EXCORIATION (SKIN-PICKING) DISORDER

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Excoriation Disorder is manifested through behaviors such as scratching, pinching or rubbing the skin to the point of causing deep injuries in a compulsive way. It usually occurs when the person experiences anxiety or is overwhelmed by his or her emotions.

The most affected parts of the body are the face, arms and hands, although it can occur in other areas of the body. People with this disorder feel a lot of anguish because they experience a feeling of loss of control, anger and shame. Because they do not want to feel judged by their wounds, they express significant discomfort in different areas of their lives.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

At what ages does this order typically present itself?
It can occur at different ages, although skin scratching starts more often in adolescence, generally coinciding with the onset of puberty or soon after.

Can it affect the daily life of those who suffer an Excoriation Disorder?
Most people with this disease spend at least one hour a day scratching, thinking about scratching, and resisting the impulse to scratch, therefore, it affects the daily activities that cannot be performed in the presence of the impulse.

What are the most affected body areas?
The person who suffers mainly chooses the face or arms and hands, but many people choose multiple places on the body. People may scratch healthy skin, minor skin irregularities and injuries, such as pimples or corns, or crusts from previous scratches.

OUR TREATMENT MODEL

CADE offers a multidisciplinary treatment according to the characteristics and needs of the patient that is based on the patient´s diagnosis and an individual intervention plan.

A psychological or psychiatric disorder generally has a genetic or biological origin detonated by difficult and early or current traumatic experiences that lead the individual to become ill. Therefore, the clinical intervention in these disorders necessitates the multidisciplinary work of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, nutrition and complementary therapies. The treatment can be outpatient, inpatient or semi-inpatient based.