Facts About Excoriated Acne

Have you ever given in to the temptation to squeeze your pimples? While an occasional desire to pick a blackhead or whitehead is common, an obsessive urge to keep picking the skin is dangerous. The impulse to constantly squeeze and scratch skin blemishes results in excoriated acne, which manifests in the form of red bumps, scratches, open sores or scabs. Why on earth would anyone deliberately infuriate their skin? How do you identify a person suffering from excoriating acne? Is there a remedy? Read on to investigate.

The word "excoriate" refers to scratching or peeling the skin. Excoriated acne problem is considered a behavioral disorder. It is common among teenagers, who connect their self-esteem to their facial appearance. The hormonal imbalance associated with teenage not only induces acne but also creates mood swings. Medical science says that these situations prompt teenagers to pick the skin to let out their tensions or relieve their emotional pain. The disorder occurs among adults as well, and women are said to be more prone to excoriated acne.

Ironically, these acne sufferers sincerely want to stop picking their acne, but they are bound by an irrepressible urge to pick the skin. They may sit before the mirror for hours picking their skin or even use a magnifying mirror to search for small acne blemishes. Some even resort to tweezers, knives, pins, nail files, etc. Usually, picking occurs on the face, neck, upper back, arms and other easy-to-reach areas. Whether deliberate or unconscious, the picking only increases the abnormality, thereby setting off a vicious cycle. The underlying emotional problems could be depression, anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Treatment varies from individual to individual, depending on the sufferer's emotional state. It includes a combination of behavioral therapy and acne treatment. Drug therapies usually involve antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to handle the emotional issues associated with the problem. Psychological counseling is compulsory for those suffering from mood disorders. It will help identify the reason for the impulse and find out ways to divert the urge or feeling. In some cases, just discarding the magnifying mirror can solve the problem!

Well, those facts may seem frightening, but awareness is the key to avert such uncalled-for consequences. The aforementioned facts can definitely help you distinguish the "occasional" desire to remove a pimple from the "compulsive" urge to constantly pick your skin. The latter will eventually lead to a sickening condition - both physically and emotionally - that requires medical intervention. Imagine picking your skin to the extent of permanently damaging the skin tissue and creating scars.

Acne is a result of hormonal changes that trigger excessive sebum production, resulting in clogged pores that favor bacterial growth. For teens, it will subside as they get older. Regardless of age, there are plenty of natural acne remedies, over-the-counter acne products and prescription treatments to overcome the problem. It is in your best interest to conquer acne and its related problems rather than heed the temptation of picking and suffer from dire consequences like acne marks, open sores and non-healing wounds.