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unmistakably_me · 08-11-2011, 01:10 AM

I have a skin condition that causes the skin on my arms to be very dry and I have lots of little pimply bumps. It's very common, called keratosis pilaris. Recently, I have been a bit stressed/down, and have started compulsively picking at the bumps on my forearm.

So I was at the doctor today for something completely unrelated to SH or MH. While I was there, I wanted to bring this skin picking thing up to see if there was anything she could suggest. I literally fretted over it ALL DAY, not knowing what to say or how to bring it up. When I did, she said I had it particularly bad, and my skin was very dry, but I said that actually in my opinion the problem I am having is psychological - I have had these bumps most of my life and have never bothered to do anything about it, but the skin picking has left my arm red and scabby and I am sick of it. On her computer screen in big letters, I could see the words 'deliberate self-harm', which is in my medical history from when my parents took me to the doctors about SH 12 years ago. Despite this, she basically totally brushed off my concerns and said oh no, it's because your skin is very dry blah blah and prescribed me some moisturiser and steroid cream (

). She couldn't seem to understand that the skin condition itself is not a massive issue for me, it's the stress-related skin picking that I wanted to sort out.

I feel bad complaining about this because she was really very nice, but I just felt so small, like my opinion and concerns meant nothing.

Anyway, I have to go for blood tests next week (scars -

), and then back to see the same doctor again in two weeks' time for the results. I don't know whether to bring it up again and try to be more clear in what I was trying to get across today, or whether to just leave it. I would also like to bring up the fact that I'm still cutting - try to get it sorted once and for all - but that might have to wait for another day (or year).

Sorry I've said this in a very roundabout way. I didn't mean it to be so long!

Anyone have any views/advice? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

08-11-2011, 01:10 AM	#1
unmistakably_me more than you think you are Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London, UK	Doctor I have a skin condition that causes the skin on my arms to be very dry and I have lots of little pimply bumps. It's very common, called keratosis pilaris. Recently, I have been a bit stressed/down, and have started compulsively picking at the bumps on my forearm. So I was at the doctor today for something completely unrelated to SH or MH. While I was there, I wanted to bring this skin picking thing up to see if there was anything she could suggest. I literally fretted over it ALL DAY, not knowing what to say or how to bring it up. When I did, she said I had it particularly bad, and my skin was very dry, but I said that actually in my opinion the problem I am having is psychological - I have had these bumps most of my life and have never bothered to do anything about it, but the skin picking has left my arm red and scabby and I am sick of it. On her computer screen in big letters, I could see the words 'deliberate self-harm', which is in my medical history from when my parents took me to the doctors about SH 12 years ago. Despite this, she basically totally brushed off my concerns and said oh no, it's because your skin is very dry blah blah and prescribed me some moisturiser and steroid cream ( ). She couldn't seem to understand that the skin condition itself is not a massive issue for me, it's the stress-related skin picking that I wanted to sort out. I feel bad complaining about this because she was really very nice, but I just felt so small, like my opinion and concerns meant nothing. Anyway, I have to go for blood tests next week (scars - ), and then back to see the same doctor again in two weeks' time for the results. I don't know whether to bring it up again and try to be more clear in what I was trying to get across today, or whether to just leave it. I would also like to bring up the fact that I'm still cutting - try to get it sorted once and for all - but that might have to wait for another day (or year). Sorry I've said this in a very roundabout way. I didn't mean it to be so long! Anyone have any views/advice? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.