This article covers causes, effects, and treatments for excoriation disorder.
What Is Excoriation Disorder?
Excoriation is a body-focused repetitive behavior liketrichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) or cheek biting.
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This might be because of embarrassment or the belief that the skin picking is simply a bad habit.
Some might visit a dermatologist before seeking psychological help with excoriation disorder.
Self-harm is usually triggered by a need to escape emotional turmoil.
On the other hand, excoriation disorder is compulsive and driven by a need to soothe anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended for skin picking.
Habit reversal training is the most common CBT method used.
With this method, a therapist will guide a patient toward less harmful behaviors to replace the skin picking.
2017;13:1867-1872. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121138
The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.What is excoriation (skin picking) disorder?
National Library of Medicine.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Anxiety Institute.The key feature of Excoriation Disorder is frequent picking at ones own skin.
OCDUK.Excoriation disorder (skin picking disorder).
The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors.Are BFRBs self-harm?
