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Skin Picking Disorder Scratching, tingling or squeezing to the skin
Everybody deals daily with his skin especially when washing or grooming. The fact that occasional pimples are pressed around or small hairs plucked out, is usually harmless and in a way quite "normal". But some people are very extreme, using tools such as needles and knives, causing serious injury. What is behind the so-called "Skin Picking"? Experts and an affected young woman report in conversation with the news agency "dpa" of the previously under-researched disease.
Those affected are very brutal about their skin
Punching, plucking and scratching certain areas of the skin to remove pimples, dandruff, scabs or small hairs is a common phenomenon. If this happens in a "normal" context, there is nothing wrong with it and even serves many people as a relaxation ritual. But what happens when these actions become pathological and even interfere with daily life? In this case, there is medical talk of "dermatillomania" or "skin picking disorder". Anyone who suffers from it is very brutal, pulls squeezes and pushes with all his might, cuts small pieces out of the skin or penetrates into them with sharp objects. As a result, it usually comes to bleeding, there are redness, purulent spots, open wounds and scars.
Self-injurious behavior in impulse disorders. Image: Jürgen Fälchle - fotolia Disease is one of the impulse control disorders
"I feel like impurities, scan my body and look for where I can scratch or push something," said the student Lisa Müller (name changed) from North Rhine-Westphalia to the "dpa". Afterwards, "work on" the body until the maltreated skin areas begin to bleed. "It looks worse afterwards than before. And you do not stop looking for a job. "Lisa M. has been suffering from skin picking since puberty, and over the years she has become worse and worse, reports the young woman.
Accordingly, the phrase "stop pecking" accompanies her almost half her life. But stopping is not possible. Because the disease belongs to the so-called "impulse disorders". For those affected, this means a strong inner urge that they can hardly resist. A recognition of the disease, reason or the knowledge of the consequential damage usually have no effect - instead dominated by the impulse to edit the skin. Since the procedure is carried out automatically and as if in a trance, the sufferers do not seem to feel any pain during this time.
A sense of shame over the wounds leads to social withdrawal
"If the skin picking persists for several weeks or months and skin damage is visible, this is an alarm signal," said Iris Hauth, President of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology. In addition, the disease often has far-reaching consequences, because many sufferers would be ashamed of the visible skin damage and avoid contact with others. "In addition to the skin damage that also leads to social damage," said Hauth.
Bathing trips with friends unthinkable
From shame is therefore usually trying to hide the crumb and plucking. Even Lisa M. knibbele not in front of her brother and her father, know only her mother and grandma, a friend and her friend. The game of hide and seek, however, require some rules by wearing "at least three-quarters sleeves and long pants" and covering the affected areas with tinted cream or make-up.
Activities such as swimming trips with friends or evening barbecues are unthinkable. Just like the originally planned move to a student flat share, because "in the morning, sitting unflattered at the breakfast table, that's impossible. Or know that I can not nibble. That would stress me, "explains the person concerned. Instead, she lives in a separate apartment. But even this has not changed the disease. When "Knibbeln" she can reduce stress, with the urge in the evening was the strongest: "Because I know that I do not have to get out."
Accordingly, the treatment of the skin initially has a pleasant and relaxing effect and, according to Hauth, often functions as a valve during "stress, tension, overwork, violent emotions, anger or grief". But even boredom could be the reason. Therefore, affected people would have to deal with the problem intensively with themselves and ask questions such as "Why do I just knibbele in this situation?" In the next step could then be tried "to replace the usual behavior with less harmful strategies," the expert continues.
Disease in the public still relatively unknown
But many sufferers are not aware of their excessive "skin care". In addition, little is known to the public that skin picking is actually a mental illness and not an exaggerated "fad". This is also familiar to Ingrid Bäumer, who began working on her skin at the age of six and only became aware of the name of the disorder at the end of 30 through an internet search. "With almost 40 I had so many wounds that I thought: Now I have to see that I can handle this," the 44-year-old told the "dpa".
Bäumer joined a self-help group, got her behavior thereby well under control and finally founded even a merger affected. By working on herself, she was able to recognize that sitting in front of the PC was especially difficult for her. For while she uses the mouse with one hand, she used to scratch and pinch the other's face, especially in the face. Today, she would alternatively take a small ball to crunch into the free hand, reports Ingrid Bäumer.
Change of behavior takes a lot of time
But changing behavior takes time, explains Iris Hauth. "One or two months should take time already". If successful, professional help should be sought, with the help of a family doctor or a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, who offers cognitive behavioral therapy. Because skin picking is primarily a mental health problem, which can lead to depression.
In addition to the mental treatment but also the professional care of the affected areas is important to avoid long-term damage such as scars or severe inflammation. "The disinfection of the affected areas is important," says Steffen Gass, Vice President of the Professional Association of German Dermatologists to the "dpa". While a healing ointment could help the wounds, cortisone or silicone-based creams would be considered for the resulting scars, the expert explains. The cream could possibly mitigate the brutal handling of the skin. Because "you also work with your hands, but do not hurt yourself, but takes care of yourself," explains Gass.
Disease so far little research
From the point of view of expert Hauth, Skin Picking is an underrated topic, which until now has been little researched. Accordingly, statistics and empirical data are currently scarce, but it is estimated that about two to five percent of adults in Germany and the US are affected.
In the future, Lisa M. would like to take an active stand against her illness, because the examination phase in the university has left such heavy marks "as never before". "So it can not go on." Therefore, she wanted to begin next to their support group now a corresponding psychotherapy and to be treated if possible inpatients. (No)