So I have a stress acne picking problem. I was unsure if I ever wanted to fess up and post this on here but since I am doing so well with displaying my weight loss on line on my other blog (tawnasplan.blogspot.com) I am thinking that maybe posting my struggle with the picking problem may help me quit.
Below you will see a picture that I posted on my weight loss blog after my 30 pound loss. If you look at my arm you can see some red/brown marks all over it. Well that is nothing but acne and not just flared up acne but actual scars too.
Someone asked me the other night if it was bug bites and I could have lied but I told her what it really was. I have been embarrassed about it for years but I need to stop doing it so I am hoping be honest about it may help me refrain from doing it anymore.
The problem is that I get stressed out about money, marriage, time management, etc and I find a small tiny bit of acne on my arms and I pick it to death. I have not always done this but with the house going into forecloser and the lack of sleep etc. I am finding it real hard to stop.
Any suggestions (besides therapy) please let me know. I am too poor to pay anyone and I need to stop this on my own. Hay, if I can battle and eating disorder on my own with close family 14 years ago then I can battle this right?
Here is the picture taken a couple weeks ago
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I appreciate your mentioning this. It has been an ongoing problem for me over the last 10+ years. I'm getting a better handle on it, but, just like nail-biting (also a problem), it doesn't ever seem to be totally vanquished, but only mostly conquered. Some times I've had no open scabs, but then I'll get a couple. I've been able to change from my legs (the initial site) and forearms to scratching primarily on my upper arms, where it's not so visible, except in sleeveless dress weather! Actually, one thing that helped me get over the hump initially was painting New Skin (it smells essentially like clear nail polish) over each of the scabs. Sometimes I'll peel off the New Skin, but then I can catch myself before I've removed the scab, too. Depending on the humidity, I'll sometimes use plenty of handcream on my arms, too, to keep the scabs from being so attractively dry. But the New Skin was more effective. And my husband sweetly reminds me when he sees me mindlessly scratching my arms not to mar the body he likes so much. Now that I've written this, I think I should start using the New Skin again and get all my control back over this problem. Good luck! It's an embarrassing problem, but you're not alone in it!
I think I have heard of that product before, it is literally called "new skin" correct? Thanks for your story. I have not known anyone else in my life that has done this so, not that I think it is nice that you have to deal with it to, but it is nice to know that I am not the only one.
I am trying to get better and have good days and bad.
Have ou found anything that helps with the scars?
No, sorry. Eventually they devolve into white scars rather than brown, which is less noticeable.
Yes, the product is called New Skin. It smells and acts like nail polish--I don't know whether nail polish is bad for raw wounds, otherwise, you could just use that. It mostly gives you time to remind yourself to stop scratching them off and to feel like you are doing something positive to help the matter, which you are. I remember the deep discouragement I felt at one point, not knowing how I could ever get past this. Another help has been reading other people's experiences with this. I looked but couldn't find the website that was the most help for me, with its success stories. However, if you Google "skin picking," you will find many sites with information that is useful to one degree or another.
You know already how good you will feel when you gain control over scratching, and you'll be able to do it, little by little. Good luck to you!
Thank you so much for your input. It really does help.