Picking

OCDavid

Active member
I have heard it is common for people with OCD to pick body parts. Just interested if others here have done it. I know someone who picks zits on their face. I only realized recently that I am a compulsive picker. I pick my nose and my head. I find it enjoyable, and feel a sense of achievement if I've picked at least nearly all that is there. It's just something I'm drawn towards. When I say picking my head I refer to the part with hair. There's often dead skin or something to pick.

On a similar note I often clean my watch with my fingers. I enjoy getting rid of grime on it, though it usually doesn't need to be cleaned. One time this week I decided that I wouldn't clean something off and immediately I felt anxiety. This proves it is part of my OCD.
 

thursdays_child

Active member
Are you referring to Dermatillomania/Compulsive Skin Picking? If so, yes, I've struggled with this too. I had it for 17 years, and it wasn't limited to any one body part.
 

Harleyq

Well-known member
My boyfriend picks his scalp as well...maybe even worse than you if all you're picking off is dead skin. He shaved all his hair off once and I told him to grow it back. He'd left pitted scars in his head from picking at it so it looked very moon-like with all the "craters"
 
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