Skin picking advice that I have for my past self and whoever it might help. I mainly pick my legs before sleep and my face and my chest
I just found a solution for my scars after years: sea water. I don't know if it irritates freshly picked skin but my skin is brighter after only one day I entered the water. If the scars fade they also discourage from picking. The minerals of the water are really good for your skin.
Identify your triggers, not just of skin picking but also of maladaptive daydreaming and the anxiety you feel before sleep
For pimples on face look at this product that will save you: Acne Pimple Master Patch by Cosrx. Basically you put this patch on the pimple and all you'll do is touch the pad and not infect the pimple. It doesn't cost much so I think it's really useful.
Wear pants at night
Cut your nails always short, cut them more times a week to keep them short. By short I mean as shorter as possible
I usually use my phone's torch to see better, I hid so it wouldn't destroy both my eyes and my skin. If you can, Uninstall it
Put body lotion every day, especially if you have a time. Replace the skin picking with putting lotion on. If your skin is wet and smells good, it'll discourage you from picking. So put on body lotion and face cream, whatever you have.
Or replace it with asmr time, it doesn't have to be bedtime to watch it, what matters is that it relaxes you
Or replace it with texting a friend.
Or going to tumblr,
or watching a video. It could be watching those videos you put on watch later, or create a Playlist with new songs, listen to them when you have the urge
I usually pick before sleep so I think I feel anxious for the day before so I lose myself at that time and I try to sleep as late as possible. Well, keeping a journal helps for those thoughts. Write all you have, what you felt, what you thought during the day, whatever you want write it down. It'll calm you down so much
And read a book, replace that time with something so productive like reading. You have the urge to pick, pick a book instead, it'll distract you. Books can be like watching movies, they're easy. Even if it's just a few pages, that counts too
Improve your sleep schedule through sleeping enough at night so you can go to sleep more easily, this way you'll be too busy thinking of sleep rather than picking
A friend of mine that picks her face once told to me to stay away from the mirror
I (maladaptive) daydream while I pick, I usually listen to music. So maybe it'd be better to put those earphones in the drawer when the time of picking comes. Identify your daydreaming triggers and catch yourself when it's happening, and try to be present. It'll take a while to stop but even just once it's a step forward. I usually analyze my room and I feel present in it, since I lack presence because of the daydreaming. So I take a step in being more present in this world.
Or watch one episode of that series you're watching. Just one episode. Instead of skin picking. But this one is risky since you may not stop at one episode
