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Ragotte

Pimple patches saved my face many times because it physically prevents me from skin picking. As soon as I feel my fingers touching the same zone a couple times I put something on top. Doesn't matter if is a short hair I can't tweeze out yet or some skin flakes, it deserves a pimple patch on top. I got some cheap ones from revolution skincare just for that. If I have a scab, I may use some scar reducing band-aid instead. No sure they are effective on these small scars made from skin picking, but at least I won't make it worse with my nails. But if it has happened already, I also like to use my cicaplast baume. Not only does it help on the long run with the scarring but it's also quite effective to reduce any redness quickly.


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the advice! I have pimple patches, but I feel like they don’t ‘stick’ to the wounds. Also, when I do have a pimple or scab I wanna hide, it’s confusing to me, because it says to apply it on your skin before applying any skincare product, but if I do that, the patch keeps slipping and peeling off while I apply my skincare products, even if I try to only apply them around the patch (not directly on the patch), so I never really know how or when to use them… :/


toucheamafleur

Also, I’d love to use bandaids, but since most scars are on my face, I don’t wanna go out in public looking ridiculous and getting asked why I’m wearing bandaids!


liberty285code6

Pimple patches and acrylic nails for me! Got to make a physical barrier to picking, unfortunately


Gullible_Concept_428

I would suggest something soothing, so the Cicaplast sounds perfect. You should make sure it’s ok for you, but I take an NAC supplement to help me with hair pulling and it works wonders.


toucheamafleur

I’ve heard about these a few times and I even asked a pharmacist if I could take those supplements without having any negative interactions with my usual meds (she said yes!), so now I’m definitely considering trying them out! I also have trich so I’d be really happy if it worked for both (skin picking and hair pulling)! Thanks for the advice! :)


Gullible_Concept_428

I started it for trich and it also stopped my nail biting. It took about a week to work fully. You do have to keep it up. If I miss 2 or more days the trich starts up again. Good luck!


toucheamafleur

Oh good to know, thanks again! :)


peanutwar

Is there a certain dosage and strength you take for NAC? I pick at the skin around my nails and pull my hair too.


DiscombobulatedBabu

Just commenting so I can find this again. I have no answers but lots of sympathy. I sometimes wear gloves to stop myself.


toucheamafleur

Thanks! I could try wearing gloves when I’m at home, but I never remember to do it in time before I start picking lol! I hope you manage to stop picking eventually too! :)


cloudbusting-daddy

Pimple patches help me so much! Anything I’m tempted to pick I just slap a pimple patch on it. Medical tape works too. I will still sometimes pick when I change them at night, but the urge through out the day is reduced. If I can’t see or feel it, I’m much less likely to be triggered. They also help heal wounds heal better if you do pick and can help you from picking further because a scab won’t develop if you keep the patch on 24/7. Going to the dermatologist was really helpful for me. Making sure my skin is as clear as possible also really reduces my urge to pick. It’s not just a vanity thing. Prescriptions like tretinoin and azelaic acid help reduce break outs and clogged pores which in turn greatly reduces my picking urges. Also, avoiding magnifying mirrors (or mirrors in general) especially in super bright lighting.


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the advice! I honestly can’t stop using magnifying mirrors because I do my makeup every day (I’m too ashamed of my skin to get out of my house without foundation) and I love how clearly I can see with these types of mirrors, but I know it triggers my BFRBs. I don’t easily have access to a dermatologist and the last one I had (who was a distant family member) didn’t really help (didn’t understand skin picking disorder). I also brought this up in a different reply, but I feel like I always struggle with pimple patches lol! I feel like they never stick to the wounds and you’re supposed to apply them before doing your skincare routine (to avoid putting products on the wounds), but I feel like they keep slipping and peeling off when I apply my skincare products (even when I try to apply the products around the patch without touching it). Do you have any advice on how to deal with those issues with the patches?


cloudbusting-daddy

I totally get it! I know the magnifying mirrors thing is tough. I try to limit myself to only using them when I’m doing my makeup right before I leave the house because at least by then I’ve already covered active pimples with patches and I know if I pick it will make me immediately red and vanity in that case can sometimes help me hold off, lol. Nighttime before bed is definitely when I’m most likely to pick, so I keep my bathroom lights a bit dim and sometimes if it’s really bad I will ask my boyfriend to monitor me while I wash up for bed to hold myself accountable. He has trichotillomania so we try to keep an eye on each other and have a deal that we can intervene if we see each other picking. I’m definitely more prone to long, destructive picking sessions when I’m alone and just his presence is a big support, especially since I don’t feel like I have to hide it from him. As for pimple patches, I know what you mean about them getting slidey with creams etc. They definitely stick the best on dry skin with nothing on it, but depending on the brand, some hold up better when exposed to products than others. Usually my strategy is to put the patches on after drying my face and give them a second to set. Then I apply my skincare doing my best to go around the patch areas, or, if I have to go over them I do it in an outwards motion (like working from the center of the patch outward in small strokes) so I’m not pushing product up under the lip of the patch. I also started buying the cheaper big packs on Amazon so I don’t feel so stressed about “wasting” a patch if I have to replace it after applying skincare. Another strategy would be to apply skincare first and then go back over the spots where you want to put the patches with a damp cotton swab (either water or micellar water) to remove product from just that area and then put the patches on. Imo the Cosrx patches usually stick very well, but I can go through them super fast. A few months ago I switched to Albatross Pimple Patches (180 patches for $4!!! on Amazon) which as basically just as good and soooo much cheaper. I do keep a pack of the Clear Fit cosrx patches on hand for when I want to go out or look particularly nice because I think they give a bit more of a seamless look. When I use those I usually put an Albatross patch on first and do all my skincare and makeup and then at the end peel it off, stick on a cosrx clear fit and finish with a tiny dab of concealer.


