So You Picked Your Skin Too Much: Now What?

Admit it, you've been guilty of picking at your skin at least once– don't worry, you're not alone. But what comes after is usually a not-so-nice reminder of why we shouldn't be messing with our skin in the first place. And according to board-certified dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD, picking your skin can cause more harm than just physical irritation.

"Skin picking can have a negative psychosocial impact on one’s health, such as from frustration and embarrassment about picking and the appearance of one’s skin," he says of the red, irritated, bloody, and scarring wounds that come from picking at your skin.

Ahead, Dr. Camp, dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD, and skin expert, Judit Galambosi, share advice on what you can do to minimize the damage caused by picking your skin, and how to prevent it in the future.

What Is Skin Picking?

According to Dr. Camp, dermatillomania or skin picking refers to "skin manipulation that leads to a break in the skin surface." He adds that "it may occur when trying to pop a pimple, pluck a hair, remove an ingrown hair, or as a result of compulsive behavior."

Consequences of Skin Picking

• Can cause hyperpigmentation: "Skin picking can lead to discoloration or hyperpigmentation, which can take a long time to resolve," says Dr. Camp of the dark marks that can result from an improperly removed blemish.
• Can cause scarring: In some cases, skin picking can lead to scarring, which alters skin permanently. Scars can be indentations in the skin or raised hypertrophic marks.
• Can lead to infection: Even with clean hands, picking at your acne can cause infection. "By picking, you've already introduced bacteria from your fingers onto your skin—opened skin, which is also now exposed and susceptible to germs," says Galambosi.
  

How to Stop Picking Your Skin

There are several ways you can prevent yourself from picking your skin, most of them easy solutions.

"Keeping fingernails short may limit the damage that picking does to the skin," recommends Dr. Camp. He also suggests identifying and avoiding triggers, such as stress, which may help lessen the compulsion to pick.

Some people will find the urge to pick their skin when they are bored, so keeping your hands busy is another option (You can use a stress ball, take up knitting, or journal.) Removing yourself from the proximity of your mirror is another tactic to prevent picking.

Dr. Penzi highly recommends giving pimple patches a go, which acts as a deterrent to picking and creates a better healing environment for damaged skin. "Believe it or not, I find these great for those who pick at their face and their pimples," she says. "These patches contain hydrocolloid gel that has powerful wound-healing properties. It also acts to absorb excess fluid and removes excess dirt, oil, and sebum, which helps to quickly heal spots and prevent further picking."

If these solutions still don't work for you, Dr. Camp suggests making an appointment with your dermatologist to find an effective treatment regimen for acne, so fewer breakouts appear in the first place.

How to Heal Picked Skin

Cleanse

"The skin has an amazing capacity to heal itself, we just need to help it along," explains Judit Galambosi, owner of Je'Derm Skin Care. To prevent scarring and speed up the healing, you should cleanse the affected area first.

Cleansing has two jobs here: wash away all the potential bacteria, and try to bring down the inflammation. Don't use any product that has the chance of inflaming the area even more. Instead, use a super gentle cleanser like Galambosi's pick, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, that won’t sting or inflame skin further.

Dr. Penzi recommends dermatologist favorites such as CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, both of which can be used on all skin types.

Tone

After cleansing the area thoroughly, Galambosi says to use a toner with antiseptic properties. She recommends Erno Laszlo’s Light Controlling Lotion, which is a skin-balancing toner that may remove any additional bacteria on the surface of the skin. Dr. Penzi adds that toners with hydrating and calming properties can certainly help, and to "look for ones with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, or calendula, which can help calm inflammation and irritation in picked skin, reducing redness and discomfort."

You shouldn't be alarmed if the blemish looks worse than it did before, says Galambosi. "The swelling is a natural protective reaction from the skin and it will start to calm down in a few hours," she says. "The following day you might see a scab forming, which is part of the healing process." And remember, try your best to keep your hands away from your skin and resist the urge to pick.

Moisturize

Though you might be tempted to treat the picked spot like you would acne, Galambosi says to stay away from applying acne products like spot treatments over the blemish, as they can be drying. Instead, keep the affected area moist. She suggests using a calming, soothing balm like Erno Laszlo Phormula 3-9 Repair Balm or Beekman 1802 Wonder Milk Buttery Botanical Jelly which has anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties to shield and protect the skin while it’s healing.

You can also apply an ointment such as Vaseline, Aquaphor, or CeraVe Healing Ointment, notes Dr. Penzi. "Petroleum jelly prevents the wound from drying out and forming a scab; wounds with scabs take longer to heal," she says.

How Long Does Skin Picking Take to Heal?

According to Dr. Penzi, the time it takes to heal picked skin depends on several factors, including the degree of picking, skin damage, and how you care for the wound afterward.

"If it is a mild case, it will likely take only a few days to a week to heal, but if something is chronically picked at and not well taken care of, it can take several weeks to months to heal," she says. "Keep it clean using a mild cleanser and lukewarm water twice a day to remove any dirt, oil, or bacteria. Apply a plain ointment and keep it covered with a BandAid. This will also help prevent a scar from getting too large, deep, or itchy."

You'll also want to avoid a list of products and ingredients that can delay or worsen the healing process such as harsh cleansers with sulfates that can dry out the skin or anything with fragrance or alcohol that can be irritating to already damaged skin.

"Avoid any strong acids (like AHAs) that can worsen irritation and sensitivity, as well as physical scrubs that can further disrupt the skin barrier and break down the skin," says Dr. Penzi. "If possible, don't wear makeup to avoid any potential bacteria being introduced to the wound."

When to See a Professional

If the wound becomes painful, drains pus, or appears red in the surrounding area, Dr. Penzi suggests applying a topical antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin. However, "for standard wounds, this is not necessary." As a warning, she adds, "always be cautious as a large percentage of the population has allergies to products like Neosporin that can make matters worse."

"If skin picking is part of a compulsive behavior, consultation with a mental health provider may be appropriate," adds Dr. Camp.

If you find that your picking habit has caused a wound that won't heal or may be infected, it's important to see your dermatologist before things get worse.