My problem was that I often picked at my cuticles, for example peeling off the skin or the cuticle itself. After researching this topic, I discovered that there is a disorder called compulsive skin picking or excoriation disorder. I discovered that I'm not the only one constantly looking at her cuticles and picking at the peels. While researching excoriation disorder, I discovered that it is a serious problem in which people suffer by constantly trying to "touch, rub, scratch, pick, or gouge their skin, often in an attempt to remove small irregularities or perceived imperfections" (Learning Center on trichotillomania). This disorder occurs in children and adults around the world and, in extreme cases, will cause severe scarring and distortion of the skin. Research has stated that there are at least 1 in 20 people who suffer from this disorder, and an “estimate of approximately 2% of patients in dermatology clinics suffer from this condition” (Dell'Osso, B., Altamura, A.C., Allen , A ., Marazziti, D., & Hollander, E. (2006). It is also suggested that although this disorder occurs in both males and females, it appears to occur more in females (Fama, 2010). suffer constantly feel the need to repeatedly pinch certain parts of the skin, which is why it is often classified as obsessive compulsive disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder, often defined as "a body focuses repetitive behaviors" or "obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder", this disorder has characteristics similar to those of obsessive compulsive disorder such as trichotillomania, which is a repetitive hair-pulling disorder (Fama, 2010). However, there are a number of reasons why one should pick their skin. Some will pick their skin out of boredom, w...... middle of paper ......enges because I've been doing this for 7 years now and it won't go away immediately. I feel like it will take a long time for me to overcome this health problem of mine, but I have made a successful start towards my long-term goal. My strategies for overcoming those certain barriers have always been to identify my impulses and then control them in a form of distraction. I feel like it worked brilliantly, but I also feel like professional treatment is also a way to stop this health problem of mine. While I feel it is not an extreme case of excoriation disorder, I still feel I fall into that category even though I feel I am last place and in the least severe group. For now, though, I feel like the plan I've set for myself is going in the right direction and will ultimately, and hopefully, destroy the urges I have with my cuticles.