Skin Picking Disorder Treatment Skin picking is an impulse disorder that leads to severe excoriations (skin lesions). Patients may engage for hours in this self injurious behavior. Usually they target easily accessible areas of the body (e.g. face, arms, legs) where they notice irregularities in the skin. They often begin inspecting the area and use their own finger nails or instruments (e.g. tweezers, needles). They experience an urge to pick and usually have a temporary relief when blemishes are removed. Later, they are likely to experience depression, anxiety, and self reproach.
Stress usually increases the severity and frequency of skin picking. Some patients end up being disfigured, feel embarrassed about the way they look and avoid social interaction (or cover up the wounds with makeup).
Nail biting is another self injurious clinical condition that shows similarities with hair pulling and skin picking. Sufferers seem to pull, bite or pick when they feel understimulated (e.g. due to boredom) or overstimulated (e.g. due to stress or excitement).
The treatment of choice for these conditions is Habit Reversal Training, Stimulus Control and Medication Management.
