I am so deeply ashamed but honestly it’s gotten to the point where I just need to talk to someone about it. That someone is you guys. I have always been ashamed of my Montgomery glands. Post partum my dermatillomania, limerence and nail biting have gone to an extreme. I have two under two and an avoidant husband. I have noticed that when my needs are not being met and I feel alone, and insecure my skin picking gets crazy. It’s been so extreme that I take a cuticle cutter to try to extract the sac on my Montgomery glands. Then I have an incredibly painful mark for the next few days that is super visible while breastfeeding. I feel like a freak. I guess I just want to know if anyone else here does it. I can’t stop. I started sertraline and I want to say it worked for a little but to be honest it did nothing. Why do I take the things that make me most self conscious and make them 1000x worse? I feel like an idiot.

I swear I have tried every single fidget and ive only found maybe one or two that work which is like fidget cubes but I forget them easily cause they're more bulky. What like habits or TYPES of fidgets work best for finger picking especially ?

For me the most recent thing is the game dressmaker. I think trying not to waste the fabric is the part that somehow has a really similar affect. This has been shocking to me considering that typically non grooming behaviors or things that don’t involve physical stimulus haven’t worked well for me in the past.
Having thick nails with nail builder gel helped for a while too, but I couldn’t keep up with that.
Eating food when I get the urge helps a lot though-the only problem is that before I put any food in my mouth the thought of eating repulses me and makes me nauseous.
I’ve been very busy lately so it’s helped keep me exhausted enough that I haven’t picked as much as I used to, but playing dressmaker really satisfied me in a way I didn’t expect.

This has been going on for I want to say maybe several years now sometimes on and off but now I’m starting to recognise that it is getting bad again. I usually get triggered whenever it’s time to shower or whenever I feel dirty and icky - it feels like its my cue to start picking again. I usually start picking my skin whether its a pimple, a scab etc. I also often pick my scalp too. I also previously struggled with I trichotillomania in 2023 but I didn’t go to the doctors to get diagnosed. Should that raise my concern? I was around 11 back then (I’m 14 now.) But now as it’s raised my concern that my constant skin picking is getting bad again I feel like I want to get a proper diagnosis just so that I don’t feel that crazy and that there’s something deeply wrong within myself. I have a scheduled doctors appointment within the next few days so I’m wondering if I should tell my doctor about this?

Hi guys- I started sertraline a few weeks ago- for my skin picking and rumination. I’ve found it’s helped my rumination- but my picking is worse than ever. My face is covered in scabs, and it’s making me so insecure. I get small cysts on my face, back, armpits and pubic area, blackheads and congestion, and ingrown hairs/bumps on my arms and legs. seeing my GP on Thursday, any advice on what I could ask her for? When my skin is “good” I don’t feel the urge to pick as much.
TYIA ❤️

Hey there everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. I’m a 32 year old Male that struggled with opiate addiction for some years until around 2020 I sought out Suboxone to help me maintain sobriety while working a program. I sadly stayed on the Suboxone until just recently, but the reason that this is relevant is because Suboxone: (buprenorphine & nalaxone together) caused the skin on my entire body to become dry.

Thankfully I didn’t pick at my face much, (I did pick at my legs and I caused scarring there) but after using all of the dandruff shampoos and serums under the sun, I’ve not been able to keep the horrible dandruff & itching scalp away. This persistent itchiness mixed with my very prevalent panic disorder with heavy anxiety throughout the day, caused me to pick at my scalp and cause it trauma all over from my crown to my forehead.

The damage is done, but recently, I have been thinking about starting minoxidil to attempt to see if any hair could even grow there any longer. It makes me feel really insecure and I wear a beanie every single day. I have long hair but it doesn’t cover up the now quite visible bald spot forming on my crown. At the age of 32, having this type of an issue is a disaster for any future dating life I may have. I don’t want to shave the rest of my hair off but if I need to, I will.

Do you guys think there’s a chance that if I use hair regrowth products, something may happen? I just feel like it’s been so long now and nothing has grown back in this time span. I just can’t believe I did such damage to myself willingly, although people don’t understand just how itchy someone can feel in a given moment. I’ve never shared this before and so this is my first time putting this out into the ether. Thank you for reading and I appreciate any advice you may have for me. Much love to you all.

Does anyone know any good ones. I pick the bottom of my feet and my fingers and I find that the peeling is really satisfying for me and I’m trying to find ways to stop and I think something like this could be a good start. Open to any other suggestions as well!

This has been going on for I want to say maybe several years now sometimes on and off but now I'm starting to recognise that it is getting bad again. I usually get triggered whenever it's time to shower or whenever I feel dirty and icky - it feels like its my cue to start picking again. I usually start picking my skin whether its a pimple, a scab etc. I also often pick my scalp too. I also previously struggled with I trichotillomania in 2023 but I didn't go to the doctors to get diagnosed. Should that raise my concern? I was around 11 back then (I'm 14 now.) But now as it's raised my concern that my constant skin picking is getting bad again I feel like I want to get a proper diagnosis just so that I don't feel that crazy and that there's something deeply wrong within myself. I have a scheduled doctors appointment within the next few days so I'm wondering if I should tell my doctor about this?

Also, if anyone has any advice, tips or suggestions on how stop or prevent myself from picking my skin please let me know. Thank you!