psychiatric disorders
Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder
Introduction
Excoriation disorder is characterized by recurrent picking of one's skin, resulting in skin lesions. Patients with excoriation disorder repeatedly pick at or scratch their skin; the picking is not triggered by appearance or health concerns (eg, to remove a lesion that they perceive as unattractive or possibly cancerous). Some patients pick at healthy skin; others pick at minor lesions such as calluses, pimples, or scabs. Some patients pick at their skin somewhat automatically (ie, without full awareness); others are more conscious of the activity. The picking is not triggered by obsessions or concerns about appearance (which may be a symptom of Body Dysmorphic Disorder ). However, the skin picking may be preceded by a feeling of tension or anxiety that is relieved by the picking, which often is also accompanied by a feeling of gratification. Skin picking often begins during adolescence, although it may begin at various ages. At any given point in time, about 3% of people have the disorder. About 75% of them are female ( General reference ). 