(Part 3) Top products from r/CompulsiveSkinPicking

You probably have buildup on your scalp. The apple cider vinegar can be a good way to rinse your hair but it’ll burn like fire if your scalp is raw.

Try this:

• Wash with Suave Clarifying Shampoo. (I pay $2 for it at Target and the grocery store, but I’m using Amazon.com links just for convenience sakes.) Use your fingertips (not your nails) to gently massage your scalp and then rinse thoroughly.
  
  
• Condition with Suave Essentials Coconut Conditioner. Again, massage scalp gently and use a lot of conditioner to cover hair from roots to tips. Rinse thoroughly.
  
  
• Condition one more time, but this time leave a little conditioner in your hair. Some people like to gently splash their hair with water to distribute it evenly rather than allowing the shower water to hit it directly (which would just rinse one spot completely and force all the excess conditioner to another spot. Either way, gently squish your hair from ends up to the roots using a scrunching motion until the water is just slightly milky when it squished out. Maybe leaving 10% of the conditioner in your hair?
  
  
• Eschew ALL of your mousses, gels, sprays, waxes, etc in favor of ‘curly girl approved’ options. Just google those words and you’ll see what you can replace your current products with.
  
  You may have to repeat step 1 a couple times to get rid of the buildup but it’ll happen, I promise!
  
  As for the science behind all of this, it’s my weak area so bear with me:
  
  

1. This shampoo has sulfates (harsh cleansers) but no silicones (stuff that costs each individual strand to make it feel soft). My theory is it strips your hair of the junk that has been deposited by previous products and is basically sitting on your scalp being gross. The shampoo is just shampoo, though, and even though it has sulfates it is designed to be gentle on skin.
   
   
2. The conditioner adds back some moisture to your scalp and hair after you’ve stripped it of the funk. It also has no silicones so it won’t deposit any grossness. It just gently moisturizes (this is why we massage it in).
   
   
3. Of you’re a true curly girl, your hair is probably dry but your scalp (in its normal non-gunky state) isn’t. You need to leave just a little conditioner in your hair so it’ll continue to hang around the strands make it shiny and (most importantly) manageable.
   
   4- None of this works if you go putting a bunch of silicone back on it via gels and other styling products. Drying alcohols are also prevalent in these and we avoid those too.
   
   There are TONS of great methods and products (I use the cheapest ones in the instructions above because why invest a lot until you know it works, right?) in subs like r/curlyhair. It can be overwhelming at first because there’s a lot of science behind all of this but there are also tutorials for simple methods.
   
   I hope that helps. :)

I can totally empathize, as it suddenly got very bad for me too. My picking issue concerns chronic ingrown hairs (some legitimate, some self-induced by creating an "environment" really conducive to their development via picking). Exfoliation is touted as the best treatment, but, well, I kinda don't think it really does dick. I have used these and also usually just over my jawline and neck. I feel like they help a little in preventing/reducing the occurrence, maybe better than nothing. I like 'em because they contain both AHA and BHA, which are supposed to work pretty well synergistically. But pretty expensive.

AHA (glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, etc. in a variety of concentrations and formulations) is good for surface stuff like whiteheads and uneven skin tone. It will burn like mad for a few seconds if you use it over any open wounds (and possibly even if you don't). Also pretty drying. You'll be red and flushed, so moisturizer and SPF is a must after applying anything with an AHA.

BHA (aka salicylic acid, like Stridex pads) penetrates deeper into the pore. Good for blackheads and reduces inflammation. Not nearly as intense as AHAs (you rarely find concentrations of more than 2%) but still a bit drying in my experience. My skin tends towards dry anyway, so I always have to use a moisturizer.

There's some controversy over whether physical or purely chemical exfoliation is better. I've heard of the medicated pads having the potential to make "micro tears" in your skin, leading to breakouts but that really smacks of some bullshit. If you find that physical exfoliants are too harsh, don't use 'em. Whenever my skin seems to react badly to the pads, I tend to use this gel. Paula's Choice does have some nice chemical options in the form of leave-on gels, liquids, and creams, but like you said, expensive as fuck. Honestly, drugstore/generic equivalents will probably get the job done without breaking the bank. The fewer ingredients, the better (as a rule of thumb).

I've learned that keeping my wounds from drying out and scabbing over is key to speeding healing and minimizing scarring. Occlusives like Neosporin, Aquaphor, or even plain Vaseline are your best bets. Apparently you're not supposed to use Neosporin for more than a few days, but I used to slather myself with that stuff for weeks at a time before discovering Aquaphor. Didn't have any issues (except perhaps more resistant bacteria? Who knows). People also swear by hydrocolloidal bandages (think blister patches). They promote a moist healing environment w/o having to use any chemicals and you can leave on for several days.

