F Yeah Derma Dragonfly

smugdeadlemon asked: For the anon that can`t wear hats at school; can you wear headbands? I always put my hair up and wear a headband during the day. It's helped a lot with avoiding picking because I can't just reach up and do it; I have a barrier there and it makes me realize that I'm starting to pick and gives me a chance to stop before I start.

Good advice! Any barrier that could help is worth a try. 

kouukenji asked: The best distraction I've found is making origami out of post-its. My teachers have never minded much so long as I look attentive and take good notes. It keeps your hands very busy and can even distract you from thinking about picking a bit. Good luck!

Sounds like a fantastic idea! Creative, easy, commandeers the use of your hands for longer than a couple seconds, and you even get a little satisfying crane or whatnot with it. 

I’ve never heard this idea before; thank you very much for sharing!

Anonymous asked: Keratosis Pilaris is the worst for my derma. For those who don't know, it's the build up of keratin in the hair follicles creating small red bumps along the skin. And I basically pick at it nonstop, squeezing it to the deadskin out and scratching at the scabs and bumps until they're just scarred messes. I've even gotten bruises along my skin from my picking and squeezing. This isn't really an important ask, I just wanted to talk about how terrible the combination of these two things can be.

No input is unimportant when it helps our followers know they’re not alone!

Thanks for sharing your experience. (:

diaryofaskinpicker asked: Hi there, saw your post about the anon who said the doctor said they had "chicken skin". Just wanted to let you know it's not name calling or anything, it's an actual condition more commonly known as keratosis pilaris. It's a skin condition (also called KP) that makes the skin look like chicken skin, like tiny dots. You can Google images and see what it looks like.

Ah, seems there was more to it then! Thanks for sharing. That’s an unfortunate (and rather stigmatic) name for the disorder, but that makes more sense, as there are many dermatillomaniacs that I have also seen suffer from KP. 

‘Chicken Skin’ anon, let it be known that you are simply the victim of unfortunate naming. 

Anonymous asked: To the anon who picks their cat's skin: I feel your pain, I have to physically restrain myself from picking other people's skin, it's just like my brain doesn't realize that there is difference between skin I can pick and skin I can't. Just take a deep breath and stop looking at the places you want to pick. I find that if I can't see the skin, the urge becomes a little less and more manageable. You can handle this, it's can be hard and stressful, but give it your best try. I believe in you.

Excellent advice for pet pickers! Thanks so much, anon. 

Anonymous asked: Do you know if the discoloration of my skin will ever go away? I was finally able to decrease my skin picking a couple of months ago and for the most part my skin is returning back to normal. Everything has a smooth texture but my skin is twenty different colors. I'm pretty discouraged that I've ruined my face. Will the discoloration be staying for good?

Some scars fade naturally, but I know I have marks that have lasted to this day. However, even if your scarring stays, I wouldn’t say that you’ve ruined your face.

Nevertheless, I know there are products out there intended to smooth discoloration or fade scars. Do any of you dragonflies know of such products or other treatments, and have you had any success with them?

If it’s important to you to get rid of your skin’s discoloration, I would see if you could consult a dermatologist. As a professional, they would be better qualified to tell you how extensive the damage is and what can be done to change it. 

Regardless, congratulations in cutting down on your picking! No matter how your skin turns out, that’s a really impressive thing to do. Remember that you’ve achieved a fantastic thing. 

Anonymous asked: my general doctor always has told me i have "chicken skin" cause of all the bumps

EDIT

As a follower has submitted, ‘chicken skin’ is the name of a skin condition otherwise known as keratosis pilaris, or KP. It is generally characterized by dots on the skin, and is nicknamed that for its appearance. 

Though it’s an unfortunate name, it’s a common thing to have and you’re certainly not alone.

Anonymous asked: I pick the hell outta my scalp, mostly when I'm at school due to stress. This is the only spot i pick, but it's getting really bad and i can't wear hats at school. do you have any advice for scalp-pickers...? thanks!

If you think they might be sympathetic, it could be worth a try to talk to your teachers and see if you could get permission to wear hats in class. 

Other than that, there might be other things you can do with your hair to discourage picking. Perhaps experiment with styling; gel it back so you can’t get to your scalp, or put it in an updo. Maybe braid it or cover it in hair accessories. 

If you can’t do very much with your hair or head to keep you from picking at it, the next best thing is to focus on distracting your hands. Fidget toys, silly putty, spinner rings, et cetera are good tools to keep your fingers distracted and away from your scalp. 

Dragonflies, any more advice?

Anonymous asked: I just found these meme oh my god I love it. I've always chewed the skin around my fingers, chewed my fingers, rip off my cuticles, chew and peel the skin off my lip, pick scabs, and I simply cannot end my day without peeling skin off the bottom of my feet. I can't stand not doing it. I sometimes get pimples on my head and it drives me insane because I always have to pop them and pick them and they stay there forever. I also have trich and pull out my hair and eyelashes. Anyways props to you.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with derma, anon. You’re definitely not alone - as you can see from this blog, many people go through the same thing you do every day!

If it helps you, there are also resources out there that attempt to assist dermatillomaniacs in resisting the urges to pick/bite/pull. In the meantime, though, keep on following and submitting! We’re glad you like the blog. (:

Anonymous asked: I have derma and I constantly pick at my scalp, my face, my back, my chest, and my upper arms. but I also love picking my cat's skin. she's an outdoor cat so she gets into fights with other cats sometimes, and I like to pick off her scabs from scratches when they start to heal. she doesn't seem to mind and I love the little tufts of fur attached to the skin... is that messed up? does anyone else pick at something besides themselves?

You are not alone or messed up. Many sufferers of dermatillomania experience urges to pick at things other than themselves. Some pick the skin of partners or pets, or peel paint or dried glue. 

Though your cat may not seem to mind the sensation, I would recommend trying to curb this habit. Picking off a scab leaves a wound vulnerable and irritated, and increases the possibility of getting an infection. As an outdoor cat, yours could easily get something in her open wounds that would end up causing her trouble or making her sick. 

There are other alternatives for recreating the sensation of picking. Even brushing your cat’s fur instead of picking her might be useful. You could let glue dry on a hard surface and peel it off, run your fingernails along a sweater or knit fabric, or do something else with your hands like fiddling with a fidget toy, crocheting, or playing with silly putty.

Any other dragonflies experience something similar or have tips?