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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
Hey, I know there was an earlier post on this, but I can't seem to find all the "threads". I have bi polar, I think - at least never been diagnosed with OCD. I have terrible "rashes" on my forearms, and now, I am picking at them constantly, consciously and just as a habit. Well, not actually a rash, but skin wounds, irritation – hard to describe. Sometimes it itches so terribly, I want to cut off my arms; and sometimes I pick when it doesn’t itch. When I ran out of places, I did it to my scalp. I am scarring myself terribly; my arms are the worst, with those white scar patches. It’s not acne, but I have tried oxy whatever to dry them out. I have tried every itch cream in the store I can think of and a couple of prescribed cortisone things...even the stuff for allergies such as Benedril (spelling?). Can anyone recommend anything? I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS SUMMER, I FELT LIKE A LEPER, PEOPLE STARING AT MY ARMS...it hasn’t spread to my face, but I have a slight bit of minor acne or pimples that time of the month ( I am SO embarrassed discussing this girl stuff). Anyway, can anybody recommend a cream or anything? Dermatologists can’t help thus far.
Thank you so much.
By the way, sum does help a bit, but I have melasma (brown spots on my face) and really JUST need TO STAY OUT OF THE SUN...darn CAP lock, I can’t type worth a damn…sorry post is so long, new to this.Lori
Posted by Jackster on October 6, 2003, at 4:13:18
In reply to Compulsive??Skin Picker, posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
> Hey, I know there was an earlier post on this, but I can't seem to find all the "threads". I have bi polar, I think - at least never been diagnosed with OCD. I have terrible "rashes" on my forearms, and now, I am picking at them constantly, consciously and just as a habit. Well, not actually a rash, but skin wounds, irritation – hard to describe. Sometimes it itches so terribly, I want to cut off my arms; and sometimes I pick when it doesn’t itch. When I ran out of places, I did it to my scalp. I am scarring myself terribly; my arms are the worst, with those white scar patches. It’s not acne, but I have tried oxy whatever to dry them out. I have tried every itch cream in the store I can think of and a couple of prescribed cortisone things...even the stuff for allergies such as Benedril (spelling?). Can anyone recommend anything? I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS SUMMER, I FELT LIKE A LEPER, PEOPLE STARING AT MY ARMS...it hasn’t spread to my face, but I have a slight bit of minor acne or pimples that time of the month ( I am SO embarrassed discussing this girl stuff). Anyway, can anybody recommend a cream or anything? Dermatologists can’t help thus far.
> Thank you so much.
> By the way, sum does help a bit, but I have melasma (brown spots on my face) and really JUST need TO STAY OUT OF THE SUN...darn CAP lock, I can’t type worth a damn…sorry post is so long, new to this.
>
> LoriHi Lori
I can sympathise with you - I have a problem with skin and scalp picking. There are quite a few websites devoted to this - just do a search on Google. It's usually associated with OCD and is something maybe a psychiatrist can help you with more than a dermatologist.
That said - I found a hydrocortisone cream helped with a rash - and anti-histamines (like anti hay fever tablets) helped with the itching (which you can get from a pharmacy). So far the best thing has been inositol (a vitamin B derivative) which you can get from a health shop - it's helped me the most. It seems to stop my compulsion to pick.
Here's a link to an article on it:
http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/Inositol.html
Also - antidepressants might help - talk to your doctor about it.
Hope this helps
Jackie
>
Posted by Susan J on October 6, 2003, at 11:07:41
In reply to Compulsive??Skin Picker, posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
Hiya,
>>Well, not actually a rash, but skin wounds, irritation – hard to describe. Sometimes it itches so terribly, I want to cut off my arms; and sometimes I pick when it doesn’t itch.
<<Has this condition been diagnosed by a doctor? Just wondering, cuz if you could rapidly clear up the rash, it would help (but not cure) the compulsion to pick at it.
>> It’s not acne, but I have tried oxy whatever to dry them out. I have tried every itch cream in the store I can think of and a couple of prescribed cortisone things...even the stuff for allergies such as Benedril (spelling?). Can anyone recommend anything?
