How Do I Stop Picking At My Scalp?
I was wondering if there is a way I can treat my impulse in picking out my scabs from my scalp. I am starting to develop bald spots in the front area of my hair. Other than that, I have lots of hair, and don’t think that my hair will ever thin. Also, if I stop picking at my scabs, will the hair ever grow again at the aformentioned bald spots? Or will I have to use aids like propecia, if they would be of any help?
Thank you
You describe a condition known as trichotillomania. It is a sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder and there may be help. But first, you need to see a doctor who can diagnose you and manage your obsessive behavior, one step at a time.
I have the same problem. I went to a psychiatrist for it to get some kind of medicine because it falls under the Obsessive Compulive Disorder area and It is brought on by stress. They act like you are trying to get a fix and either give you extremely low doses of valium that don’t help or try to talk you into alternative therapy some kind of awareness and stopping yourself thing which is really stupid because I am fully aware that I am doing it and if I could stop I wouldn’t go to the dumb doctor. Sorry to be so negative good luck!
Actually, the process of picking at skin is called Dermotillomania. Trichotillomania is the proccess of pulling out one’s hair. I just want to correct the initial answer given.
I have the same problem. I freak out that I will lose hair when I pick. It seems to grow back in little bits when I stop and I have lots of cute little hairs coming in.
I am afraid that eventually I’ll create so much scar tissue that I’ll have bald spots.
Your condition is not trichillomania, it is dermotillomania or however you spell it. The sucky thing about dermo. is that it is not in the DSM psychological manual yet even though it should be. Trich is. The treatment for dermo is similar to trich.
I’ve also found that fake nails (acrylic or fiberglass) really help curb my impulse to itch as I cannot feel the skin lifting from my head and I eventually stop doing it. I took off my nails though because I was afraid of getting a fungus so now I’m back to picking like I did before.
Anyway good luck and you’re not alone.
im sad some prob getting bald patch ineed help please i have ocd!
please… can anyone help me ..im in junior high and ive been dealing with this disorder of pulling out my hair for 7 years now ive gone through so much…i cant find a website that will help me and my parents think that ive stopped 4 years ago ..i pick at my eyelashes and hair and sometimes pubic area ..i know it sounds strange and wierd but i caNT HELP IT ! i have bald spots on my head and patches on my eyelids…please ! im begging you …any solutions? and i dont want anyone to know about it
im 14 and cant stop picking my hair how can stop
Hey I am in High school I am a sophtmore
And I’ve had tric sence I was 12 and I am
Now 17 I have some suggestions for people
Who need help these won’t make it disappear
But it might help
1. Clench your fists and squeeze them for 10
Second wen ever you get the urge to pull or
Until the urge goes away
2. Use fidgets these are thugs that keep your hands buisy
And off your head like a squishy ball or stress ball maybe you
Need a fidget in each hand you could use an arubics cube
3. Ware a hat to keep your hands off your head
4. Make a list of reasons why u want to stop picking and put it up were ever you
Will see it every day and often maybe make a couple make that a motivation goal
5.if u start to pick don’t think that o it’s to late to stop sence u started picking no take a deep
Breath grab a fidget possibly a hat also an maybe go out side and play basket ball
Or something just to take your mind of your hair even though it’s really hard to stop wen you start
It is possible to I have stopes my self multiple times when I started to
6. Think how it will impact your life if u continue to pick you. Deserve to look the best that u can
7. Wet your hair or put jell in it so it’s slippery and u can’t pull and it will make your head feel better
I hope this helps any one who has this problem it had helped me buy I still struggle. Some times to be strong
I’ve been picking at my scalp for over 6 years & I’m only 15! luckily I only do it in private or when I’m sitting in class all stressed out :/ so not many people have caught on, So its all about self-control for me. I have stopped for DAYS at a time before & that was an accomplishment 4 me (: I’m getting better so here’s what I do:
1.Think about putting your MIND before your ACTIONS, so keep repeating in your head “My mind is stronger than my hands, My mind is stronger than my hands” & PUSH your hands down on a table or something while thinking this.
2.DO NOT use an anti-dandruff shampoo because it makes your scalp feel softer & more “tempting” to peel.
3.If you have ever picked in the bathroom in front of a mirror than that is a trigger for you, So STAY AWAY from any triggers like that!