There doesn't seem to be anything that helps very much with those hard bumps except time. Moisture + SPF should keep them from getting worse, at least. Sigh.

Honestly, washing with straight castor oil shows dramatic improvement overnight for me every time I start breaking out. It sounds counterproductive, but it's always worked for me and those I've told it about. This is the stuff I use.

1. Wet face with warm water
   
   
2. Massage oil into face gently for a good minute or two.
   
   
3. Let sit for another couple minutes minimum.
   
   
4. Use a clean hot washcloth to gently melt excess oil away "No scrubbing"
   
   
5. Use a clean towel to pat dry your face.
   
   
6. Apply your normal skin hydration cream.

This will not work for you scalp, but for all of the other places, I really recommend hydrocolloid bandages. You can cut them to the size of the open wound/scab, sanitize/wash the area, and it will provide a healthy environment for it to heal. You can leave them on while showering and for three days, probably enough time to make a smooth mark instead of a scab. The bandage is strong and if you rub your finger against it, it is smooth to the touch. It will remind you not to pick the scab (it would take more effort to remove the bandage to pick, giving you enough time to think through the consequences of picking.)

I use these on my face while I'm at home, and yes, I've become a bit reliant on them, but they are saving my skin. I can't recommend them enough. The brand I use are these, and again, I just cut them to fit over the spot I want to cover. I've heard good things about other brands too. https://www.amazon.com/Johnson-Tough-Pads-4-Count-2-8/dp/B000VE8E0I

I am sorry you are feeling this way, this habit is very difficult to resist, so please don't be too hard on yourself, you are not alone... Just know that it can get better if you make a plan and a conscious effort to stop. I don't think it will go away by itself (at least it didn't in my case until I created a strategy).

Magnifying mirrors are evil, it's incredibly difficult to resist them, so please do get rid of it.

Since you are also picking on your shoulders, it looks like getting rid of the mirror won't help completely - this subreddit has already posted a lot of good advice on how to help with picking, but couple of things I found particularly useful:

1. Create a progress chart - mark every day without picking and try to get the longest streak. E.g. this android app is very useful, and you can set multiple notifications a day to remind you of your commitment. Aim at a short streak first, say 3 days - it should be enough to heal sufficiently to reduce triggering you. Once you heal completely, it should be easier to keep it that way.
   
   
2. Hide mirrors or don't switch on light in the bathroom. You can use blue tack to cover a mirror with paper and then remove a piece of paper every time you put on make up.
   
   
3. Recognize your triggers and find a way of stopping them. E.g. if being in a bathroom ends with picking, always walk into a bathroom focusing on non-picking and your current streak. If you get into a trans in your room picking on your shoulders, try to wear clothing that makes it difficult to access them or find a way of breaking the trans (as soon as you recognize the trans, get up and go to the kitchen to get a snack).
   
   
4. Skin picking is a manifestation of an underlying stress, so try to find another way of releasing the stress. Different people will find different things, personally I found this useful.

I love love love picking and tearing at the skin above my nails. I don't bite my nails, but I attack all that rough skin there.

I also want to stop! The best thing that's worked for me is a thick cuticle balm. Burt's Bees, or Badger Balm both make a product like this. I keep it with me especially for occasions when I'm prone to picking: during a movie, while reading, studying, long car trips.
The act of rubbing balm into each fingertip fulfills the compulsion to do something with my hands. And when you're done the skin is soft & impossible to tear at! Also it does not taste good. Try it!

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Burts-Bees-Cuticle-Creme-Butter/dp/B00013YYS0

I think this stuff is really good for healing:
https://www.amazon.com/Scar-Shield-Prevention-Gel-Recommended/dp/B07BCP7R8X

It dries pretty quickly, so I put neosporin CREAM on top of it. (Repeat: neosporin CREAM not the ointment)
Also this stuff works well too:
https://www.amazon.com/Ecological-Formulas-Melazepam-Cream/dp/B001WUEJ4U

Also the ordinary niacinimide has helped my pores a lot.

You should always spot test new products to make sure they work for you.

A lot of people have had success with the oridinary’s salicylic acid, but it gave me chemical burns. So be careful.

I also have KP and have been picking since I was about 10 (15 years now...). Here are a few products that have helped both the KP on my arms and scars/acne on my face:

• Scar Care with onion bulb extract (use almost every night)
  
  
• AmLactin 12% (I actually use this everywhere - great on elbows)
  
  
• Acne/scar care with green tea (reduces redness)
  
  I also plan on getting one of the Konjac sponges that are so highly recommended on this sub.
  
  Edit: I also hydrocortizone cream occasionally. But, I've heard that skin can become "addicted" to this steroid.

