Dermatillomania or Skin Picking Disorder’s Impact on Skin & Scalp

Have you ever had the constant urge to pick your skin or scalp? Or perhaps when you are reading or reading a book or doing something that needs focus, you find your fingers picking a wound, or your scalp? 

If yes, then congratulations, you do not have Dermatillomania. Dermatillomania is a psychological condition wherein a person compulsively picks their skin. The term “picks” would be an understatement. 

People who suffer from this “skin picking” disorder, often scratch their skin so violently that it starts to bleed. These people cannot stop picking their skin. 

Dermatillomania is also called Excoriation and it is one of the BFRBs. BFRB stands for Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior. 

Excoriation vs General Picking 

It is important to note that general skin picking should be confused with dermatillomania or excoriation. If general skin picking is a short walk, dermatillomania is a marathon that never ends.

Where general skin picking results in minor injuries that resolve on their own, dermatillomania causes far more severe injuries that lead to large wounds and scars. 

Apart from the injury, there is a lot of psychological and emotional stress included in dermatillomania. The patients are overwhelmed with guilt, shame, and other negative emotions due to this condition. 

For the General Pickers

If you are suffering from dermatillomania, you should consider consulting a psychologist as there are ways to control this behavior. This article is meant for general skin pickers. 

People who pick their skin and/or their scalps are damaging your skin in a way that is hard to reverse. Let us look at all the ways skin picking can damage your skin, scalp, and hair. 

Folliculitis

Constantly picking the skin off your scalp will damage the hair follicles, which can get infected and result in folliculitis. Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles due to bacteria and can result in red, itchy pimples. 

Continued damage to the hair follicle can result in severe infections and other scalp damage that might be very difficult to treat. 

Permanent Bald Spots

Folliculitis and prolonged damage to the hair follicles can result in permanent bald spots. These spots are so inflamed and damaged that hair stops growing in the region. 

Hair Fall

Constant touching of the scalp with dirty fingers and repeated infections and damage result in hair fall in many cases. It also leads to poor hair health. 

Scar Marks and Dark Spots

Both the scalp and the skin that has been constantly injured lead to permanent scar marks and dark spots. The healing process of the skin makes the damaged skin thicker and darker. 

Infection

The constant breaking of skin and exposure to the different types of bacteria and microorganisms that sit on your fingers can result in infection. From minor infections that itch to severe ones that require medical attention, skin picking can cause any of them. 

Some Cancers 

The emergence of cancer due to constant skin picking is extremely rare, but some research and extrapolation have led to doctors believing that constant damage of the skin can result in the formation of some cancers. 

Conclusion

For people who have a tendency of picking their skin or scalp while they are stressed or working, it is better that you try to reduce and ultimately stop skin picking. 

Using some fidget toy or constantly reminding oneself not to pick your skin is a move towards getting rid of this destructive habit. 

For the people who feel that there is a lot of guilt and emotional feeling attached to skin picking, we recommend visiting a psychologist to ensure the best treatment. Read more about dermatillomania here.

Also, read: Hot or Cold Water: The Best Way to Wash Your Face?