Is dermatillomania a mental illness?

Is dermatillomania a mental illness?

Excoriation disorder (also referred to as chronic skin-picking or dermatillomania) is a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is characterized by repeated picking at one's own skin which results in skin lesions and causes significant disruption in one's life.

What percent of the population has dermatillomania?

Excoriation disorder is relatively rare but is thought to affect up to 1.4 percent of the total population. Approximately 75 percent of those diagnosed with the disorder are female.

How common is skin picking disorder?

Skin picking disorder may affect as many as 1 in 20 people. Although it occurs in both men and women, research suggests that skin picking disorder occurs much more often in women.

What triggers dermatillomania?

People can develop skin picking disorder in response to: An infection, rash, or injury that creates a scab: The scab may itch while it heals, which leads people to scratch or pick it until it bleeds and a new wound forms. They may then pick at the new scab.

Can dermatillomania be cured?

Fortunately, BFRBs such as dermatillomania are considered very treatable problems. The primary treatment for dermatillomania is behavior therapy. Behavior therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

How do you fix dermatillomania?

Things you can try if you have skin picking disorder

1. keep your hands busy – try squeezing a soft ball or putting on gloves.
2. identify when and where you most commonly pick your skin and try to avoid these triggers.
3. try to resist for longer and longer each time you feel the urge to pick.

Is dermatillomania an addiction?

Many people struggling with addiction also have a skin picking addiction, also known as dermatillomania. Skin picking disorders are classified as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder due to the compulsive nature of the picking.

How do I stop picking Dermatillomania?

Things you can try if you have skin picking disorder

1. keep your hands busy – try squeezing a soft ball or putting on gloves.
2. identify when and where you most commonly pick your skin and try to avoid these triggers.
3. try to resist for longer and longer each time you feel the urge to pick.

Can Dermatillomania be cured?

Fortunately, BFRBs such as dermatillomania are considered very treatable problems. The primary treatment for dermatillomania is behavior therapy. Behavior therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Is dermatillomania serious?

Dermatillomania or skin picking disorder is characterized by repetitive skin picking leading to tissue damage. Skin picking disorder can lead to serious medical conditions, such as Scarring, ulcerations and infections (1).