<<I think Jackster had some great recommendations. I had a tendency to pick at the skin on my fingers and I've never been diagnosed OCD. And even when there wasn't a blister-like thing there, I still picked. Yuck. But for me, getting *rid* of the problem severely cut down on my need to pick.Anyway. I was diagnosed with eczema. My doc gave me a prescription hydrocortizone cream, which I know you tried, but he also gave me this over the counter skin sealant stuff which seals in moisture and seals out irritants. I'll get the name of that if you are interested. I've forgotten it, but it's at home.
I'd treat your skin as super sensitive. Wash with Cetaphil, which is a very mild skin cleanser, and mositurize with fragrance free Lubriderm or Eucerin, which were also recommended by my dermatologist. I think acne type medications probably are irritating it further. I also have rosacea, and my dermatologist told me that traditional treatments for acne like benzoyl peroxide, dry it out way too much and irritate the skin way too much. ****And change your laundry detergent to something hypoallergenic, like Dreft.**** Try wearing all natural, breathable fibers. Also, wear sunscreen outdoors in the summer. Kiehl's water-based sunblock is for sensitive skin, and works really well for me. The sunblock will help the little white scars fade in time.
Good luck, and let me know if you are interested in that skin sealant stuff. I think it's silicone based, but not sure.
Susan
Posted by KimberlyDi on October 8, 2003, at 14:46:50
In reply to Compulsive??Skin Picker, posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
I pick pick pick too. It's an extreme irritation. Any bump on the skin is wrong wrong wrong, infection, must remove. don't like dead skin, don't like scabs, i make everything worse.
I think it's a nervous habit, like biting your nails. i pick at my nails too if the edges aren't smooth. I would suggest keeping your skin moist with any moisturizer that you can tolerate. Dry skin is itchy. Start wearing gloves in the house, or wear a ring that you can fiddle with. use bandaids whenever possible. Don't try Liquid Skin/Bandaid because it STINGS and is fun to pick off.
Good Luck.
A thing to fear about picking. I've had some bumps for the past 6 months that are now non-healing ulcers. The clinic doctor called it Streptococcus Pyoderma, very serious, and put me on high dosages of Batrim. It's like a cousin to Strep Throat and can enter through breaks in your skin. It hasn't turned into Necrotizing Fasciitis yet (NF), THANK YOU LORD, but reading about it has scared me. NF is were within 24 hours your flesh is being eaten away faster than doctors can cut it off. I'm going to get a second opinion with my regular doctor. The clinic doctor didn't even run tests or take a swab for lab tests.
Take care of your skin.
KDi in Texas
> Hey, I know there was an earlier post on this, but I can't seem to find all the "threads". I have bi polar, I think - at least never been diagnosed with OCD. I have terrible "rashes" on my forearms, and now, I am picking at them constantly, consciously and just as a habit. Well, not actually a rash, but skin wounds, irritation – hard to describe. Sometimes it itches so terribly, I want to cut off my arms; and sometimes I pick when it doesn’t itch. When I ran out of places, I did it to my scalp. I am scarring myself terribly; my arms are the worst, with those white scar patches. It’s not acne, but I have tried oxy whatever to dry them out. I have tried every itch cream in the store I can think of and a couple of prescribed cortisone things...even the stuff for allergies such as Benedril (spelling?). Can anyone recommend anything? I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS SUMMER, I FELT LIKE A LEPER, PEOPLE STARING AT MY ARMS...it hasn’t spread to my face, but I have a slight bit of minor acne or pimples that time of the month ( I am SO embarrassed discussing this girl stuff). Anyway, can anybody recommend a cream or anything? Dermatologists can’t help thus far.
> Thank you so much.
> By the way, sum does help a bit, but I have melasma (brown spots on my face) and really JUST need TO STAY OUT OF THE SUN...darn CAP lock, I can’t type worth a damn…sorry post is so long, new to this.
>
> Lori
>
>
Posted by sarahsundae on October 9, 2003, at 9:12:03
In reply to Compulsive??Skin Picker, posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
I also pick. I have been reading about dermatillomania (do a google search) and it is a lot like me.
However, I pick at my scalp more then anything. It covers the marks and scars for me. However, I have a couple patches (very small) of hair missing.
Sarah
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