Dermatillomania: The Skin Picking Disorder

For years, I watched my mother carry around a small mirror in her pocket. Any time that she was not actively involved in something, she would spend hours picking her face, head, arms, and legs. Often she would not stop until there was blood. It was not until years later, when I was an adult taking her to an appointment with her physician, that I heard the term Dermatillomania. Her physician had noticed her picking at her hand during the exam. She insisted that "there was something in it". The doctor examined the wound, as well as one on her head, and proceeded to explain that she had a disorder called Dermatillomania.

Dermatillomania literally means "skin pulling madness," and it is characterized by a compulsive picking at the hair, skin, nose, cuticles, or other parts of the body.

Some people exhibit Dermatillomania as a result of low self esteem. Others, as in the case of my mother, utilize the compulsive picking behavior as an avoidance mechanism.

According to www.skinpick.com, more than 17 million Americans, mostly female, suffer from Dermatillomania. Some people indulge in face picking as an outward expression of their inner emotional pain, others pick areas that are covered by clothing to hide the unhealthy behavior.

There is no one definitive cause of Dermatillomania, but specific triggers have been identified.

Emotional instability can cause a person to begin the skin-picking behavior of Dermatillomania. Prolonged bullying or abuse can result in this type of emotional instability.

Some prescription medications, like certain narcotics that cause itching as a side effect can result in Dermatillomania.

Dermatillomania can also be genetic. As a result of my mother's skin-picking disorder, I have two sisters that spend hours in front of the bathroom mirror picking their faces.

Isolated, traumatic experiences can also cause the picking behavior. A public experience that damages the self esteem of a person can trigger Dermatillomania.

Poor hygiene is not the cause of Dermatillomania, nor is it a bad habit or uncontrollable acne.

Dermatillomania can result in a physical disfigurement and cause the person to further withdraw from social situations. The ability of the person to find employment or a relationship may be affected due to their appearance. In social situations, the person with dermatillomania may be isolated and treated as if they have a contagious disease, based on the way that they look.

Therapy is available for the treatment of dermatillomania. The therapist may focus on the underlying causes of the picking disorder, as well as on the picking behavior itself. There are also avoidance therapies that teach coping mechanisms to avoid any further picking episodes.

Substitution therapies help the patient diagnosed with dermatillomania to find safer and healthier habits. In one example, my mother's urge to pick was diverted by her popping bubble wrap.

A twelve step program, medications, on-line support groups, or meditation may also be helpful in alleviating the picking urge that a person with Dermatillomania experiences.