Dealing with ADHD and Skin Picking Disorder

No but it wasn't until I read this post that I realize maybe my nose picking is because of ADHD.

I can shred my nails and cuticles if my meds have worn off/I'm bored/I'm anxious. I find fidget toys really help, just anything for my hands to focus on that's not my skin

Glue. Put Elmer's glue on your hands and let dry. Then pick it off. Sensory picking toys (they are amazing and you pick things out of them). Slimes with things added to them to pick out or putties (you can even make your own and add little figurines or stars or beads or whatever looks like it would be good to pick out of it). Toss beads on a desk and pick them up one by one (paperclips too). Paint your nails and pick it off. Put stickers on things whether a mug or Keychain and pick them off on the go if you need a fix. Bring stickers with you or take them out when needed to put on crafts or paper , pick them off after one by one.

I pick/rip the skin off of my bellybutton, 22 years and still going. It’s all scar tissue now. This is NOT good advice but when I started vaping I found myself doing it less so i’m assuming it’s a stim habit for regulation of stress and discomfort. I do it nearly all day so just can’t see myself using some kind of toy or product but I’m considering creating some kind of object with tape or glue on it than I can wear like a belt over my bellybutton and pick that instead. Maybe something like that? Glue on your fingers that you can peel off periodically? Maybe add glitter for even more texture?

i’m struggling with this really hard rn so i’ve been trying to find a therapist that specializes in adhd/asd, and in the meantime i’m using this app called skinpick to track it. supposedly after a while it can be helpful to look at the data of when/where you pick and what you are feeling to identify ways to intervene/stop picking. but it can be difficult to remember to use with my adhd. maybe you might find it useful

I also pick my skin pretty much constantly, it seems like it always starts as a necessary thing and turns into a compulsive habit. The worst was a period of late middle school and some of high school after I had gotten lice from my younger sibling where I couldn't stop myself from picking at my scalp. The rest of it started as dealing with my acne and ingrown hairs and now I pick at every abnormality on my skin, it seems to lessen a little now that my partner is doing my acne for me but it's still there and it took years to get over the scalp thing. At this point the main thing that makes it manageable for me is that my nails are essentially non existent so I don't injure myself anywhere near as much.

Oh I love a soft blanket 🙌 the best sleep with one every night

It helps me to paint my nails and have a nice textured something or other to stim with- a super soft blanket, a receipt to tear up, I've started to "flick" my nails so to speak instead of pick around my fingers which gives a similar feeling

Omggg yes I pick at my skin everyday/every night and my therapist keeps telling me to find a stim/fidget toy to help get my mind off of it but I just don’t know which one to get.

stim/sensory toys might help, like having something else to do with your hand(s) rather than pick at skin