and thicker, so you can't damage your skin, even through the cots, from your nails.
I will put these on before I wash my face, before I put on makeup, and sometimes when I'm anxious or stressed, and am more likely to pick. Try them out; they're a super cheap solution!
See More on Finger Cots/Gel Finger Covers
3. Blue Light Acne Treatment
This light is a skin savior! I received the Blue Light Acne Treatment as a gift, and I've been using it ever since. The blue light safely kills bacteria in and on your skin while healing acne scars and preventing blemishes.
After just using this device for a couple of weeks, I saw noticeable results. My only recommendation is to apply moisturizer to your face directly after use.
Are mirrors one of the triggers for your skin-picking disorder? Do you often pick at your face whenever you find yourself in front of a mirror? Check out this sort of silly but effective solution for reducing visual triggers from or in the mirror.
Dark sunglasses block your ability to see the details on your face that you normally can see in a mirror with the lights on. This solution is helpful because you don't have to turn the lights off to use the restroom, you can still see what you're doing, and it's great for those who can't cover their mirrors because they have roommates or family who share the bathroom/mirror. The ones I bought were very cheap and still effective, don't spend a lot of money on expensive sunglasses just for the bathroom!
See More on Dark Sunglasses
Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap comes in plenty of different scents and varieties. This soap cleanses deeply, leaving your skin feeling thoroughly clean.
Use this soap in the shower for the best results! I use this soap as a body wash to clear out any excess dirt or debris, usually by lathering it up and exfoliating.
Clean your face with the castile soap first, then use a moisturizing cleanser after.
6. Hydrocolloid Patches/Stickers/Bandages
Hydrocolloid bandages may have been used for blisters in the past, but a new trend has recently shown that these patches, stickers, and bandages can suck the puss out of pimples too. They have so many sizes; my favorite is the XL patches that I put on my cheek (before OR after picking, which is the beauty) at night, and by the morning, I have reduced redness, size, and tenderness. You can see the puss stuck to the hydrocolloid patch after you take it off (gross... but cool).
See More on Hydrocolloid Patches/Stickers/Bandages
7. Kate Somerville Acne Spot Treatment
A spot fix is always a helpful solution when a pimple is forming, or you need to get rid of a big red spot quickly. A small container is also helpful for storing in your purse if you need an emergency spot fix after a sleepover or during travel.
"Kate's bestselling EradiKate™ Acne Treatment is formulated with the highest level of sulfur allowed to fight blemishes, reduce acne, and prevent new breakouts. BHAs help visibly reduce pore size, while natural mineral zinc oxide controls oil by absorbing excess sebum."
"Clinical Results: In an independent clinical study after just 1 hour- 94% showed visible improvement of breakouts."
Other Useful Information for Skin-Picking
If I could recommend any product for skin-picking, N-A-C vitamin/supplement would always be first. This supplement helps strengthen your immune system, brain, and lungs and is exceptionally beneficial for those with OCD or impulse-control disorders. I've been taking this supplement for a few months now, and I can completely notice the difference.
N-A-C supplements help reduce those strong urges to pick, it doesn't eliminate the urges, but I can always tell throughout my day if I remembered to take my N-A-C that morning. Always talk to your doctor before trying a new treatment option! I received the recommendation from my psychiatrist, so be sure to communicate with yours if you're interested in taking N-A-C.
You've heard your mom, wellness advocates, and health gurus tell you that "you need to be taking probiotics!" Well, they're right! Probiotics not only help your digestive system, intestines, brain functioning, and immune system, but they also can help clear up your skin.
Your digestive tract has tons of influence on your skin, your mental health, and your physical health. Taking probiotics can positively impact a collection of organs and bodily functions, so listen to the people encouraging probiotics and grab some!
Tips & Tricks for Managing Skin-Picking
Always, always, always wash your pillows and sheets (once a week)
Set a timer and record your progress during a time you often pick; track these times
Cut out dryer sheets- the waxy residue will stick to clothes and towels and could cause you to break out (switch to dryer balls!)
Get acrylic nails, or paint them if that works for you. Having acrylic nails prevents me from damaging my face (compared to when I have sharp nail edges). See product #1 above!
Replace the behavior. See "How to Finally Succeed at Breaking Bad Habits"
Wear makeup*. You read that correctly; when you wear makeup and aren't reminded throughout the day of your pores, scars, marks, or blemishes, you could be less likely to pick at your face (this is the case sometimes for me). *This may not benefit everyone, so use this advice cautiously. Find out what is best for you and your skin. Hydrocolloid patches often work best for me if I don't have to leave the house for a while, so I can't see anything on my face if I pass a mirror!
