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[quote=Anonymous]From what I've read, Skin Picking and Trichotillomania (hair pulling) fall under the OCD umbrella.

I also read Skin Picking is one of the most difficult to stop because the act puts them in a "trance" and is relaxing, and that feeling is desired. I guess for OCD behaviors where they feel the need to knock on a flat surface or whatever, isn't that desired in itself, it's just an annoying compulsion.

It's a mental health disorder, not a bad habit. Slapping them or reminding them will just give them more anxiety.

She will have to want to stop picking before she will be willing to try alternative behaviors. Maybe seeing a therapist who specializes in this specific form of OCD can help explain why she's doing it. When she's ready, for face picking getting rid of magnifying mirrors and even covering the sink mirror can help.

It's true that picking on the face or hands leads to social isolation. Picking on the feet leads to painful walking. Some sufferers can transfer it to only picking where it isn't as obvious, like the scalp or legs or arms, but that can still have social outcomes, like avoiding swimming or wearing shorts.

Getting a gel manicure blunts the fingernails, and for some that helps, for others it drives them crazy. For large skin areas, like legs or arms, a hydrocolloid bandage can be worn for 1-2 weeks and is waterproof and will usually heal the wounds. But obviously that doesn't work as easily on the face.

I'm sure this is painful for a parent to see and realize their child is suffering from them knowing they have a compulsion, hating themselves and feeling guilty when they give in, trying to hide the results with makeup, avoiding social situations due to embarrassment... But at least try to give her tools to understand why she's doing it and the knowledge that when she is ready, there are some behavior therapies that may help.

This is one of the most difficult compulsions to break and many suffer for decades or their entire life, even when they try to stop.[/quote]

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