SI Question - NOT URGENT - dermatillomania

[dark faery princess]

Hi,

Not sure if I should really be posting here, sorry if not. Just wanted some advice. I have dermatillomania, and pick my face a lot. I find it realyhard to leave the scabs/wounds alone and they sometimes get quite deep. Though most are like small grazes I suppose.

I'm just wondering the best way to treat them? I tend to just put antiseptic cream or aloe vera cream on them or some other skin cream I happen to have around. I usually put tea tree oil on them, but occasionally use antiseptic liquid or surgical spirit. They don't usually get infected, but they have been recently. I think I've been forcing them to heal a little too quickly by using savlon advanced healing gel before the infection has cleared up.

Just wondering what' for the best. I sometime try and put plasters on them, but can't really go out with plasters all over my face! I've also tried a thin layer of vaseline over the very shallow graze like ones to stop the scab forming as heard this helps.

Would be grateful for any advice!

Thanks

[lizzy100]

i read your other post, i wasnt sure what to say though. iv always had awful skin and i know how bad it makes me feel. afe u getting help for it, ie counselling or sumthing>?

[Animad]

Erm, really keeping them dressed and using the savlon advanced gel would be the quickest way. However I understand why you may not want them dressed being on your face and it isn't the easiest place to keep a dressing on either, But yeh, just using the gel alone will help a bit, not as much though, heal them a bit quicker than antiseptic though this should not be used if any sign of infection.

Also, i'd advise against surgical spirit as this will damage not only bacterial cells but also the ones there trying to heal the wond so it will be painful but not only but it will slow down the healing and due to less cells there to heal the wound as these may be damaged it can increase the risk of infection setting up later.

[dark faery princess]

Thanx anaimad thats brilliant. I'll just stick with it then! Thanx again

Lizzy - thanks for your comment. I'm kinda having counselling but havent spoken about it yet.

x