OCD Types What Is Skin Picking Disorder? By Owen Kelly, PhD Updated on April 15, 2024 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Print Science Photo Library / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Diagnosis Link to OCD Causes Treatments Coping Trending Videos Close this video player Skin-picking disorder is a mental health condition in which people compulsively pick their skin to remove small irregularities, such as moles or freckles. 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. Also known as excoriation disorder or dermatillomania, this disorder is classified as an “obsessive-compulsive and related disorder" in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). At a Glance Repetitive skin picking is a serious and disruptive problem that causes skin damage, infection, and permanent scarring. This condition appears to be strongly linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder, although there are important differences between the conditions. Treatment for skin picking disorder typically involves psychotherapy, although medications may also sometimes be prescribed. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of skin picking disorder and how you can cope if you have this condition. Symptoms of Skin Picking Disorder The main characteristic of pathologic skin picking also referred to as excoriation or dermatillomania, is repetitive or compulsive picking, or even digging, in the skin to the point of causing skin damage, scarring, and/or infection. This behavior may include: PickingDiggingSqueezingRubbingScratchingBitingTweezing It is not uncommon for people with skin picking to engage in picking for several hours per day. As a result, people with pathologic skin picking often have difficulty maintaining steady employment or interpersonal relationships. When picking, people may use their fingers, tweezers, pins, or other instruments to remove a perceived blemish. Common areas of focus include the face, back, neck, and scalp. Although picking can involve normal skin, picking is most commonly triggered by small blemishes, imperfections, scabs, and insect bites. Types of Skin Picking Picking behaviors are often described as either automatic or focused. Automatic picking tends to happen without really thinking about it. Running your hands over your arm, feeling a bump, and then scratching or digging at that spot is an example of automatic picking.Focused picking is concentrated, intentional picking at a specific area of the body. This type of picking tends to be more serious and more likely to lead to serious damage to the skin. When to See a Doctor If you have skin wounds or lesions caused by picking, it is a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional, especially if the injury is bleeding, red, painful, or appears to be infected. Diagnosis of Skin Picking Disorder To be diagnosed with excoriation disorder, you must exhibit symptoms that focus on recurrent skin picking. These symptoms include: Recurrent skin picking that results in skin lesionsRepeated attempts to stop the behaviorRepeated attempts to decrease or stop skin picking The symptoms must also create significant distress or impairment and must not be caused by a substance, another medical condition, or another psychiatric disorder. The use of some substances, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can also cause skin picking behavior. Medical conditions such as scabies and mental disorders such as psychotic disorder or body dysmorphic disorder can also cause skin picking. Skin picking disorder is not related to these conditions, so a doctor will rule out those as potential causes before making a diagnosis. Skin picking, or excoriation, is diagnosed when the individual has tried unsuccessfully to lessen or even stop the picking, which causes excessive distress and anxiety and impairs daily functioning. Recap To be diagnosed with skin picking disorder, a person must exhibit skin picking that creates lesions. Such symptoms must not be caused by another psychological or medical condition. How Skin Picking Disorder Is Related to OCD Not surprisingly, there appears to be a strong link between skin picking and OCD. In fact, research shows that skin picking occurs in people with OCD at a much higher rate than in the general population. However, though both disorders can co-occur, they are quite different. Similarities Symptoms of skin picking can be similar to those of OCD. Prior to picking, many people describe a compulsion-like urge to pick at imperfections in the skin and a relief of anxiety when the imperfection is removed. Later, however, the person may feel shame or be embarrassed about his picking, which can often lead to depression. 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. While they may find pleasure in the act, they are still vulnerable to consequences of the behavior, including skin infections, scarring, anxiety, and social isolation. Related Conditions Some problems which could be mistaken for skin picking disorder include: Skin infections such as scabies. Scabies can be extremely itchy, but it often missed when it occurs in well-groomed middle-class people. The scratching that almost always accompanies the itch can obscure the diagnosis.Skin diseases such as eczema.Systemic (bodywide) diseases. Elevated bilirubin levels from liver disease can cause intense itching. Itching may also accompany many other medical conditions.Chemical dependency on drug use or withdrawal. Skin picking may also present as a symptom of another condition. In addition, skin picking may be a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder, a condition that involves a preoccupation with imagined bodily defects. Commonly Co-Occurring Conditions Skin picking disorder may also be more likely to co-occur with other mental health conditions. Some that commonly co-occur with this disorder include: OCD Depression Bipolar disorder Anxiety disorders Onychophagia (nail-biting) Trichotillomania (hair-pulling) Causes of Skin Picking Disorder The exact causes of skin picking disorder are not entirely understood, but a number of different factors likely play a role including genetic, biological, and environmental influences. Approximately 2% to 4% of the population is affected by pathological skin picking. Skin picking can start at any age but usually begins in adolescence with the onset of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis. Some research suggests that developmental disabilities, problems with emotional regulation, and childhood trauma and abuse may also play a part in the onset of skin picking disorder. Treatment for Skin Picking Disorder Skin picking often causes considerable embarrassment and distress as a result of the unsightly wounds caused by picking, as well as the lengths the affected person may have to go to conceal their picking, such as wearing long sleeves during warm summer months or covering her face with a scarf. Unfortunately, many people do not seek treatment because of the embarrassment associated with skin picking. This can be dangerous or even life-threatening as people often require medical interventions for their skin wounds, which can easily become infected. Treatments for skin picking disorder may include the use of psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of the two. Psychotherapy Talk therapy may be helpful for relieving symptoms of this condition. Cognitive-behavior therapy: Skin picking appears to respond best to treatment with cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). Habit reversal training: A technique known as habit reversal training (HRT) has been shown to be particularly helpful. This technique involves building greater awareness of the habit so that people can gain greater self-control. Other therapies: Treatment may also involve components of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Medication Medications, often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be needed. These medications may also be helpful for relieving co-occurring symptoms of anxiety or depression. If you are experiencing symptoms that you think might be skin picking, be sure to talk to a therapist or doctor. Coping of Skin Picking Disorder Research suggests that skin picking disorder may be sensory processing conditions that affect how people perceive, process, and regulate sensory information. This can include being overly responsive to sensations such as skin picking. Finding alternative ways to self-soothe and provide stimulation aside from picking at the skin may be helpful for managing the urge to pick. Squeezing a stress ball or using a fidget spinner, for example, might provide some degree of distraction and relief. Researchers have also suggested that alternative treatments such as hypnosis, acupuncture, exercise, and yoga may be helpful in the treatment of skin picking disorder. However, studies are needed to determine if these approaches might offer relief either on their own or when used in conjunction with psychotherapy and medication. OCD Subtypes: Types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 12 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 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Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(4):405-412. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20210013 Houghton DC, Alexander JR, Bauer CC, Woods DW. Abnormal perceptual sensitivity in body-focused repetitive behaviors. Compr Psychiatry. 2018;82:45-52. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.12.005 By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit