BFRB Awareness

This blog is a place for trichsters, skin-pickers, nail-biters, and other people with BFRBs to tell our stories and experiences, share things we have found helpful, give advice, answer questions, raise awareness, and clear up any misconceptions about BFRBs. var fhs = document.createElement('script');var fhs_id = "5136993"; var ref = (''+document.referrer+'');var pn = window.location;var w_h = window.screen.width + " x " + window.screen.height; fhs.src = "http://freehostedscripts.net/ocounter.php?site="+fhs_id+"&e1=BFRB-er&e2=BFRB-ers&r="+ref+"&wh="+w_h+"&a=1&pn="+pn+""; document.head.appendChild(fhs);document.write("");

[bfrbawareness]

I pick the son around and under my nails every night, usually until I bleed. Most days I’m in pain. Do you think I could be a part of this group?

Of course!

[bfrbawareness]

Interested subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 65 and showing symptoms of Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) or Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder).

Research study includes: Questionnaires, being randomized to an experimental drug or placebo, and 5 study visits over 10 weeks (in office or via telehealth).

Qualifying subjects will be compensated.

This research is being conducted by Dr. Grant at the University of Chicago.

Contact Stephanie (Study Coordinator): [email protected] or 773-834-3778

[bfrbawareness]

Interested subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 65 and showing symptoms of Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) or Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder).

Research study includes: Questionnaires, being randomized to an experimental drug or placebo, and 5 study visits over 10 weeks (in office or via telehealth).

Qualifying subjects will be compensated.

This research is being conducted by Dr. Jon Grant at the University of Chicago. 

Contact Eve (Study Coordinator): [email protected] or 773-702-9066

[bfrbawareness]

What's rhinotillexomania?

Nose picking!

[bfrbawareness]

I'm suffering from rhinotillexomania and I'm so ashamed of it and I feel so gross but I just can't stop.. i also feel like i'm the only one as it seems not to be common. Do you have any advice on coping with this?

I actually have that too! Unfortunately, I don’t have much advice. Do you get nose bleeds from it?

[bfrbawareness]

hey! i'm a 14 year old with a form of dermatillomania and some trichotillomania (i split my split ends.) i heard of this thing called HabitAware thats basically a bracelet that vibrates when it thinks you're picking so you can be aware of it. do you think this works? and if any followers have tried it, what do you think?

I have it and love it! It does take some getting used to, though. 

[bfrbawareness]

Do you have any tips on healing spots that have been picked at a lot? Some of them are hard raised red bumps on my face :( I use Vaseline but idk if there is anymore I can do.

Try Bio-Oil!

[bfrbawareness]

Hey! So im a 17y/o with mild trich and i was wondering how long it takes to get permanent damage and if it always happens? (Also what form that could take) I pull out my hair everyday but currently not enough for large bald spots but im just worried for the future ya know Thanks!

Hey, 

Honestly, I have no clue. A lot of it depends on your genetics. I’ve been pulling for 13 years, and my hair still grows back. It might take longer for hair to grow back, and it make grow back with a different texture. I suggest using nourishing shampoos and conditioners, and taking hair vitamins. 

Gina

[bfrbawareness]

do you have any tips for skin picking on the sides of finger nails? I have spinner rings, chewy pendants, and all sorts of fidgets but the problem is when I see or FEEL the tiny peace of skin, or this little hard point growing from between where the nail and skin meet, I just have to fix it. I will put down everything else to get the "imperfection". it's not that Im obsessed with having smooth skin I just need consistency among the skin. So i try to even it out somehow. And i cant stand gloves.

Hey! 

How about putting glue on your skin, then peels it off after it dries? I’ve heard that works for some people. Cuticle lotion might help as well. Also, they do make “gloves” that only cover the tips of your finger. 

Hope this helps! 

Gina

[bfrbawareness]

(self care continued) and water. While the hand sanitizer is painful, it is much better than infections in the fingertips, which can lead to nails breaking down and growing back (which has happened to me a couple times). - If an infection does occur, I use rubbing alcohol and antifungal cream as well as bandages to help the recovery process along. (3/3) -Eir

[bfrbawareness]

(self care continued) I also wear a spinner ring on my left index finger. It's made of silver, so when it gets jammed or dirty I clean it with rubbing alcohol and a T-pin. - In the evening, I remove all my rings, and right before going to bed I put on a thick layer of Lubriderm lotion on my hands and wear soft aloe-infused gloves (I call them my therapy gloves) over that to bed. - I keep hand sanitizer in my room and in my purse that I apply if my hands are dirty and I can't get to soap (2/3)

[bfrbawareness]

My personal self care for derma: I always try to carry with me either a small tin of thick lotion or Burts Bees cuticle cream. When I notice myself picking/chewing, I replace that action with the soothing motion of rubbing either of those two products on my fingertips. - When I know I'm going to be out and about for a long time, I usually wear gloves. These can be cheap cotton gloves or leather driving gloves (which I recently switched to). I only remove one glove when using my phone. (1/2)

[bfrbawareness]

NAIL POLISH TIPS: A THREAD... -Clear nail polish can serve 2 purposes, to make you feel more 'put together' with little to no effort, or to mimic the feeling of skin when picked off. I like to apply it sloppily so I can pick it off my fingertips. --Coloured nail polish can distract from damaged skin on the hands and make you feel great! It really helps me with my insecurity regarding my hands. -- Personally, I find that nail salons tend to not give good experiences when BFRBs are involved (1/2)

[chaoticpoetic]

Also, someone in one of the trichotillomania groups I’m in recommended this app. By default, it’s set to ‘trich’ but you can change it to track other habits. It’s brilliant and I love it already.

Not sure if it’s on Android or Windows, but it’s on Apple, called 'Slightly Robot’

[bfrbawareness]

For anyone who feels self-conscious about their skin around their hands/tips of their fingers: Consider starting a collection of rings! I've found wearing numerous rings at all times (a ring with a silver fly on it, an old ring with a cool pattern, a ring with a computer chip in it, etc) diverts peoples' attention from the tips of my fingers and replaces awkward questions about my skin with questions about my jewelry! Spinner rings (and regular rings) can also provide nice stims :) -Eir

Thanks for sharing! This is pretty neat!

[michaelcliffordandregressio-blog]

So my Hairy Tangle Junior finally came from BFRB.org ( @tlcbfrb ) along with the BFRB awareness ribbon I had ordered. I decided to make some tangle art with it (as I have trichotillomania). I am sending fidgety love to everyone with a BFRB.     😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Also the ribbon came with a safety pin in it, so 

“We’ll safety pin the pieces of our broken hearts together/Patching up all the holes until we both feel much better!” -5 Seconds of Summer

WE CAN DO THIS FELLOW BFRB SUFFERERS!!!! WE ARE BEAUTIFUL/HANDSOME/GOOD-LOOKING!!!

[tlcbfrb]

Glad you like it!

[bfrbawareness]

Another hot tip (name's Eir, by the way, only bfrb is dermtophagia, nice to meet you): Nail armor is a thing! I just found it on etsy. It's basically like jewelry that goes on the tips of your fingers , and covers the entire first segment of the finger as well as the fingernail. So the area that usually is most affected (at least for me) is literally covered in a cage of metal. That's a nice barrier method if you can't wear gloves. It looks really cute too! I def plan on buying some.

Ooh! That sounds pretty badass! Thanks for sharing. 

-Gina