Stop that skin picking: 10 tips to stop pulling at your skin

Identify Triggers The first step to solving a problem is to understand the cause. Triggers can include stress, boredom, anxiety, or specific situations like looking in a mirror or feeling a bump on your skin.

Keep hands busy Many people pick at their skin out of habit. If you too have a similar habit, keeping your hands busy is a good idea, as it will divert your brain from the constant urge to pick your skin. 

Stress management Skin picking is often a response to stress or anxiety. Mindfulness techniques can help you become more aware of the urge to pick before you act on it.

Keep your skin covered It is advisable to cover the areas of skin that you tend to pick. This will help reduce the temptation to pick. For example, you can wear long sleeves, gloves or bandages etc. 

Use barriers Creating barriers on your skin can prevent the urge to pick at blemishes or scabs. Using hydrocolloid patches or bandages to cover pimples, scars, or other problem areas can help. 

Put off picking for later If you have the urge to pick at your skin, remind yourself to do it at a different time. This is a trick to buy time and constantly doing this will take it out of habit. 

Seek professional help Skin picking can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition like dermatillomania, anxiety, or OCD. It is advisable to consult a doctor. 

Use apps or trackers Tracking your progress can make it easier to recognise patterns and stay motivated to stop picking. Downloading apps that track a habit can help you log incidents of skin picking and track your progress toward reducing the behaviour.

Remind yourself of the reason It becomes easier to break a habit if you keep reminding yourself of the harmful effects that it is causing. So whenever you get the urge to pick at your skin, remind yourself why you are doing it. 

Limit time in front of the mirror Mirrors can be a major trigger for skin picking as it shows you the blemishes or imperfections. Thus, increasing your stress and causing you to pick at the skin.

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