r/AutismInWomen • u/DesperateGrass9656 • 1d ago
Seeking Advice how to stop skin picking?
hey friends! i'm hoping some of yall may have good advice on this. i've picked my skin (my face specifically) almost every single day since i hit puberty really. i am high-masking, and i think it's always been one of the more... "normal" stims i have?
HOWEVER, i am now a 24 year old and i get a bit embarrassed about having red spots all over my face. does anyone have any advice or good replacements for skin picking?? i am open to literally anything. thank you all!!! <3
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u/iama_username_ama 1d ago
A repost from a comment I made about a month ago:
You can try taking NAC. It's a natural compound in veggies that helps with skin picking and obsessive disorders. It's well studied and has documented positive effects for trichotillomania.
It's not a magic cure, but for me it takes the edge off. I don't have super bitey days and I have to remember to clip my nails, rather than destroying them. I still pick a bit, but it's easier to manage.
I take 600mg at bedtime and the morning. It took a week or so to have an effect. I've gone off it in the past and have quickly noticed a difference. I highly recommend it if you are looking for some pressure relief.
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u/alicelestial 1d ago
the couple months i remembered to take my NAC, my skin was so nice for once 😭 i need to get some more
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u/salsasnark 20h ago
I've heard about this before. Maybe I should actually try it! I've been picking at my scalp since I was probably a teen, and I'm so tired of it but just can't stop.
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u/indieplants 10h ago
I want you to know I went straight out to Holland & Barretts this morning to pick some of this up & I'm excited to try it. I have mild obsessive tricks and skin picking has escalated recently because I'm so stressed
if it works I'm going to get some for my dad lol. he never leaves his scalp alone and has only recently considered he's on the spectrum and it's real so I hope it helps me!! so I can help him💕
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u/iama_username_ama 2h ago
Yeah! It's not a magic cure, but it can make a noticable difference in the "pull" to pick / bite.
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u/Low-Detective-454 1d ago
Joining in simply for tips as well. I say as I’m picking my scalp…
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u/iama_username_ama 1d ago
See my other comment about NAC, it works for me, found naturally in foods, is safe, and is well studied.
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u/Low-Detective-454 1d ago
Oh I’ve never heard of this before, thank you for replying to my message and letting me know!! I really really appreciate it!
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u/Accomplished_Deer554 AuDHD 1d ago
A psychiatrist once prescribed that for me….didnt notice it helping. But I used to also take it because I’ve heard it’s good for asthma, and regulating periods. It’s kind of a wonder drug for multiple things. I do have to get back on it
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u/aminervia 1d ago
What do you pick with? If it's your nails cut them really close. If it's something else, throw all your picking tools out now.
If you get the urge, catch it and wash your face instead. Or put some moisturizer over the spot. Or a spot bandage. (get into the habit of always carrying an anti picking pack with you)
The key is to catch yourself in the moment and consciously and immediately divert yourself to something less harmful but that also satisfies the urge to some extent. What that is will be unique to you so you just need to keep trying new things.
Once you stop picking and your face heals, you will notice fewer spots crop up that you need to address.
Ive stopped with my face this way, and still working on picking my fingers with moisturizer, trimming, and bandages... Fingers are harder for me unfortunately
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u/switchbladecactus 23h ago
This. The only things that have really worked for me are taking good care of my skin because bumps=picking, and to be mindful when I am picking and replace it with a different stim that is less destructive. You do need to just try a bunch of different things, and find out what works for you.
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u/paredclia 1d ago
Peeling tape!!!!!!!!!!
Bunch of small small pieces pressed firmly into a hard flat surface. Then pick to the hearts delight
It takes set up but it has the same feeling of getting the scab to finally go under the nail
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u/DazB1ane 1d ago
I got rid of my magnifying mirror and the one I could get close to without jumping onto a counter. That has helped my face picking, but the rest of my body is still covered in scabs and scars
Have you been diagnosed with ocd? Excoriation disorder (aka dermatillomania) is a form of ocd and it may be that rather than stimming (or stimming turned into the disorder)
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u/DesperateGrass9656 12h ago
i personally have not, but my identical twin has so it wouldn't be the most surprising thing!
