76 replies to this topic

[LunaRufina]

Does anyone else eat whatever you pick off? I do and I enjoy these little tidbits. I have been doing this all of my life. I try to be careful where I pick so that others cannot see. I know this is disgusting and sometimes I feel shame but I can't stop. I have been at it for 40 years. A couple of years ago, I had a breakdown and was really ill. During that time I was cutting myself. Then I'd have huge scabs to peel off and eat. It left very large scars on my arms and stomach. I am no longer cutting but I do pick my legs and scalp. I sure wish there was help. I don't think I could talk to a doctor about it.

What you are describing is dermophagia, which is linked to dermatillomania/skin picking. Dermatillomania is a form of OCD in which one picks at their own skin and dermaphagia is one in which a person eats skin flakes, scabs, etc.

I haven't been able to find much information on dermaphagia. Maybe someone else can dig deeper than I am able to.

Talk to your doctor about the skin picking and then see if you are comfortable enough to talk further.

[cashew1ofMxdNutz]

I also wonder if there an element of pica? Pregnant women can have it where they crave weird substances like chalk or glue, etc. Old wives tales said that usually meant there was some type of mineral or extra something the person needed. Doctors poopoo that but I still believe there is an element of truth in it.

If you stick pretty much to scabs maybe you are iron deficient. If you don't want to talk to your pdoc about that maybe you could have your iron checked for potential anemia by your regular doctor.

Also I think more people pick and eat or pick and chew more then people want to admit. I have seen people bite their nails and chew on the piece that comes off. I also have seen people do that with calluses and hang nails.

And of course any toddler to preschool (and sometimes beyond) mine for gold and eat the boogers

[cashew1ofMxdNutz]

No Problem Morgana!!

[betcsu]

*raising hand* im in the club, too...

and aint crazy boards grand!

Edited by betcsu, 27 January 2008 - 07:36 PM.

[oohshinyobject]

ugggh, it's so gross...but i admittingly do it.
have been for several years now...

[Iknewsomethingwasamiss]

Yep, I am right there with ya. I know how satisfying it is to look forward to picking and eating it.... and the pleasure. It is sick, but I do it anyway. It has gotten really bad as of late. I will pick my cuticles, toe cuticles and all kinds skin and scabs until it bleeds. I will pick for hours at a time. I sit there with all my tools while my kids watch me. It is gross and embarrassing. Even my 8 year old has started clipping his toes way too often. Both kids pick their noses and scabs and eat them. I am creating disgusting kids by my own actions. But I can't stop. I tried, but I just go back again, worse than before. I am going to see a therapist on Friday for OCD. I want to stop and hopefully with some new meds and behavioral therapy I can.

Edited by Iknewsomethingwasamiss, 30 January 2008 - 03:58 PM.

[ChemistryExperiment]

I'm in the club I've been in the hospital so much that I haven't been able to search the boards fully. but I pick compulsively and eat it. its gross. I know. but..... I can't help it.... *sigh* I was better on the luvox... but they took me off that and now I'm.... picking like mad.

[beetle]

I am a compulsive skin picker too. Never been compelled to eat anything. But I have gone through phases of horribly picking at my at my face, that's really the only place I do it. I have messed myself up pretty bad and always, always feel horrible afterwards, looking at how ugly it all looks. And I know my husband is looking at me knowing what I've been doing. When I've done a real number on myself, I hate to go out in public because of how bad it looks. Then, there's the scarring. And yet while I'm standing there in the mirror picking and squeezing, I don't think about the consequences, and it actually has a soothing, calming effect. And if I am able to pop a zit or squeeze out a blackhead, I feel so much better, like I've been able to get that nasty stuff out of me.

Thankfully, I haven't been on too much of a kick with it lately. I do go through spells of it.

Here's a place (with a forum) that I ran across while looking for info on compulsive skin picking. I've never posted on the forum so, I don't know how supportive it is but it's there for anyone who's having trouble with skin picking.
http://www.stoppickingonme.com/

[angry_girl]

Ok, so I just replied to the other thread about this, but I also wanted to quickly chime in on this one, too. I also pick and eat, scabs and skin. I feel so gross about doind this. Although I don't eat the stuff that comes out of a zit or infection, I do always smell it. I don't know why I do this nor can I pinpoint when it started (not too long ago, tho). I just enjoy the way the puss smells. I can't beleive I'm admitting to this. I feel so disgusting!

Hmmph. Crazyboard, where I let it ALL hang out.

AG

[sammka]

I eat skin too! Usually because I pick at my lip. I like the texture between my teeth.

Or, when I pick things off of my scalp, I actually line up the things or pile them, but don't eat them.

[Artemisia]

I no longer eat the skin off my feet--but I used to as a kid.

I still very much chew (and ingest bits of) my cuticles. I'm also a scab-picker, and I occasionally do eat those. Amusingly enough, I don't eat large scabs (though I may pick at them); large scabs seem "gross." That's rationality for you.

The scab-picking I learned from my mother (and possibly from my sisters?), but I think the scab-eating is my own elaboration.


P.S. I don't do any of this in public. Well, OK, the cuticle-chewing always happens subconsciously, so I might find myself doing it without total privacy...

[I'm Melting]

wow, did you see how many views this post has gotten??!!!


... hmm, dont think you are alone!