I. My story with dermatillomania: 15 years of struggle.

A little known problem.

Long confused with acne or a skin problem, dermatillomania is a mental disorder. It was recognized as such in 2013 and is now included in the DSM-V, the International Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders. However, it is still little known, especially by health professionals, which complicates its diagnosis and treatment. Personally, I started to suffer from it when I was 12, in college, with the onset of acne. But I only discovered the term 10 years later!

Dermatillomania is characterized by repeated, compulsive and obsessive checking and fingering of the skin. All areas of the body can be affected. The person affected triturates existing skin conditions (in the case of acne for example) but can also create their own lesions. She performs “fits” that plunge her into a trance-like state. It is a mania for relieving internal tensions. During the crises, the person feels a certain satisfaction and she is not aware of the damage created on her skin. It is only after the crisis that she comes back to reality and feels a mixture of emotions made up of: sadness, anger, guilt, shame. Avoidance and camouflage strategies will then be put in place (make-up, covering clothing, cancellation of outings), often misunderstood by those around them. Shame and difficulty talking about it don't help.

A difficult problem to live with.

The repercussions on social life and the impact on self-confidence make it a very disabling disorder. It happened to me many times to cancel days of classes, work, parties, even job interviews, because of a crisis. I didn't feel able to go out with damaged skin, even with makeup on. I stayed alone at home, waiting for her to heal and lying to justify my absences… Certain activities were also sources of stress, such as swimming pool trips, camping weekends, nights out. So that people don't see my bare, cleansed skin, I competed in inventiveness. At the cost of a considerable mental load… The skin had become an obsessive subject: I thought about it constantly and couldn't help looking at and analyzing the skin of everyone I met.

A disorder that damages the skin.

In addition to the psychological pain felt, seizures can also bring physical pain. Burns, open wounds, risk of infections. Feeling bad about yourself, in every sense of the word… Thus, dermatillomania leaves its mark. more or less visible. More or less deep. Over the years and crushing, the skin can become covered with spots, redness, and even age more quickly. The pores of the skin may also become enlarged and the skin may be more sensitive. This is what I observed on my side. (However, I was surprised at the ability of the skin to regenerate over time, despite all the damage done! I talk about it a little later in the article).

People with dermatillomania will often spend large amounts of money on skincare and makeup products. The search for the perfect cosmetic to unify and smooth the skin, make spots disappear and accelerate healing is one of the symptoms of this disorder. I put so much hope in these treatments! Far be it from me to say that they are ineffective, it is important to choose quality products; but in my opinion, you should take care of your mind before taking care of your skin. Work on the origin of scrapings, to reduce them. Prevention rather than cure. This is what I understood over the years, and which finally allowed me to get out of it.

II. Dermatillomania: when the skin becomes the support of internal tensions.

Typical profile and possible causes.

For my part, I was able to identify that this disorder had started during adolescence, a period during which I felt very bad in my head and in my body. Very perfectionist and attaching a lot of importance to the eyes of others, I wanted to “smooth” my skin recently covered with acne and set up this ritual of triturations which, on the spot, did me good. The seizures were also a moment that I gave myself to disconnect, stop thinking, “relax”, because I had a lot of trouble doing it otherwise.

Getting out of it: solutions exist.

It is possible to get better! In my career, I made a lot of progress from the moment I realized that I was suffering from a mental disorder. It's a huge relief to be able to put words to evils… To realize that you're neither crazy, nor weird, nor alone. We then stop thinking that willpower alone is enough to get better. It's wrong. Dermatillomania is a disorder, not a bad habit.

My road to recovery will have taken several years and I like to say that getting out of it goes hand in hand with a better understanding of your disorder and of yourself: knowing yourself to understand yourself better. Identify moments of crisis and try to understand why. Reconnect to your body, your emotions, your sensations. Work on your anxiety and learn to breathe well. Change some bad habits. Learn to love yourself, to be in the present moment, to take time for yourself and to relax. Identify what makes us feel good and what weighs us down. Have a good environment, for yourself. To be well in your life, in your work, to have a passion. Find outlets to “get out” what is wrong, other than on your skin. Respect the pillars of health: sleep, nutrition, movement.

And how do we do it? I tried for a long time to get by on my own before finally asking for help. To several therapists with different approaches (psychiatrist, CBT, analysis-inspired psychotherapy, sophrology). To more alternative approaches (naturopathy, EFT, energy, hypnosis). It saved me a lot of time. All routes are different. Do not hesitate to get help if you feel the need and turn to therapists whose approach appeals to you and who inspires confidence in you. Drug treatment may also be necessary depending on the case. I detail my entire healing journey in my book released in June 2021.

Take care of your skin.

Take care of your skin.

To finish this article, let's talk about skincare all the same. The traces left by dermatillomania are a real issue when one suffers from this disorder. Is it possible to avoid them? to mitigate them? All skins are different but my experience has shown me that the skin regenerates over time, when you stop touching it. This is a reassuring fact to remember.

Regarding care, it is advisable not to overload your skin at the risk of disturbing its hydrolipidic film. Less but better! I regularly talk about skincare on @peau.ssible, don't hesitate to join us! Healing creams are interesting because they will keep the skin hydrated so that it can regenerate well. Acne patches can also help a pimple go away faster (but also prevent it from being crushed!). On the face specifically, self-massages are useful because they will stimulate blood circulation and therefore participate in cell renewal. But the hygiene of life (sleep, hydration, food) will be the basis, beyond the care, to allow the skin to be in good health.

If marks, stains, etc. persist once the dermatillomania has been channeled, many aesthetic treatments with lasers, for example, exist. They can act on the skin texture and the radiance of the complexion. I've never used it, but why not one day!