Compulsive skin picking is known as Dermatillomania to the medical community and to the mental health community is classified as an impulse control disorder. Individuals who are compulsive skin pickers do not know they are picking at their skin; it is a completely subconscious act. Individuals who are compulsive skin pickers do so for one of three reasons; the act of skin picking is self-soothing, they crave the stimulation or they are perfectionists. There are two main cures for compulsive skin picking; medication and psychotherapy. Natural remedies are also used to cure compulsive skin picking.
Medication
Medication used to cure compulsive skin picking is the same medication used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medications that may be prescribed to cure compulsive skin picking are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro and Celexa. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors,also referred to as MAOIs such as Nardil and Parnete, may also be used to cure compulsive skin picking.
Psychotherapy
Several forms of cognitive-behavior therapy that may be used to cure compulsive skin picking. Habit Reversal Training (HRT), Self-Monitoring, Stimulus Control (SC) and Competing Response are four forms of cognitive-behavior therapy that could be used. HRT essentially teaches the individual relax and center themselves as well as control their muscle responses which lead to control over their compulsion to pick their skin. Self-Monitoring is basically making the individual cognizant of their behavior. The individual records the episodes of compulsive skin picking which in turn decrease the episodes gradually by bringing awareness. SC brings environmental triggers to the attention of the individual so they are better prepared to deal with situations with reactions that do not involve compulsive skin picking. Competing Response is a therapy device that gives the individual something else to do with his hands instead of picking his skin.
Natural Remedies
The B-vitamin inositol has properties that increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin has been linked to OCD and related disorders and may help reduce the urge to pick. Therefore taking large amounts of B-vitamin inositol supplements may help cure compulsive skin picking.
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