4. believe in yourself
5.Try putting your mind on something else that involves your hands, so playing a game on the computer that uses the keyboard will keep your mind of picking.
& eventually, IF YOU STOP, the hair will grow back slowly (:
we’re all in this together <3 <3
I am actually in my 30’s and have picked scabs on my scalp off and on for the past 20 years. It started when my parents separated. I stopped the first time because my mother would have me stop, but since I moved out, when I’m completely stressed out, I will start picking again. The next time I started, I was engaged to someone I really didn’t like but forced myself to. After that break up, I stopped picking, and my scalp healed. The next time was when I worked in a stressful job, and this was also the low point of my eating disorder as well. That took over a year to get over. I remember trying not to pick the whole week before my wedding and completely stopped after I married! I didn’t pick for a whole year and a half, during my pregnancy and a little afterwards while breast feeding. Now that I’m in a stressful situation again, I’m picking again! This time I have more scabs than ever! They also hurt. So, I decided today that whenever I catch myself starting to pick, I will stop even if the urge is overwhelming. I may keep a rubber band around my wrist so I can play with that instead. I will also start a journal about the events of each day and whether or not I decide to pick or not. This is also how I got over my eating disorder. Let’s hope for the best!!
I’ve been picking at my scalp on and off for a little under 10 years, I think. I forget when I started. When I get really disgusted with myself, I quit for a long time.. months or a year sometimes. But then, just like the rest of you, I get stressed out or anxious about something and I start right back up.
I hate it. It’s a disgusting habit. I have dark hair and typically wear dark clothes so this is not making things easy for me. I’ve also grown my nails out because I also used to pick those, too. What’s funny though is I no longer have the desire to pick at my nails. They’re beautiful now. My scalp was that way a few weeks ago but the stress of a new job and money problems broke me down.
I’m treating it like any other addiction and am just going to force myself to stop again. It’s so easy to keep going once I start, though. But I quit smoking (granted, I only smoked for 3-4 months) and I quit picking my nails (which I did for over 10 years).. so I can do this, too.
I haven’t noticed any bald spots yet, but I do feel in the shower like my hair feels thinner, like my ponytail isn’t as thick as it used to be.
So you’re not alone. It looks like many people have our problem. The question is, how do we stop it?
iv started picking at my head now for the past year.. it really has me worried now as i am becoming bald.. iv had a shit upbringing but also i have 2 little girls now, they have coped me pickig a my head and my concentration goes to pickig my heaad so i cant blame them.iv tried sooooo hard to stop myself by going for walks, cleaning to extreme, constantly trying to keep busy but its actually taking over my life, also as iv said im going bald.. the scabs are so deep now that it hurts me so much to wash my hair.. im also a hairdresser!!!also iv to wash my hair everyday because my hair and head has started to smell because of the weeping of the puss that comes from the scabs.. i serously need help or advice peeps.. id apriecate any tips.. thanks , jen
Learn to play the piano or guitar. The intense practice required to master a musical instrument and the intense joy you get from making ppl happy with your music will leave you witg no time to pick your scalp.
I have picked my head from like 7years old and I’m 55 now. loss some hair. Sure wish I could stop
I used to pick at my scalp a lot as a kid and I can’t remember when I stopped, but I’ve started again recently (I’m 18 now) and it’s much worse than it used to be. I’m trying really hard not to pick the scabs away because I’m scared that I’ll have scare tissue leading to bald patches. I have scar tissue on my shin from over-scratching it and i don’t grow leg hair on those spots anymore so I’m scared. I keep forgetting to clip my nails short recently but I try to as much as possible so i can’t pick. I also pick at my face a lot and am worried that I’ll get scars there too. People tend not to notice because I do it mostly along the outside of my face so it is hidden by my hair.
It’s weird because writing this down I’m realizing that I have a lot of scratching/picking related ticks but I’ve never really acknowledged it before. I also have a strong urge to pick out my pubic hairs with tweezers even though I keep trying to stop because it leads to ingrown hairs and then I end up digging those out with the tweezers even though I know that makes it worse. I also used to be an avid nail-biter and only stopped with the nails because I started biting off the skin around my nails.
I didn’t realize how many other ppl have these sorts of problems and although I’m not happy that I’m not the only one, it’s good to feel a little more normal :)
I thought I’d post about some of my ticks in case anyone else can feel a bit better relating to them.