Confessions of a picker, and how I kicked the habit
Raise your hand if you've ever picked at a pimple or blackhead. Everybody, am I right?
Well, I'm right there with you. I may be a skin care technician but let me tell you, I have to practically sit on my hands whenever a pimple comes up to keep from popping it. I'll check my mirror every few minutes to see if it's come to a head and the second it does, I'm washing my hands to get that sucker out. I've even started lancing a few whiteheads that are itchy and painful enough.
But I've come a long way from obsessively picking at my skin in my teenage years. In high school, I would lock myself in my bathroom for literally hours and try to extract every single spot that showed up on my face. I would pick so much that I would bleed, be in pain, cry, and come away with a blood red face that no amount of cool water could calm.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I actually had a skin picking disorder, which according to the International OCD Organization, is when:
-somebody picks their skin over and over again
-it causes tissue damage
-it causes stress/problems with daily life
Skin picking can also manifest in picking at other areas of the body, which I also do. Nails, cuticles, my scalp...it wasn't until the past few years I realized there was actually something going on in my brain causing it. After my sessions in front of the mirror as a teenager, I would go to school the next day with caked on makeup trying to hide my scars. And almost 10 years later I'm still bearing those marks.
These were taken last night right after I got out of the shower so they are a little more prominent than usual, but this is about what my bare skin looks like all the time.
People who didn't know me as a teenager have often told me they would never have guessed I had acne. I owe that to my makeup game being pretty strong, but as you can see, the scars are definitely there. This is the main reason I became an esthetician. I want others to see what can happen if they constantly pick (or do it the wrong way) and what to do when worst comes to worse.
How to stop picking
For me, it was as simple as, "I'm not going to do this anymore." I was tired of digging into my face, tired of the scars and tired of trying to cover it all with concealer. It took me a long, long time to simply stop but I did it. Every now and then I will perform extractions on myself but I always make sure the pimple has come to a head and I never squeeze more than I should. Sometimes I even still get scars from pimples that I don't pick at, but those are usually cystic spots that show up on my skin.
For others, it may not be so easy. Try busying yourself with something else (chores, writing, etc.) or place a rubberband on your wrist. Every time you go to pick, pop the rubberband. This was another method I tried and let me tell you, it's annoying as hell and could potentially help.
Spending less time in front of the mirror is also effective. If you aren't looking at your face, you won't be tempted to pick at what's there.
What do to for scars
Use a sunscreen every.single.day to keep the scars from getting darker. End of story.
Exfoliation is key in removing the dead skin cells to reveal new, healthier skin. Chemical exfoliation is my favorite, so look for products with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, etc. Again, sunscreen is a MUST with these ingredients.
I have just started using Image Skincare's Iluma Intense Bleaching Serum. I've only done two applications but so far I love the way it feels, how quickly it absorbs and the fact it smells like coconut. This serum contains glycolic acid to lighten discolorations and tea tree oil to soothe the skin.
Also take a look into chemical peels. Through a series of treatments, this chemical exfoliation procedure will remove dead skin cell layers and aid in lightening any scars.
It can be a long, hard road to keeping your hands off your face but in the end, it is so worth it. Popping pimples may provide relief, but knowing when to stop squeezing is what will keep your skin fresh and clear.