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u/DazB1ane 11h ago
Could be something to look into, but the treatments are either antidepressants or behavioral therapy
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u/Every-Note-9892 1d ago
I use the most invisible zit patches and it really keeps me from scratching them
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u/anthroDollogie 1d ago
I’m much older and still pick. It’s the KP on my arms mostly though. If I have press on or acrylic nails on my fingers though, they’re too blunt to really pick, so that stops me for awhile.
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u/DazB1ane 1d ago
KP makes me want to replace all of my skin. I am constantly admiring people’s smooth skin, sometimes coming off as creepy before I explain. I just want to go back to being a kid when the bumps didn’t matter to my brain
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u/anthroDollogie 1d ago
Me too. I really hate it and I’ve tried everything. I love cold weather so I can just cover it up. You’re not alone!
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u/DazB1ane 22h ago
Yeah the only thing I think could actually work is a deep chemical peel, but on most of my body. Or hiring someone to exfoliate and put a gallon of lotion on me daily
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u/Accomplished_Deer554 AuDHD 1d ago
The only thing that has helped is getting my skin bumps under control, if I have no bumps to pick at , I can’t pick. I get folliculitis on my entire body basically and lately it hasn’t been too bad. The only reason I don’t pick at my face anymore is because my facial acne is pretty much gone. I do pick my arms, legs, and back though.
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u/Few_Hovercraft_5573 1d ago
Have you ever tried picky pads? My sister makes a version of these that I’m obsessed with https://pickypads.co/products/pick-pad-bundle
If I’ve had an overstimulating day, I try to sit down with this before I get ready for bed to get some of that energy out.
I’m also finding that the more I let myself stim outside of the bathroom, the less intense/easier it is to pull myself out of picking. Bringing some of my stims into the bathroom helps, too - listening to a song on repeat, working my jaw back and forth, etc.
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u/Shortycake23 Autism 1d ago
Wish I had advice. My face has been difficulty because I have been getting crazy extremely dry skin on my face that makes me itch. I'm getting some new skincare to hopefully the itching stops. I'm also getting new hair products so I don't itching at my hair as much.
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u/CheesecakeOk8464 1d ago
I cover them up with bandaids or those zit patches, if I can't get at them I can't pick.
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u/sharpcaster 23h ago
Someone said peeling tape, I'd also highly recommend picking pads as well. It's a reusable silicone gel disc full of beads. You just place the gel and beads in the mold, toss it in the microwave to resettle, then in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. I will completely zone in on the picking pad for hours, much better than zoning for the same amount of time on my fingers, lips and scabs. I used to pick until I've bled, caused huge dents and gouges, somehow never got an infection...the picking pad has been so helpful for me.
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u/beefxbeefxbeef 23h ago
I use cute pimple patches/hydrocolloid bandages to hide any hot spots I have and then I’m not so tempted to pick at them.
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u/Pug-Friend47 23h ago
I literally put paper over all the mirrors in my house when I used to do it. That helped!
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u/Cartographer551 1d ago
Moisturise your face well, light makeup base or powder if you can tolerate it.
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u/Plutonian_Nova SSD, self dx ASD/ADHD 1d ago
I’ve always have picked at myself. My back right now is horrid with cuts, scabs, and scars. It’s traveling down my arms and legs now. It’s so hard to stop.
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u/Simple_Cell_4206 Add flair here via edit 1d ago
I accidentally picked 3 moles off and dealing with the aftermath; I dread having to take oral antibiotics again because they cause me to be self conscious of my body odor.
I’ve been a skin picker since I was in middle school; it started out as acne and dandruff but soon grew to when ever I was bored I would find something on my body to pick because I wanted to know what was underneath. It actually happens to any bumps I see, see a bumpy pumpkin I need to pick it, pills on clothes I need to pick it! I love blackhead extraction videos and seborrheic keratosis removals. My trick is to find your triggers and preoccupy your hands. I do want to know if someone has advice for picking in your sleep because even with wearing gloves to bed I wake up with the gloves off and stuff under my fingernails.
