Dermatillomania - Picking skin on fingers OCD

For as long as I can remember, I have picked at the skin around my nails. I have picked and picked until sometimes they have been sore and bleeding, though I go on to do it again and again. I can grow my nails fine though I choose to keep them short as I can do more damage with longer nails.

I will be honest and say that it wasnt until a few weeks ago I was laid in bed one night and couldnt sleep which is mainly due to my anxiety and depression I suffer with. I usually get my BlackBerry and search google for anything I can think of while waiting for sleep to come and on this occasion after a good session of picking I found I suffer from a condition called Dermatillomania, or obsessive skin picking.

The lengths I have gone to over the years and what my poor fingers have suffered isnt nice. If I sew anything with needle and thread i cannot help but use the hard skin on my fingers to sew my fingers together. it doesnt hurt, it just feels strange. Then i pick at all the hard skin until I am sore.

So.. according to experts, its a type of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Now in all fairness I thought everyone picked at their skin. I didnt know it was something that was considered as self injury, though after doing research, it seems some people dont just pick their fingers. Scabs or any hard skin or spots can be picked until they bleed. It hurts, yes but thats also part of the satisfaction for some people.

As self harm can be, Dermatillomania is usually from stress, anxiety or upset and can be a way of releasing tension though the urge to pick is overwhelming and searching for a spot to dig at can provide a heap of relief.

Not everyone gets satisfaction out of picking at their fingers like i do, though it is the most common place. Other areas include;

Face, Chest, Back, Shoulders, Lips, and of course finger nails and toe nails. Everyone picks to a certain degree. Some people just pick in general, and others such as myself, pick until i cant pick no more. I have often resorted to plasters and anticeptic cream to cover up the damage i cause myself.

I dont expect to ever be cured of this as i do in a strange way get some kind of pleasure from it. It drives my boyfriend mad as i pick pick pick while he is watching tv or trying to get to sleep and holds my hands so i cant do it!

If you do find that it takes over your life to the point where you are no longer comfortable with what you are doing, it is always best to speak to a healthcare professional such as your GP or therapist, which can go deeper into the meaning of what your doing.

There are also websites that can provide more information though Dermatillomania is something that doesnt get a lot of press (not in the UK)

Thanks for reading my brief Hub... I'm picking already!