Wedding Manicures and Dermatillomania

I do this too! I notice I am less prone to pick if I have nail polish on. I also keep cuticle butter or oil nearby at all times so that I can keep the skin soft and flexible. If I do pick at it, it's usually less severe because they aren't super dry.

As someone with derm & trich, my honest advice is.. therapy.

Sowwy.

I would say if it's short term, it's helpful to re-direct and pick at something else, but looks like you have over a year out.

Don't apologize, m. Therapy is legit advice. Especially since I've done it for so long and still have a ways to go. I've been thinking about getting therapy again anyways, though not for the same reason.

@Patricia, I'm the same, in that I pick less with nail polish on. But with my job, I'm constantly working with my hands, so the paint job never lasts. And I'm back to picking. Lol! That's a good tip about the cuticle oil though.

I pick at mine but I'm always trying to perfect them. FH picks at his horribly and I'm glad to know there is a term for this- "dermatillomania" sound intense!

There are products out there to put on your hands/nails that taste bad, etc to deter you from it. it sounds silly but you could also wear gloves around the house - like the thin ones that are $1 at the dollar store. sit on your hands? go to therapy? wear lotion constantly- makes it harder/too slick to pick.

I'm sorry if I'm not much help and I'm not sure how much damage can be undone in a certain amount of time.

ZeldaBride I don't have dermatillomania but I will agree with m. Of course seeking someone to talk to would be the ultimate goal, but a solution for now may be gel nail polish manicure from a salon! The polish lasts a super long time even if you work with your hands. If that will prevent you from picking, it's a good start.

Yes! This was me for years. My mom did the same thing. My cuticles and skin around my fingers was always bleeding and gross. When I would get a manicure, it was all they could do to get my fingers to look decent. I noticed when I would occasionally get my nails done though, I would not pick for a few days because I wanted them to continue to look good (and I paid money for that!) I get my nails done regularly now, about every 2 weeks. I sometimes will still pick but it is a 100 times better than it was.

Also if regular nail polish chips a lot for you, maybe you could try gel polish? It doesn't chip and last longer than regular polish. Just a thought!

Second the gel, my brows grow back in much faster when my nails are done, because I'm also cheap and don't want to waste a manicure.

Thank you so much for bringing this topic up! I wish I had some good advice for you besides cutting your nails short.

This is called excoriation disorder in the DSM-V! I'm a behavioral therapist so I always think that there's a behavioral solution, especially for compulsive behaviors. Yes, see a therapist, but also be mindful of when this happens. Next time you pick, notice it. Where are you? What's happening? Are you anxious? Are you feeling something uncomfortable? Also begin to identify a list of alternative behaviors. Every time you want to pick your skin, suck on an ice cube. Or twirl your hair. Or practice bilateral stimulation, which is simply tapping your hands on your body alternating left and right. These are all great tools to have in your pocket when you do start with the therapist!

I have trich and use to have derm as well, but I use to pick only at my face. As soon as I started to clear up my skin I stopped picking as soon as I saw the damage I was creating. My trich is pretty well managed at this point. I've been to therapy for it as well. Best of luck.

Krista, I would love to chat with you at some point, had trich for 25 years now. If you're OK with that

Roushes - I am going to pass your advice along to my friend!

Please do, Nikkell!

Fyi, this is what made me think of this subject today. My right thumb and ring finger are particularly bad today.

RATR, thank you for being an awesome therapist and friend. I'm definitely going to work on those tricks!

Oh, Zelda, check out Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream as a cuticle healer. Mine look like that when it gets dry and then I pick, so I get it. 8 hour cream saves my life a lot.

Burt's Bees and Elizabeth Arden... I'm on it! Lol

For the past few years, I pick around my nails to the point where I bleed. The only thing that stops it is if I get a no chip manicure and don't want to mess it up. Also, I keep cuticle cream and lotion in my purse and at my desk that helps a lot too.

Can you go to michaels or joannes and pick up liquid latex if you are not allergic? It might look goofy but at least you'd be picking at something that peels off instead of your skin.

I also have had (I guess relatively mild) trich since like 3rd grade. Currently working on letting left eyebrow grow out for engagement pics. I wish I had discovered permanent make up when I was younger, but better late than never!