Posted by Jackster on October 6, 2003, at 4:13:18
In reply to Compulsive??Skin Picker, posted by LoriCA on October 6, 2003, at 2:09:23
> Hey, I know there was an earlier post on this, but I can't seem to find all the "threads". I have bi polar, I think - at least never been diagnosed with OCD. I have terrible "rashes" on my forearms, and now, I am picking at them constantly, consciously and just as a habit. Well, not actually a rash, but skin wounds, irritation – hard to describe. Sometimes it itches so terribly, I want to cut off my arms; and sometimes I pick when it doesn’t itch. When I ran out of places, I did it to my scalp. I am scarring myself terribly; my arms are the worst, with those white scar patches. It’s not acne, but I have tried oxy whatever to dry them out. I have tried every itch cream in the store I can think of and a couple of prescribed cortisone things...even the stuff for allergies such as Benedril (spelling?). Can anyone recommend anything? I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS SUMMER, I FELT LIKE A LEPER, PEOPLE STARING AT MY ARMS...it hasn’t spread to my face, but I have a slight bit of minor acne or pimples that time of the month ( I am SO embarrassed discussing this girl stuff). Anyway, can anybody recommend a cream or anything? Dermatologists can’t help thus far.
> Thank you so much.
> By the way, sum does help a bit, but I have melasma (brown spots on my face) and really JUST need TO STAY OUT OF THE SUN...darn CAP lock, I can’t type worth a damn…sorry post is so long, new to this.
>
> LoriHi Lori
I can sympathise with you - I have a problem with skin and scalp picking. There are quite a few websites devoted to this - just do a search on Google. It's usually associated with OCD and is something maybe a psychiatrist can help you with more than a dermatologist.
That said - I found a hydrocortisone cream helped with a rash - and anti-histamines (like anti hay fever tablets) helped with the itching (which you can get from a pharmacy). So far the best thing has been inositol (a vitamin B derivative) which you can get from a health shop - it's helped me the most. It seems to stop my compulsion to pick.
Here's a link to an article on it:
http://www.homestead.com/westsuffolkpsych/Inositol.html
Also - antidepressants might help - talk to your doctor about it.
Hope this helps
Jackie
>
poster:Jackster
thread:265860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031004/msgs/265877.html