I've got a cut on my face and it's got an upraised scab over it now.

I've also got this condition as part of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to scratch my skin open.

I can't even remember having a cut that I let heal properly, ever.

But I'm trying really hard to let this one heal properly.

As it's an upraised scab now, does anyone know when it will become flat skin again?

<3

Wow

Does it scar if you mostly leave it alone?

I'm really, REALLY trying not to let it scar...

But I can't stop touching it for more than a few hours

Even that much is driving me crazy

That's really helpful <3

Oh, I've tried gloves

I... pick even through them

(I had a badly-infected rope burn scab over on my hand that took several weeks to heal, for the far opposite end of the spectrum.) I generally do pick at them specifically to get scars, though.

I have so many scars and I hate them

I'm trying

I've done this since I can remember - I've never had a cut in all of my living memory that I didn't pick open until it just scarred over

Oh wow, thank you everyone!

I didn't know it was so common

I spend more time obsessing over how much I want to pick at scabs than almost any other obsession I have. Which is saying a lot

Even though it's really gross and I really don't like what it does to my skin

It's been about three days, I think. I'll just keep working at not picking at it.

<3 thank you!

Man I hope so

it would not be nice to have a huge scar right next to my nose

I made a deal once with a friend who has pica - she'd stop eating plastic if I stopped picking at scabs

I do this to a terrible degree. I have psoriasis all over my scalp and back (and sometimes a little on my legs or face) so I'm constantly obsessively tearing off pieces of skin.

It turns out that deals do not work

Oh no!

I work with a little boy who might have some psoriasis on his leg - it looks really itchy and uncomfortable

I've come really far with the rest of my OCD!

Sometimes keeping myself really busy with my hands helps.

I was hospitalized for it when I was 16, and now I'm almost normal

"normal" being... less obsessive

Maybe I'll just brush my cat's fur and make her endure it

Ahaha, you and a bunch of super heroes

...Also Cassel

Sometimes cutting my nails works

In that it's really uncomfortable because I can't stop thinking about how much I want to scratch

But.... well, I can't do it with no nails

Oh yeah, that's a good idea too

My roommate got some nail polish she wants me to use. It's the same color as Lady Loki's nails in the comics

I think I shall

though I try not to wear nail polish to work

because most of my kids put everything, including my hands, into their mouths

But tomorrow is not a work day so I can do it!

Yay, so many comrades in OCD!

And here I thought it was relatively uncommon

You're probably even more overwhelmed than I am. always knew that my mom and brother also have this sort of OCD stuff.

It's one of the most genetic mental illnesses known - if you have it, someone else in your blood-related family also does.