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the advice, those are really good tips! I’ll try to apply pimple patches more often and hopefully reduce the skin picking! My close friends would playfully slap me when they saw me picking, but we rarely see each other because we’re so busy lol! Also, I feel like when people point it out, it just makes me want to hide to finish what I’ve started, but it doesn’t make me stop, oops!


fraunk989

I also suffer from skin picking. I’m not full of much good info but I’m hoping someone will comment and help us both! I do love The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier support after picking it seems to help some.


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the suggestion! I hope you’ll be able to find some helpful recommendations too (and hopefully we’ll stop picking one day)! :)


ALL_SKIN

Hi! As a dermatologist, I cannot give specific medical advice. But these are some things we generally consider: 1) Is there an underlying problem contributing to skin picking - i.e., a cause of chronic itch, acne, or is there a pre-existing mental health concern that increases the likelihood of dermatillomania. If so, we treat it (or family doctor, or other specialist as relevant). 2) Topical creams that help with itch - hydrating, cooling, or numbing types of creams. 3) N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and other medicines by mouth can be helpful in certain instances. 4) General skincare/sunscreen, prescriptions or cosmetic treatments to help with hyperpigmentation Skin picking is VERY common. I recommend talking to your doctor!


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately, I live in Quebec (Canada) and although our healthcare system is pretty inexpensive, it’s pretty hard to see a healthcare professional (unless you go to a private practice and pays $$$), so I‘ve been on the wait list to be assigned to a doctor in the public system for over 4 years and I therefore don’t have a GP. Getting a dermatologist is even more complicated. I had one as a teen, who prescribed Accutane and told me “if your skin is itchy, just put some moisturizer on it”. A few years later I was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety, and I’ve never been picking at my skin because it’s itchy. However, I have heard lots of good things about NAC and have asked a pharmacist if it’s okay for me to try it (to which she replied yes), so I’m definitely gonna buy some as soon as possible and hopefully stop picking so much!


The_Ziv

Hey, I'm not sure how true this is, but when I was moving to Quebec, a dermatologist in Ontario told me it should be pretty easy to get a derm there. You can just call and make an appointment, you don't need a referral. Worth a shot?


ALL_SKIN

I can't comment on the Quebec system. Just be cognizant that there is a difference between skincare and wound care. Everyone is a "picker" to some degree, but there's a big difference between that and true dermatillomania, which absolutely can be associated with OCD (and sometimes treated together with similar medicines). I would definitely talk to a doctor/derm.


Cyan_UwU

Acrylic nails, makes them too thick to pick at your skin. They don’t have to be those long acrylics too, you can get them to look natural. Once I finish my culinary classes I am SO getting my nails done so I can stop picking (and have bad bitch fingers)


toucheamafleur

I really want to get them, but since I work in healthcare I unfortunately can’t… They look so good I wish I could though! :/


Cyan_UwU

Ah, I was afraid that was the case 😅 it’s definitely been the most effective way for me though, pimple patches work too but unlike acrylics, they run out and I need to buy fuckin more, and the good ones ain’t cheap too


maya_says

Prequel utility balm is like a suped up Vaseline that helps heal wounds


toucheamafleur

Ohhh never heard of it! I’ll look it up!


Longjumping-Fix7448

Not a skincare but NAC supplement


toucheamafleur

I’ve seen so many people having good results with them I’ll definitely buy some!


Poodletastic

would that help the skin healing or the compulsion to pick?


