This behavior can lead to injuries, skin lesions, infections, and scarring.
The condition can also create considerable distress and disruptions in a person’s life.
This condition comes off as strongly linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder, although there are important differences between the conditions.
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Treatment for skin picking disorder typically involves psychotherapy, although medications may also sometimes be prescribed.
As a result, people with pathologic skin picking often have difficulty maintaining steady employment orinterpersonal relationships.
Common areas of focus include the face, back, neck, and scalp.
Types of Skin Picking
Picking behaviors are often described as either automatic or focused.
The use of some substances, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can also cause skin picking behavior.
Such symptoms must not be triggered by another psychological or medical condition.
Differences
People with OCD who experience skin picking compulsions typically find these thoughts intrusive and distressing.
Those with skin picking disorder, on the other hand, find the act of picking their skin enjoyable.
Approximately 2% to 4% of the population is affected by pathological skin picking.
Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment because of the embarrassment associated with skin picking.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy may be helpful for relieving symptoms of this condition.
American Psychiatric Association; 2013.
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National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
