What Is Skin Picking?

Compulsive skin picking (CSP) is also known as pathological skin picking, neurotic excoriation or dermatillomania. Along with compulsive nail biting and hair pulling, CSP is classified as an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Features

• The symptoms of CSP include continuous scratching, picking or peeling of the skin, particularly from the face, though it can include other parts of the body, such as the arms, scalp or hands. Skin picking can interfere with daily life and prevent healthy living.

Causes

• CSP is a type of self-mutilation disorder that people turn to as a coping mechanism. An individual suffering from skin picking may have high levels of tension or anxiety. According to brainphysics.com, causes include self-soothing, stimulation when bored or a perfectionist desire to "fix" the skin.

Therapy

• Cognitive behavioral therapy and habit reversal training (HRT) are two types of methods used to help condition the patient to reverse the skin picking and become more aware of the habit. The patient will learn new coping skills to replace skin picking as a response to situations that may have been a cause of anxiety.

Prescription Medication

• Medication can be used, along with therapy, to help treat CSP. Usually, OCD medications, such as antidepressants, are prescribed for patients with these issues. According to psychnet.com, medications used to treat CSP include Anafranil, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa, Lexapro, Serzone and Effexor.

Warning

• Patients with skin picking symptoms should undergo a full psychiatric assessment to ensure they are not troubled by another mental illness and to get proper treatment. According to psychnet-uk.com, diagnoses can include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, body dysmorphic disorder, OCD, trichotillomania or dermatological skin disorder.