How to Get Treatment for Dermatillomania
If excessive skin picking is a problem and you find you cannot stop, get help before it gets worse.
Up next in Mental Health (49 videos)
Learn about a wide range of mental illnesses and how to deal with them.
You Will Need
- Doctor
- Triggers
- Psychologist
- Therapy
- Medication
- Notes (optional)
- Hypnosis (optional)
Steps
-
Step 1
Realize you have a problem
Realize you have a problem. If you cannot control your skin picking habit and you have developed open sores that bleed or have resulted in scarring, you need help.
-
Step 2
Talk to your doctor
Talk to your family doctor about your problem. They may prescribe an antidepressant to curb your obsessive picking or refer you to a specialist.
-
Step 3
Identify key triggers
Identify the triggers that provoke picking. Your levels of stress and anxiety are usually contributors.
-
Take notes and document your thoughts and feelings just before and during the behavior.
-
Step 4
Talk to a psychologist
Talk to a psychologist who specializes in skin disorders. They will help you identify the psychological root of your problem and help you learn how to deal with the stress and anxiety in a healthier way.
-
Your psychologist may use hypnosis to help you deal with your issues.
-
Step 5
Continue therapy
Continue with therapy and keep taking your medications as long as they are prescribed by your doctor. With the proper help, you can learn to live without picking.
-
Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects 2.2 million American adults each year.
