Our Tips to Stop Picking Your Face

Picture it: A pimple or zit shows up seemingly out of nowhere on your face. Bummer! Your first course of action is to give your skin care routine enough time to work, but what if it doesn’t get the job done and now, out of sheer desperation, you start to pick your face. Well, we’re here to tell you that this habit comes with its own share of skin issues that can get in the way of sporting beautiful skin.

Of course, picking your face is not the best idea, but if it has become your first line of defense or last resort, it can be a hard habit to shake. The good news is, you can take back control. And this is where we come in! We know that trying to break any bad habit is difficult, but with support and willpower, you can stop picking your face. Follow along to learn some of the basics about skin picking and our tips to break the habit. 

WHAT IS SKIN PICKING?

First things first, it’s time to explore the obvious question: What exactly is skin picking? As the name suggests, skin picking is all about using your fingers to pick at your skin. This can occur when you’re dealing with blemishes or can be a compulsive habit that you can’t seem to kick.

WHAT CAUSES SKIN PICKING?

So, you know what skin picking is, but you’re probably wondering what exactly causes you to pick your skin. As we mentioned above, one of the main reasons why your hands may drift up to your face is in a misguided attempt to reduce the appearance of pimples, blackheads, or other imperfections. After all, no one loves the look of blemishes on their face. Skin picking can also be linked to anxiety and stress, per the National Center of Biotechnology Information, in which case you may want to consult with a therapist.

HOW CAN SKIN PICKING IMPACT YOUR COMPLEXION?

If you start picking at your skin because you don’t like how it looks, you may not realize that you could be making things worse. This habit can lead to damaging effects on the skin, including everything from scabbing, scarring, and discoloration depending on how much you pick at your skin.

Beyond the damage that picking itself can do, in general, touching your face is not the best for your complexion. The American Academy of Dermatology stresses the importance of keeping your hands off of your face to avoid spreading dirt, oil, and bacteria to your visage. The AAD also shares that pimple popping can lead to worsening, more noticeable acne, acne scars, and painful, inflamed skin.

OUR TIPS TO BREAK YOUR SKIN PICKING HABIT

If you’ve grown accustomed to skin picking, you may think that it’s impossible for you to stop. However, you can totally leave your skin picking days behind you. It’s no secret that there is a myriad of disadvantages that come with skin picking, and keeping those in mind may be what you need to stop. Beyond that, we have a few tips you can try to keep your hands off of your face.

1. GIVE YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE TIME

As much as we would love for our skin care routine to address our concerns overnight, that’s not exactly how it works. In order for your skin to really reap the benefits of your skin care products, you need to give them time to work. When you see a new breakout, don’t start picking at your skin; let your routine do its thing, which can take anywhere from four to six weeks.

2. SAY NO TO YOUR BEAUTY TOOLS

While many of us rely on popular beauty tools like magnifying mirrors and tweezers, they may not be what’s best for your skin, especially when it comes to skin picking. See, a magnifying mirror does nothing but exaggerate the appearance of your skin, which can prompt a picking session.

3. VISIT A DOCTOR

If you find that the above tips are not helping your skin picking habit, it may be time to enlist the help of a doctor.

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