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Tips to Quit Skin Picking

By Megan Jones

January 10^th, 2024

Tips to Quit Skin Picking

Are you one of the many people who struggle with breaking the difficult habit of skin picking? Once you start, it’s often hard to quit! Skin picking is something I've repeatedly done, especially when experiencing a breakout or my anxiety is high.

While popping, poking, or peeling may provide a short term satisfaction of “helping” your skin, the reality is that it causes way more harm than good.

If you consciously or unconsciously participate in skin picking, here are my suggestions to prevent it:

When you’re tempted to pick, where are you? How are you feeling? What are you thinking about?

Pay attention to triggers. Perhaps it’s while sitting in traffic or immediately after getting out of the shower. Maybe you feel the need to pick when you’re feeling stressed, but your skin gets the blame.

Think about the damage

Skin picking can push bacteria into pores, create more inflammation, temporary scarring, and slow down the healing process. Instead, try applying a spot treatment and simply leave it alone. Breakouts will often go away quicker rather than trying to force it. Remember, the skin is designed to heal itself!

Ask someone to keep you accountable

If this bad habit seems challenging to break on your own, do you have a partner or friend or esthetician (hi!) to regularly check-in with you to prevent further skin picking?

Limit time in front of a mirror

Consider using a timer during your skin care routine and/or get rid of any extra, unnecessary mirrors in your environment. Out of sight, out of mind!

Keep your hands busy

Find a “replacement” for skin picking like making a craft, writing in a journal, or playing a game on your phone. Whenever the temptation arises to pick, know exactly what you will do as a substitute!