02/22/2026
"I'm over because I'm tired of it taking over hours of my time.
I've been picking for as long as I can remember, but it has definitely worsened through high school and into college. It used to be mostly my legs, then my fingers, and now its pretty much all over; my arms, shoulders, legs, face.
My mom's answer was to get me allergy tested, though that never helped. It was only when I started to get therapy that I realized it was an actual disorder, though I always knew it wasn't just allergies. Unfortunately, even now when I try to explain to my mom what Dermatillomania is, her answer is still to go to the dermatologist for allergy testing (again).
As frustrating as these experiences have been, It's been so helpful to be able to understand Dermatillomania and also to find a community that knows what it's like.
It's hard trying to explain it to friends, especially when unintentionally negative comments make me less inclined to share.
As I work on my other mental health issues (OCD, depression, anxiety), I am hoping that my skin picking will get better as well as I learn new techniques to cope with the anxiety and other triggers that drive me to pick. " - Michelle, 20, Ohio
Read more stories and share your own at pickingme.org/shareyourstory.
And connect with the community IRL at pickingme.org/con!
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