Guide To Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

Excoriation

Formerly known as dermatillomania, excoriation is the compulsion of picking at one's skin. While everyone may occasionally feel an odd impulse to pick their scabs, excoriation takes it up a notch. Once an individual perceives that something is wrong with their skin, they start to pick at it incessantly. This is usually done until the skin starts to bleed. Much like skin biting, if left on its own, the skin might develop an infection and the individual could suffer greatly. Skin picking is one of the most common compulsions under body-focused repetitive behaviors. It can also be one of the most damaging because individuals continue to pick at their skin even after it has become damaged. Their entire arm might be covered in wounds they've performed on themselves. Certain medications may be administered to help reduce the amount of skin picking, but therapy is usually the best option. This helps replace skin picking with a healthier behavior instead.