r/Dermatillomania

what can we classify dermotillomania as really?

Self harm:
My therapist says it is and ive made it very clear that i do not want to hurt myself. But obviously skin picking can hurt and she says that is so take the pain away from my chest and anxiety. Also that skin picking is a way for me to regulate my anxious thoughts because im concentrated in my own bubble and can analyze others actions my actions etc.

OCD:
Skin picking is a way to "perfect" my skin by picking at imperfections even though it leaves bigger, scaring marks....

Any thoughts?

Almost every weekend I spend hours picking at my skin, right now my skin is at it's worst with my arms and legs covered in open wounds. I decided to buy some manuka honey ointment in hopes of healing my wounds quicker. So yesterday I applied the ointment to all the areas, and while I fortunately didn't pick at my skin at all, I started becoming obsessed with reapplying the ointment, specially to the areas where it looked like it had been wiped off somehow even though the area was still sticky so I'm sure the areas were fine. Basically I spent most of the day still obsessed with scanning all the areas of my skin but instead of picking I was just obsessively applying ointment. I guess this is an improvement? But it really hit hard with how it's not just about picking, it's about compulsively doing something with my skin. So now while a lot of my deeper wounds are looking much better, I now need to replace the somewhat expensive tube of manuka honey ointment that should have lasted me far longer than just one day. I just wish I could spend my weekends relaxing like a normal person.

Would love to know people’s specific product recommendations for facial skin picking!

Especially:

1. Products and especially what kind of moisturizer you use after a bad picking session when you have completely raw patches/small open wounds on your face and your face is now super dry.
2. Moisturizer and/or moisturizing products you use under makeup foundation. I find my foundation immediately highlights all my peeling dry skin and scabs.

The skin on my face is always SO dry because of me picking it all the time but also SO sensitive because of constant open wounds.

Bonus context: I have combination skin so I will get hormonal acne sometimes. I live in Canada, use a cpap with a face mask at night, and have had contact dermatitis on my face in the past.

Thank you!!

Ps. Not looking for advice on how to stop picking.

Does anybody have any help on what I should do to stop picking at my skin and hair? Everytime i look in a mirror or get stressed out or just bored i pick at my face and whatever blemishes that are on my face and pick at them until I feel satisfied or until they hurt to bad to pick at it anymore. I also mess with the split ends in my hair and will pull out my split ends out of my hair. And if I ever have acne on my back or chest I pick at that too. Is there any tips that anyone can give me to help me stop? I also will bite the crap out of the skin around my nails and my nails itself. I've tried nail polish but that never helped and I feel like if I put bandaids on my fingers I would just end up taking them off.