What is Skin Picking Disorder (Dermatillomania), What are the Symptoms?
Skin picking disorder, also known as dermatillomania, is a psychological disorder that involves individuals repeatedly damaging their skin. This condition often arises in relation to stress, anxiety, or other emotional states. Individuals exhibit behaviors such as touching and pulling at their skin without any reason or under certain triggering situations. Over time, this involuntary behavior can negatively impact a person's daily life and leave visible wounds or scars on the skin.
What Causes Dermatillomania?
Dermatillomania is often classified as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research shows that this condition may be associated with environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and psychological states. Stress, anxiety, loneliness, or underlying emotional issues can be triggers for such behaviors. For instance, when entering a period of heavy stress, you might try to relax by touching your skin.
What are the Symptoms?
Duration of the Procedure: Individuals can spend a long time working on their skin. This can continue for hours and disrupt their daily tasks.
Skin Injuries: Continuous picking can lead to wounds, bleeding, or infections on the skin.
Psychological Effects: Especially, the person's self-esteem may be shaken, and feelings of discomfort may arise in social situations.
Triggers: Triggering situations such as perfectionism, stress, or internal turmoil are experienced.
Who is at Greater Risk?
Skin picking disorder can affect individuals of all ages, but symptoms that start during adolescence are more common in women than in men. Experts emphasize that some individuals are more prone to this disorder, particularly those who have experienced traumatic events in the past or have a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, dermatillomania, which can occur alongside social anxiety or other psychological disorders, can become a long-term problem if left untreated.
Treatment Methods
The treatment of skin picking disorder is usually carried out with psychotherapy and sometimes medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a commonly used type of therapy to help the person become aware of and change their behaviors. In particular, it provides support in self-direction and recognizing triggers. Additionally, working on stress management techniques and emotional regulation skills is also an important part of the treatment process.
Finding alternative activities to reduce the damage individuals inflict on their skin, participating in group therapy, and seeking social support are among the recommended methods. Although treating dermatillomania can initially be challenging, it is possible to control it with regular support and psychotherapy.
Conclusion
Skin picking disorder can be a complex and difficult experience for individuals, but it is possible to cope with proper support and treatment. If you or someone you know is affected by this disorder, seeking help from a professional is an important step. Remember that this issue is not just a physical effect, but a psychological condition that can be treated. Always asking for and accepting help will be a significant step on the road to recovery.
