Excoriation (skin-picking)

Excoriation Disorder, also called Dermatillomania, is a condition in which someone can repeatedly pick different area of their skin/body, causing damage. It is a Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) and shares features with OCD and impulse control behaviors.

It goes beyond occasional picking — it becomes chronic, hard to control, and emotionally or socially impairing.

Different Types of Skin-Picking

1. Automatic Skin-Picking
   • Happens outside of awareness (e.g., while reading, watching TV, or driving).
   • Often linked to boredom or low arousal states.

1. Focused Skin-Picking
   • Conscious, purposeful picking often triggered by distress, anxiety, or the urge to remove a “flaw.”
   • Involves rituals (e.g., examining, squeezing, digging).

1. Mixed
   • Most people have elements of both automatic and focused picking.

Common Picking Areas on Self

• Face (especially around the mouth, chin, or cheeks)
• Scalp
• Arms and legs
• Shoulders, chest, or back
• Cuticles and fingernails
• Feet or toes

--->Some folks focus on scabs, acne, or perceived imperfections, while others pick at healthy skin.