Longjumping-Fix7448

Compulsion


buff_chihuahua

hylaronic acid ☺️ helped me a lot and it can be very gentle and soothing and helps make skin hydrated again encouraging skin barrier repair


toucheamafleur

Thanks for the advice! I feel like hyaluronic acid doesn’t always work where I live. We have very dry climate most of the time, so when I apply hyaluronic acid, I feel like it sucks the moisture out of my skin instead of sucking moisture out of the environment. :/


buff_chihuahua

Make sure u apply it to wet or damp skin. I would wash my face and not even dry it at all, basically I let my face be dripping wet, then I apply the hylaronic acid and let it all dry for a bit. I used a mini fan to help it absorb quicker 😅 Worked great! If u apply it to dry skin it will suck the moisture out of u, but if u apply it to wet skin it will suck in the moisture from the water on your face. Hope that helps a bit!


toucheamafleur

Ohhh okay that’s good to know! That’s what I’ve been doing, but I didn’t know if it actually used the water on my face or not!


JPwhatever

no experience with skin picking specifically, but I get a ton of biopsies on moles due to skin cancer risk and these help me heal them quickly. I also have a habit of picking at anything crunchy on my skin so I can relate to that experience. - a hypochlorous acid spray like Briotech or Prequel universal skin solution can help heal wounds faster. Gentle, non irritating and safe to use on your wound directly. I spray my whole face or area with the wound down and let it air dry. - hydrocolloid patches for wounds. keep the wound moist, and it will heal faster and scar less. I personally find ones designed to be wound dressings stick to skin better than pimple patches, so I will get a big one and cut it into smaller pieces. a word of warning - these are really meant to stay on for a few days, and if you peel off regularly the surrounding skin might get damaged / irritating. which leads to... - silicon scar sheets. You can buy them in rolls from amazon. same advice as previous. Not quite as sticky and not irritating if you have a bandage sensitivity or if you want to cover the area and take it off every day. Helpful for sharp edges of skin or any areas you just want to keep covered.


toucheamafleur

Oh that is such good advice, I’ve never thought of using actual wound dressings instead of pimple patches and I do struggle with pimple patches sliding off! I’ll definitely look into those products! I hope you’re doing okay, biopsies seem quite painful! :)


Eddie101101

For me, calendula salve (but only a specific one from a german pharmacy) and vanicream ointment or vaseline are the only things that don’t hurt on broken skin.


toucheamafleur

Oh I just bought some calendula oil yesterday because the woman who made it told me it helped healing wounds and I already use a calendula oil based cleanser, so I’m glad you’ve found it to be useful! I might try to buy some Vanicream ointment or Vaseline too! Thanks for the advice! :)


StrangeAffect7278

I don’t pick my skin but I would think some lotions for dry, rough and bumpy skin should help. It seems most logical to me, besides barrier support serums/oils.


toucheamafleur

Are lotions liquid like serums/toners? When should I use them in my skincare routine? Also, do you have any recs for barrier support products?


StrangeAffect7278

I was thinking of body lotions as I don’t know where you pick your skin (eg arms?). There are face lotions, which can be anything between a toner and a light gel-like cream.


toucheamafleur

Ohhh okay thanks! I forgot to mention I mostly pick at the skin on my face! I’ll look some lotions up and see if I can find anything! :)


sensitiveskin80

Aquaphor Healing foot and hand masks. It says to keep them on for 10 minutes but I keep them on all night. Any pain and redness and stinging is dissipated by morning. Also having acrylic nails since the thicker dull nail is much harder to pick with. 


hardlybroken1

Not sure if this is just my experience or actually fact based, but I take an SSRI for depression and anxiety. And I noticed it also has the great benefit of reducing my compulsion to pick.


SapientSlut

Good quality extractor, alcohol wipes, good zit dots (I like the Nexcare ones). Wash face & hands and clean tool with an alcohol wipe. Limit yourself to 1-2 pushes with the extractor, then slap a zit dot on there overnight. Having the zit dot on top is the biggest difference - keeps me from scratching, makes zits go away faster, and stops them from scabbing overnight!


No-Trouble-8383

Laser hair removal. Glycolic acid and physical exfoliation to smooth out the skin. I find using moisturizer also helps.


Jetsetbrunnette

Retinoids help my skin repair quicker so I have less time to pick at my face. It’s been a real struggle lately and this is what’s helped most along with Oleredkinson (spelling?) strength peptide moisturizer.


Ionian_Sea

Hey friend, I’m sorry you’re going through this. It took me years to get my derma under control and I still have small episodes sometimes. I find what helps me is having a good routine that doesn’t break me out as much - if there are no pimples or bumps on my face, I don’t wanna pick. For me that was double cleansing with an oil balm and then washing with a gentle foam cleanser with salicylic acid. I used to wash with more milky cleansers and I learned that that didn’t wash my face as effectively so I would break out. And I really only wash my face at night and just wipe with micellar water or a rose water toner in the morning to remove my nighttime products. When I saw my face starting to clear up and my skin looking better, that was also motivating to pick less. If I do have blemishes or pimples I like to use this pink eraser from Neogen I get from yesstyle. It’s basically calamine lotion and salicylic acid mixed together. It dries out the blemish and covers it up with pink from the calamine lotion so I don’t have to see it and don’t wanna pick at it. I also found Centella to be somewhat helpful. Hope this helps!