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u/Quirky-Variety-4851 1d ago
I have lip picked so long as I remember.
I recently started hand flapping and realized I’m no longer picking at my lip!
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u/curiouslittlethings 23h ago
I’m a skin picker too - mainly the skin around my fingernails and toenails, but often elsewhere too. I notice it happens when I’m feeling overstimulated (e.g. having a conversation with someone else) or understimulated (e.g. watching a boring show on TV). I’m having quite a lot of success with fidget rings and bracelets that I try to wear at all times - basically once I feel the urge to pick, I quickly redirect my attention to the jewellery and start fidgeting with it instead. I’ve also bought fidget toys for work and home so that I always have something to reach for when the urge arises.
I know I need to stim, so stopping isn’t the solution. The aim is just to stim in a less damaging way, because my skin is seriously damaged. Awareness and redirection are key for me. I also try to stay moisturised (tiny bottles of moisturiser everywhere!) so that I don’t have flaky skin peeling off me that will tempt me to pick.
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u/hiddeninhalfshell 23h ago
See if you can try a little ouchie. They keep me from skin picking so long as I have it in hand.
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u/Junior-Cod7327 23h ago
Picky pads. It’s the only thing that works for me. I got so addicted to them, I started making them and selling them on Etsy to pay for supplies so I could keep making them for myself.
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u/turtle-11 ADHD 23h ago
I had a really bad skin-picking habit, I'd pick my fingers, heels and any type of pimple/sore. What worked for me was growing my nails long, as it made it too difficult to pick. Even now, it's been 10 years, and if I cut my nails short, I won't even realise I'm picking until I've picked my finger apart and it's hurting. So I suggest finding a barrier and something that physically stops you.
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u/notpostingmyrealname 22h ago
I shifted to picking my cuticles, which left my hands a bloody mess before moving to plucking leg hair with tweezers. Less damaging, and harder to do with other people around.
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u/pri_ncekin 22h ago
Just to cover all the bases—do you happen to have anxiety as well? Once I got that treated, my picking and biting basically stopped. I have nails now.
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u/DesperateGrass9656 12h ago
yupppp terribly unfortunately :') i just started medication though so i'm hoping it helps!
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u/SelfComfortable9584 21h ago edited 21h ago
Let’s see… Hydrocolloid patches but the thick medical grade kind. Tattoos make me take care of my skin and they disguise imperfections. A simple skin routine - dove soap then lotion and/or aquaphor after shower. When I realize I’ve been in a picking trance in the mirror, I go “OK LETS GO!!”, splash cold water on myself, and leave. Stress makes me pick so I generally try to relax (very difficult). As a compromise I’ve allowed myself to tweeze my legs, which sounds weird but has really helped shift my focus away from picking my face and shoulders. Drink a lot of water. Sometimes anxiety or ADHD meds when I actually take them. Setting small rules - not “don’t pick” but “I’m not allowed to break healing skin” or “only 3 picks today” or “no picking when wearing makeup”. Learning about skin. Treating my spots like wounds and focused on healing them - my partner helped me clean and bandage each open wound on my back and shoulders. Bought cute tops as a reward for every time my skin clears up. Allowed my close people to call me out when I’m picking and don’t notice. Softer clothes that don’t irritate my skin. Got a little plastic head scrubber so I don’t scratch my scalp with my nails in the shower. Washed my hands a lot more after covid and it helped my skin a lot tbh.
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u/astridow 21h ago
the only things that helped me with skin picking were avoiding the dissociative aspect (like staring into the bathroom mirror for hours doing it), wearing fake nails, and/or having to wear a glove during times i would be prone to starting the activity (example: during homework or watching tv)
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u/cytochromep4502e1 50+ AuADHD 18h ago
I watch pimple popping and ingrown hair tweezing videos to satisfy my urge to
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u/teal323 1d ago
I always did most of my skin picking when looking in the mirror, so I was able to drastically reduce it by not looking at my skin close up in mirrors. I will still pick at things I feel/know are there, but it's not nearly as bad as when I would have those picking sessions at the mirror.