Oh hey, I didn’t know there was a BFRB Week. TBH I didn’t even know the term “BFRB” existed. Well why not, here’s mine. Scroll on by if you’re easily grossed out. Keep reading if you want some personal perspective.

I’ve been doing this for most of my life. I didn’t find out there was a name for what I did (or that other people did it) until college. I used to be worse when I was a kid. My scalp was a mess. I still do it, but not as much… and I’ve gotten much pickier (hah) with what I go after, which minimizes damage. Blackheads are my go-to. Face, shoulders, and back are my favorite spots.

If I had to describe what it feels like to be a picker… you know those little clear plastic sheets that come on new electronics/appliances? How incredibly satisfying it is to peel them off? It’s like that, every time; it’s such a tactile pleasure that it’s pretty hard to stop after just one or two. There’s really nothing more enjoyable then getting that shit out of your skin.

Things that helped me cut back on picking:

• Wearing makeup - I didn’t start wearing makeup until pretty recently. Noticing makeup on my fingers when I subconsciously reach up to pick at my face is often jarring enough to make me stop. Don’t want to ruin it.
  
• Finding a soap that works for you - I have really oily skin/hair… thanks Italian heritage. The less that’s there to pick, the less I’m tempted to do it.
  
• Starting to really notice the scars - I realized that if I kept at it indiscriminately, my skin would get worse and worse. You can’t rationalize-away this stuff, but it is helpful to have motivation to rip your hands away when you realize you’re doing it.
• Embarrassment from facial scabs - Same as above.
  

These may or may not apply depending on how your dermatillomania manifests. Some people stand by keeping their nails as short as possible. I like mine long, but it might be helpful for you. As with other things in life, everyone’s recipe for success is different. I’m at peace with it at this point. I like to call it my most enjoyable disorder. I have a fairly mild case compared to some people, but it would be worse if I didn’t take pains to control it.

That said, I just gotta put this out there: Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about dealing with this. It’s legit, it’s frustrating, and can be both physically and emotionally damaging. Don’t feel like a failure if you’re trying to stop and it’s not going so well, or because you had a relapse, or because you know of people who have kicked it and you haven’t. Improvement is definitely possible, but it’s not easy….otherwise we’d have all stopped by now.