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Gigi01
New Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 2
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:03 am |
Hello! I am glad to have found this site! I am not a skin care professional, and need advice. I am in my mid 30's and sadly do not know a lot about skincare.
My post is a bit lengthly, and apologize in advance.
My skin is actually fine...however...I have had a problem which is "SEARCHING for a problem". I would go on a "search and destroy" mission. Within the last couple of months, it has been discovered that I do the search and destroy as an anxiety action. Knowing that I do this, and being aware at nighttime when I went on the "missions" has helped me to control it.
Now I am left with marks on my face. I want them to go away FASTER than they are. I have visited a derm, a plastic surgeon, and my family doctor. All say to use just soap and water and leave my face alone.
With my own research, and not really understanding everything, I have learned that vitamins A, C, and E are excellent for skin. So, I started taking these vitamins orally. I also found that vit K is good for scarring. I vit K pill and take it in the morning. I found a K cream at the vitamin store and now put that on my skin occassionally.
I found Liquid C with acerola and rose hips and have been putting that directly on my face. Is this the type of vitamin C you are all talking about?
As I said previously, I am more aware of what I have been doing, and why I was doing it. I was doing really well. Well, Friday I had a slight backslide. I was so disappointed in myself. I haven't touched my face (with the exception of washing) since Friday. What do you suggest for promoting (or speeding up) healing and dimishing the 2 spots I hurt?
Thank you all for your help and support! I appreciate it!! |
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Gigi01
New Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2005
Posts: 2
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:23 pm |
Thank you Guap. for asking me privately if I am self-harming or picking at spots in an effort not to embarass me. I will answer to all incase anyone can help with this.
(Again, I apologize for the lengthy post.)
Well, I keep going after the same spots. They heal. But, when the anxiety increases, I have noticed, I go on the search and destroy mission.
I "look" for areas to "fix." I end up ruining the same spots that are healing or in the process of healing. This has been going on for 3 years.()
I told the doctors I feel a lump under the skin that I pick at. They told me it is probably scar tissue.
I do have faith in my doctors. But, when I get in "that" mode, I just want to "pop" the lump out so it will heal into smooth regular skin.
Being a teacher, I have the summer off and am away from the anxiety producing person -- the principal. I have also decided not to return when the summer is over. On Friday, when I did the last "search and destroy" mission, I had a lot of anxiety because of that person. Well, because of the way that person makes me feel. My doctor said the principal equals my face. I see an imperfection and want to fix it. My principal (who finds fault with all the teachers) points out imperfection all the time. I (as with the other teachers) jump through hoops to make sure I am seen in a good light as a teacher.
So...Guap. asked which it was. Am I self-harming? I don't know. I know it is anxiety induced and that I pick on the same areas. My doctor said I "pick on myself" as the principal "picks" on me. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:33 pm |
Gigi,
A good cognitive behavior therapist would be able to help you to stop this behavior. You may also have a touch of both anxiety/obsessive/compulsive disorder. Since your are able to self-control fairly well, it seems that your doc might want to try putting you on a mild anti-anxiety/OCD med. I know friends who swear by ativan/celexa/effexor but can't say if these are for you. Anyhow, you could use them six months or so and then go off and see if the behavior returns. Often, just a short course of the medication is enough to stop the behavior completely.
Good luck! |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:50 pm |
OK, I'll fess up here and admitt that I have done the same thing for years, so I kinda spotted it. Luckily, I don't get too many breakouts, but I have a 'special place' just in my hairline near the nape of my neck, and that is where all my anxiety/obsessive behaviour generally goes. I personally classify as a mild form of self harm in my case along with thricolomania (sp) which is basically hair pulling.
I pretty much have it under control, but when it blows then it is hard to contain it. I have found that emotional freedom therapy is very useful, particularly as you don't need to drag up painful memories and you can do it yourself (I was gonna pack in college at christmas and this got me through it!)
Here's the link, you can download the manual (about 80 pages) and get emails for different kind of stresses and other physical illness. I urge you to try it, it takes moments and does work!
http://emofree.com/
I find copper peptides work well at healing when it's really bad. Skin bio is the original and it is very cheap
HTH, Liz |
_________________ my new jewellery website:www.gentle-medusa.com |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:00 pm |
Sounds like you have CSP which is Compulsive Skin Picking. Its one of the OCD spectrum disorders. I have OCD and BDD, so my doctors tell me I skin pick a lot, so basically the best thing to try is to stop picking. Cut your fingernails and banish the tweezers or whatever you use to pick with.
Ive been through so much treatment or my difficulties. Supposedely CBT cognitive behavioural therapy and medication combined is the recommended treatment for this type of thing. Though everyone finds different things help them. Skin picking is a viscious cycle, you have to learn how to sit through the anxiety instead of picking to alleviate it. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:35 pm |
Hi Gigi01 - Have you ever tried using a product with glycolic acid in it? It gently exfoliates skin and diminishes the formation of acne. Maybe if you didn't have as much worth picking at, you'd at least cut back if not stop outright. I never had acne until I was in my late 30's. Adult acne is especially helped by AHA (glycolic acid is one form of this), and you'd probably like the refined texture of your skin from using it. It works for me!
Be careful about taking too much Vit.K -- it promotes blood clotting. Topical rather than oral Vit.C may be more beneficial for your skin.
I think a lot of us have a neurotic tendency to pick, and I agree that stress can promote this type of behavior. But the advice you've gotten from the other forum members may be worth pursuing if you think you could be suffering from OCD. Good luck! |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:21 pm |
All you need is Scientology and the advice of Tom Cruise, M.D.
Just kidding, I know this is a serious issue. Devote yourself fully to changing under the close guidance of a psychiatrist. Also remember to seek support from family and friends. Good luck. |
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Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:29 pm |
Gigi,
I agree with betterat40 - a good behavioral therapist should be able to really help you. I know that everyone who takes a college psychology class feels the need to chime in with a diagnosis but I have a very good friend who did the same thing (along with tricholomania - the hair pulling, well, eyelashes in her case), but anyway, it is a form of an anxiety disorder, usually combines with control issues.
Is there something else that you can "fix" to redirect your need for control when you start the face-picking? Maybe a jigsaw puzzle, or something that is unfinished? I don't know - I'm no psychologist, I'm just giving you some ideas that seemed to help my friend.
I hope that it all works out for you. Life is soooo stressful - I'm sure that constantly blemished skin only makes it worse.
Good luck!
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_________________ Pure Skin Formulations, LLC | http://www.psfskincare.com |
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Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:45 am |
I’ll let GuapaGirl and Pbsadhaka handle the behavioral advice, but to help fade the redmarks and scars from your previous ‘search and destroy’ missions, I highly recommend regular use of an homemade aspirin mask and homemade Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) toner. You can find recipes for both of these items under the ~~~ DIY Skincare Recipes ~~~ sticky thread in the Skincare Forum. The regular use of a Vitamin C serum would also be helpful.
If you perform a search here on the board using “aspirin mask” and/or “ACV” as the key words, it should return relevant results so you can read about other’s experiences using these two products and how it helped them reduce or completely diminish the marks from past breakouts.
Best wishes and good luck,
Carrie |
_________________ Über-oily,semi-sensitive, warm/fair-skinned redhead, 38...Will swap/shop for members outside U.S. and/or make homemade skincare products upon demand-PM me for details. |
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