Clean off the front of your phone screen, not only if it touches your face but because your fingers touch it constantly. Imagine transferring new bacteria to your face, especially open wounds.
Don't over-medicate your skin with topical solutions. Your skin and pores need to breathe, and they can't do that if you're continuously applying products to an irritated or inflamed surface.
Drink water! This will help the excess dirt and grease flush out of your pores so your acne heals faster.
Find a distracting hobby. Use this hobby if you ever feel the urge to pick (make sure it's a hobby you enjoy that way, it's motivating). Switch up your hobbies to reinforce motivation and keep things fun.
Think about where you pick most often on your body. Can you cover this place up, so it's out of sight, out of mind (ex., chest, arms, legs)?
Think about when and where you decide to pick. Is it in the bathroom after you wash your face? Or is it in your room when you're sad/bored? Notice these patterns so you can be proactive in your recovery! Are mirrors your trigger? Stress and mirrors are my triggers!
Resources for Skin-Picking
Elements Behavioral Health - Call Today: 888.648.1941 (US); 562.521.0608 (International)
Modern Therapy - Use the discount code 'roseminded' for your first week of therapy- free.
Use these tips, resources, and skincare products to help your recovery and journey with dermatillomania. The skin-picking disorder has no guaranteed treatment options; therefore, success in recovery is uniquely independent. Mix and match the treatment paths to find the solutions that work in your favor, and remember, there's always hope, and you're never alone.
Don't let dermatillomania cause you to hide your beauty in shame, embrace challenges, and work to make a difference in your own life. Living with a body-focused repetitive behavior is difficult and distressing, but it doesn't have to define you.
If you have questions about dermatillomania, treatment options, my routine, etc., you can message me by visiting Rose-Minded's contact page. Comment on the products, resources, and tricks that work for you in the comments below (and scroll through others') to find more helpful tips for skin-picking.
Rose-Minded reaches more audiences when readers comment and share the articles they enjoy! If you have enjoyed an article, found resources that help, or just simply liked the website, please consider sharing an article. You never know who may be struggling!
Do you think you may have a skin-picking disorder?
Are you worried your picking behaviors are more than just the occasional pimple popping and cause you severe distress? As an MSW Student and Therapist Intern with a B.S. in Psychology, I have clinical experience with behavioral/mental health assessments, diagnosis, and treatment. As a human with a mental illness, I have survived dermatillomania for around ten years.
Due to not being licensed (yet), I cannot provide any of the clinical services mentioned above unsupervised. However, I am willing to provide educational services as an experienced Mental Health Recovery Specialist for clients interested in learning more about dermatillomania/skin-picking/excoriation disorder, its symptoms, treatment, and how their own behaviors may relate. Anyone concerned about distressing symptoms should consult a professional clinician for clinical assessment and diagnosis. As a therapist intern, I understand the importance of not self-diagnosing as a client and not diagnosing anyone as an unsupervised student.
Therefore I will be offering educational services as an experienced Mental Health Recovery Specialist, with relevant research cited for quality and evidence-based information, to individuals who are unsure if their symptoms align with excoriation disorder. I understand how daunting it can be to approach a clinician with concerns or even understand if your concerns are clinically valid. Therefore, the following educational services will be offered to those interested in learning more about not only surviving but overcoming skin-picking:
SPD Consultation:
Utilization of evidence-based research to identify what researchers, clinicians, and other experts deem symptoms of dermatillomania/skin-picking/excoriation disorder. Ex. Skin Picking Impact Scale (SPIS; Keuthen et al., 2001) & Skin Picking Scale- Revised (SPS-R; Snorrason et al., 2012). Comparison of this research during the consultation to the client's concerns (NO CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OR ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME).
Discussion of behavioral functionality of symptoms, motivations, triggers, alternative behaviors and coping skills, behavior tracking, and other recovery-focused services surrounding mental health treatment and recovery.
Case management services include referrals to appropriate service providers and professionals, education on accessing these services, and how to get started.
Access to personal experience from someone who has been clinically diagnosed with dermatillomania by a psychiatrist. No stigma, shame, or embarrassment attached.
Recommendations for skin care based on personal experience managing broken skin, including best practices and products.
SPD Consultation Services Coming 2023. Would this be helpful before visiting a clinician?
- This seems really helpful for people who are unsure
- This seems helpful depending on the price
- I would rather pay co-pay(s) without extra information
- I've been diagnosed with SPD but am interested in referrals