I was thinking bout posting something about this. I am a compulsive finger/cuticle picker, and I have found a solution that is working okay for me. I could this stuff from Amazon called Pro Linc Callus Eliminator (link below) that is meant to dissolve calluses. I wait a few days without picking so I don't have open sore spots that will burn... Then I soak in the bath (or just soak your fingers in a sink) and then apply this to my finger tips/cuticles and areas of skin that are rough and gross. I wait 3-5 minutes, and I use a cuticle stick during that time to loosen and push back cuticles. Then I rinse it off well and wash my hands. Then I use a cuticle trimmer to trim off the excess cuticle stuff and a pumice stone on any rough spots/calloused areas around finger tips.
When I am done, the skin is much smoother without rough areas to pick at and pull at. The get just sort of dissolves the dead skin a bit so it can be rubbed away easier with a pumice stone and gives you a smoother surface, instead of layers of dry skin to pull at. I finish with a thick application of Bag Balm overnight, and then I try to maintain with Bag Balm each night and avoiding picking as much as possible. I just redid this after two weeks, with great results again, like new hands!!!

http://www.amazon.com/ProLinc-Callus-Eliminator-4-oz/dp/B000PT1R9E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419413820&sr=8-2&keywords=callus+peel

Hibiscus Hummingbird Painting by Numbers

Enjoy! :)

Also, if you develop it anywhere else, (God forbid) this stuff is the bomb diggity. https://www.amazon.com/Sween-Superior-Moisturizing-Protectant-Cream/dp/B001A6DGPE

So I do this alot. Two things helped me: fake nails but also this:CND Almond Moisture Scrub, 3.4 Fl Oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LHPNL6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aEHrDb9BG2KWB

It's a hand scrub. Whenever I felt like picking is wash my hands and use this and especially along the nails and finger tips. It helped rub off all the loose ends and tags and the oil made my skin really smooth. It made picking harder and made my skin less of a trigger.

Duoderm Hydrocolloid Dressing 187955 4 X 4" Box of 10, Sand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PQ735Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zAQNDbD5QAE4N

This one

You can search "Worry Stone" for the type that has a thumb groove, like this. You might find one like OP's under related items in a search.

Break out the bio oil, and aquaphor, put socks and gloves on after slopping tons on the hands and feet (before bed) Major sunscreen, not the drug store kind, Alba Botanical Sensitive Skin, the bottle is green, can be found at Sprouts, Wholefoods or Amazon. Big sun hat, and summer dress.

1.Dab Bio Oil on skin before going somewhere beach or pool oriented. On arms and leg spots.

2. Aquaphor your lips and the worst of your wounds.

3. Sensitive Skin Suncreen.

Daily routine (especially after shower) should be:

Little bits of bio oil and then not so bad sores.

Aquaphor those deep particularity ouchie ones.

Complete all of this by slapping this wonderful, waterbased lotion on your skin that is NOT greasy and well worth a little extra cost

Links to products:

Suncreen

Bio Oil


Aquaphor (life saver)

Awesome Hat I Have

Hypoallergenic Awesomeness (Lotion)

I struggle with this. Currently doing better but sometimes it's horrible. I bought a couple of "Tangle" toys (like this https://www.amazon.com/Tangle-8800-Relax-Therapy/dp/B001EWC5M4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483133951&sr=8-2&keywords=tangle+toy) in different sizes and textures to keep my hands busy and it's helped a lot.

Yeah, I got all that shit.

It's a relatively common idea in mental health that a lot of problems people have include a genetic component, and are triggered or worsened by life events or thought patterns. Usually people that have things like anxiety or depression have two things going on: a genetic tendency towards that mental health problem and some kind of mental pattern caused by trauma or upbringing that "activates" it.

In a lot of people, anxiety or depression can be "activated" by internalizing certain messages in childhood about not being good enough or something like that. Depending on how strong your genetic tendency for it is, you might not even need anything special beyond the shitty, but normal, societal messages about what it means to be successful and attractive. But for other people, even if they had a good upbringing otherwise, it can be activated by trauma.

It's also worth considering is that CSP is often likened to two different things: 1) OCD and 2) addiction, depending on who's doing the research, and both of these things are often associated with trauma.

Here's a little book my therapist recommended to me about complex trauma. It's kind of like a quick overview with a few little nuggets of surprising information. I wouldn't recommend it if you're already well-versed in complex trauma, but if it's kind of new to you, or you haven't really researched it, it's a quick, informative read.

For me personally, I found that I used to have my worst picking sessions while thinking about my abuser. My own link between abuse and picking seems rock solid. As I've made progress in dealing with my trauma, my picking has decreased.