Skin picking triggers when a person repeatedly picks at their skin, causing damage to the tissue.
Wounding, lesions, infection, and scarring can all occur as a result of skin picking.
A person may pick their skin with their fingernails or use tools like tweezers.
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They may or may not be aware of their behavior.
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In fact, some medications may help reduce the urge to pick the skin.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also help you learn how to stop skin-picking.
Prescription Medicines
Some prescription medications can cause skin picking as a side effect.
There are mental, social, and physical effects associated with chronic skin picking.
A healthcare provider can offer you specific treatment options.
Treatment
Treatment for skin picking will depend on the cause.
Treatment for physical effects of skin picking may include directly treating infection with antibiotics.
Extensive skin damage may require skin grafting to repair damage.
Treatment options for skin picking include the following.
These medications work in different ways to adjust brain chemicals associated with skin picking behavior.
Therapy
Several forms of therapy may be used in the treatment of skin picking.
This means skin picking is not always preventable.
Support for combattingsubstance misusethat leads to skin-picking behavior is available.
Skin picking can lead to damage, bleeding, infection, and scarring.
It can also have psycho-social effects such as social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression.
Treatment for skin picking is available.
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