7 Ways to Treat Excoriation Disorder (Dermatillomania)

- Advertisement -

Do you pick your skin occasionally? Yes, right? But do you know that this occasional picking of your skin sometimes results in a chronic condition called excoriation disorder? Excoriation disorder is again known as a skin-picking disorder or dermatillomania. Now, you may wonder, what is Dermatillomania? Well! We will tell you everything about this disorder & also help you with the ways for its treatment. Simply keep reading this text & you’ll get to know everything about Excoriation disorder.

What Is Excoriation?

Excoriation is a disorder where you feel like picking your skin or scabbing it frequently. For example, in the case of dermatillomania fingers, you will feel like picking or scabbing the skin around your fingers or surrounding your nails frequently. The feeling of scabbing or picking your skin will be so intense that you will face bleeding, sores, or scars on your skin. 

Also, those who have this disorder continually scratch their skin to remove its imperfections (as seen and felt by them). It may occur in both kids and adults. The initiation of this disorder can happen at any age.

- Advertisement -
what is Excoriation
what is Excoriation

This disorder is a repetitive self-grooming behavior, hence the term BFRB (Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior). Pulling your hair and nails or picking them also falls into BFRB. These behaviors eventually damage your body. 

This type of behavior can be classified as DSM-V & is an obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD persons used to have a compulsive urge to perform repetitive behaviors. 

Why Do People Pick Scabs?

People mainly pick scabs for two reasons:

- Advertisement -
Why Do People Pick Scabs
Why Do People Pick Scabs
  1. They feel like picking the scab or rash that emerges on their skin after some type of minor injury, skin infection, or rash. This picking results in more injury to your skin. Also, it will result in more itching & late healing of your wound. And more itching means more picking or scabbing. So, the cycle goes on.
  2. They pick on their skin or scab it, especially on the skin around their nails, when they are in tension. This is because they feel that doing so will help them alleviate their stress. This repetitive action of picking the skin around nails or other places of their body daily becomes a habit.

 Signs & Symptoms Of Excoriation Disorder:

With a skin-picking disorder, you will never know when your skin-picking anxiety or mild & nervous habit of skin-picking will transform into a severe issue that requires treatment. Here are the signs & symptoms of this disorder:

Signs & Symptoms Of Excoriation Disorder
Signs & Symptoms Of Excoriation Disorder
  1. You will waste plenty of time picking your skin.
  2. You will have skin-picking scars that are easily noticeable.
  3. Moreover, you will feel uncomfortable & disturbed, thinking that you have picked a lot of your skin throughout the day.
  4. You will go through skin-picking anxiety & feel uneasy about appearing at any social event or other places where people are present for not wanting to exhibit your scars to them.

Skin Picking Disorder Treatment

Now it’s time to know “How to stop picking scabs.” The answer is this sort of disorder can be treated with the help of both therapy & medications. You should get the proper advice from an expert doctor to take medications. The doctor may occasionally suggest to you some psychiatric medications that are used for treating excoriation disorder. However, these medications are not FDA-approved & hence not affirmed for this mission. 

The best and most well-researched class of medicines for treating excoriation disorder is SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. An example of such medicine is Prozac. According to earlier researchers or studies, some anticonvulsant medicines like Lamictal/Lamotrigine and supplements like N-acetyl cysteine are also valuable for this purpose. Naltrexone, an opioid-obstructing drug, is also beneficial for excoriation.

- Advertisement -

The therapies for skin picking disorder include:

Habit Reversal Training: 

In this training, the therapist will help you identify the stresses or additional factors that are triggering your dermatillomania fingers, lip picking, and other excoriations. They will also tell you to find different types of picking or squeezing activities that will not harm you but that you can do on other objects. 

For example, you can squeeze a rubber ball, pick cotton balls out of a cushion, etc. These types of objects will occupy your hands and help you lessen your anxiety simultaneously.

Stimulus Control 

In this therapy, the therapist suggests changing your environment, which they think will help you curb your skin-picking habit. They will tell you to wear gloves or band-aids to prevent your urge to feel the skin and pick it up. They can also ask you to cover your mirrors so that you can’t see your facial blemishes and eruptions. Doing this doesn’t feel like picking the blemishes on your skin, which you would have done otherwise.  

How To Find An Appropriate Doctor And How To Know If You Have Excoriation Disorder?

To know if you have an excoriation disorder, you must find a suitable doctor trained in BFRB therapies & an expert in diagnosing or treating this kind of problem. They will do a skin-picking disorder test after a face-to-face consultation with you. 

As you are diagnosed with excoriation disorder, your doctor will suggest the necessary medications or therapies. Also, getting your skin checked by a primary care doctor/dermatologist is better. They will check up on the skin lesions, scars, and injuries on your skin that you have done by repetitively picking off your skin.  

Substitutes for skin-picking

  1. Pinching a rubber ball
  2. Settling a puzzle or riddle
  3. Painting, sewing, etc.

How To Manage Dermatillomania At Home?

  1. By applying calming topical creams, oils, or gels Like aloe vera gel, coconut oil, etc
  2. By doing yoga, meditation, or other stress-relieving activities
  3. Exercising regularly
  4. By hiding the tools that can be used for picking skin
  5. Removing/covering the mirrors at your home

The Final Words

Excoriation disorder, though seemingly not serious, is a serious issue. You can prevent it by adopting a few simple steps and seeking the help of a doctor or psychiatrist. So, if you are one of those whose family members are suffering from this disorder, visit a doctor immediately and get your loved one cured. Better late than never.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Q1. What causes excoriation?

Answer: Excoriation is a disorder caused by picking or scabbing one’s skin. This habit of picking or scabbing one’s skin frequently out of stress is called skin-picking anxiety. 

For example, in the case of dermatillomania fingers, you will frequently feel like picking or scabbing the skin around your fingers or surrounding your nails. The feeling of scabbing or picking your skin will be so intense that you will face bleeding, sores, or scars on your skin. 

Q.2. Is excoriation a scratch?

Answer: People with excoriation disorder have scratches and blemishes on their skin. They continually scratch their skin to remove its imperfections (as seen and felt by them).

Q.3. What is excoriated skin?

Answer: An excoriated skin is a skin in which you will see a lot of scratches, wounds & blemishes due to skin picking or scabbing.

Q.4. What is an excoriation wound?

Answer: An excoriation wound is a wound formed on one’s skin from continuous scratching, picking, or scabbing. These injuries form on the skin of those who have an excoriation disorder and pick their skin out of habit or anxiety. They feel that picking their skin will somehow relieve their stress and anxiety.

- Advertisement -
Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares is a board-certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is a graduate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her residency in dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Ashton has a private practice in New Jersey and New York City, where she specializes in skin cancer detection and treatment, as well as general dermatology.

Recent Posts

What are the advantages and disadvantages of food packaging?

Unlock the Secrets: Pros and Cons of Food Packaging Revealed! Discover the hidden truth. Uncover advantages & drawbacks.

Allergic Reactions to Optavia: Signs and Symptoms Explained

If you're using Optavia for weight loss and experiencing an allergic reaction, it could be due to its ingredients. Read on to learn about potential allergens in Optavia and what to do if you're having an allergic reaction.

Mashed Potatoes Nutrition: Facts, Calories, & Benefits

Discover the nutritional value of mashed potatoes, including calories, protein, and more. Learn why mashed potatoes can be a healthy choice.

Related Articles