The primary characteristic of Skin Picking Disorder is the repetitive picking at one’s own skin to the extent of causing damage. Usually, but not always, the face is the primary location for skin picking. However Skin Picking Disorder, also known as Dermatillomania, Neurotic Excoriation, or Chronic Skin Picking, may involve any part of the body. Individuals with Skin Picking Disorder may pick at normal skin variations such as freckles and moles, at actual pre-existing scabs, sores or acne blemishes, or at imagined skin defects that nobody else can observe. Individuals with Dermatillomania may also use their fingernails or teeth, as well as tweezers, pins or other mechanical devices. As a result, CSP may cause bleeding, bruises, infections, and/or permanent disfigurement of the skin.

Sometimes skin-picking is preceded by a high level of tension and a strong “itch” or “urge”. Likewise, skin-picking may be followed by a feeling of relief or pleasure. A Skin Picking Disorder episode may be a conscious response to anxiety or depression, but is frequently done as an unconscious habit. Individuals with Skin Picking Disorder often attempt to camouflage the damage caused to their skin by using make-up or wearing clothes to cover the subsequent marks and scars. In extreme cases, individuals with Dermatillomania may avoid social situations in an effort to prevent others from seeing the scars, scabs, and bruises that result from skin picking.

As demonstrated above, Skin Picking Disorder / Dermatillomania has obsessive-compulsive features that are quite similar to OCD, BDD and Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder). It is sometimes found in individuals with these disorders, as well as in patents with certain medical conditions. In fact, a recent study found that 23% of those with OCD, and 27% of those with BDD, also had CSP. Though not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) published by the American Psychiatric Association, some researchers believe Skin Picking Disorder / Dermatillomania merits distinction as a separate diagnostic entity.