l pick at my pimples a lot.l suppose that is normal for any girl.l also do it to other people, which can also be within the bounds of normalcy...
But sometimes l pick at blemishes until a bleed.If there is a dark spot on my skin, I am convinced there is something there that l can bring to the surface, even if it turns out not to be a pimple.l can not let it go.So l end up with a lot of little scabs and marks.
l also bite the inside of my cheek, so l also have sores inside my mouth constantly.And whenever l get a ruptured taste bud, l have to bite or pick it off.The bump just bothers me.So even though it hurts like hell, l get rid of it.Problem is, this usually makes more ruptured taste buds, and for a few days l keep picking, until l invariably get one so big that blood pours out of my mouth.
If this sounds unbelievably messed up and you have no idea why anyone would do this, please do not bother answering.

The thing is, l do not do these things because I am nervous, or depressed, or because it bleeds, or because it hurts.l just do it.The bumps bother me, the dark spots bother me.And I am not a control freak in any other parts of my life.I am not a neat-freak or a health-freak or anything...

And believe me, I've been to a lot of doctors about this.Three psychiatrists, three psychologists.I've been prescribed medications.Though the ones I am taking now work for my depression and anxiety, none of them have EVER been able to stop the picking.I've been doing it for four or five years now.And all the counselors seem to think it is a nervous reaction, but really, most often l do it when I am bored or thinking a lot.Not nervous or depressed.
And l can not seem to stop.Even though l tell myself it will leave nasty scars, and the open sores lower my immune system.Whenever l try to stop, l last maybe two days.Then l wanna do it again to reward myself.

Does anyone have any alternate ideas?Why do l do this, and how can l stop?
And to preempt certain medication suggestions... I've been on Xanax, Seroquel, Lexapro, Prozac, and am now on Cymbalta and Trazodone, which work for my depression and anxiety.None of those did anything for the picking though.

Thanks for any valid ...
I will always find something to pick though.Everyone gets pimples from time to time.And if l do not have them, l end up picking at freckles, moles, the mysterious blue dot on my knee.

And l have discussed the possibility of OCD with doctors.. none of them think it likely, because it is not severe enough.l do not think I will die or anything if l do not pick... l just can not stop doing it.

it is not normal.
i do not know.

Sound like you should treat your skin. If you have nothing to pick at will you still pick? Other than that you should find a doctor that will treat OCD, that may be your problem.

maybe you're just anxious l bite my nails. try doing something with your hands,like beading,or maybe a cellphone or a ball just something you can fiddle with. good luck.

i've had a bunch of habits, trust me.been there done that. l also used to pop my pimples, but now l don't.

one thing that works sometimes is to just tell myself to stop. l do not see how this can not work for you, because YOU control ur body; not ur habits. If u really care about stopping, just stop. SIMPLE as that.

Stop touching ur face. l dont really think l would feel comfortable if u touched mine too. first, you're getting more bacteria on ur face by ur fingers, second, popping the pimples just forces the pore open & viola, more bacteria goes in, & travels to other pores. if you're informed about how pimples form, l think it'd be easier to stop picking them.

Lastly, with ur cheek.do something with ur mouth. chew gum. if u do not have any, just test yourself to see how long u can go with keeping ur teeth shut tight. or, just chew on nothing.

but.honestly the only thing l can tell u is just to stop. it is not the doctors' fault that u cant quit, it is your's. u just have to keep telling yourself it is wrong.

P.S. l used to have the same problem, l used to pick my lips all the time. usually l used to pick them till they bled, but i've stopped. been there done that

Its called trichodermatillia (or something to that effect)
It is a form of OCD. They prescribe Luvox for it most frequently. Try wearing a rubber band around your wrist, and every time you feel the urge to pick at yourself snap the bracelet. This also helps victims of self injury.

l agree that this is probably some form of ocd. there r all kinds of disorders like this from picking, to obsessive plucking (of eyebrows) to the pulling out of one is own hair. l think u should make an appointment with a therapist just to see if you're within the realm of ''normalcy'' or if this is something that need to get under control.

aside from medication, there is ''work'' u need to do to overcome obsessive tendencies. a doctor can help u come up with a strategy. good luck!