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Is Skin Picking a Form of Self-Harm?

July 1, 2026

Repeatedly picking at your skin can be a distracting and disruptive habit, but is it a sign of something more serious? Is skin picking a form of self-harm?

Understanding Skin Picking Disorder

Skin picking disorder is a mental health condition that involves recurrent, compulsive picking of a person’s own skin. The clinical term for this condition is excoriation disorder. It is also sometimes referred to as dermatillomania.

Compulsive skin picking is often referred to as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). In addition to dermatillomania, the other two most common BFRBs are trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and onychophagia (compulsive nail biting).

Types of Skin Picking

As described in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people who have skin picking disorder typically focus on their face, arms, and hands, though some direct their attention toward other body parts.

Behaviors that can be symptomatic of skin picking disorder include:

  • Picking at healthy skin
  • Pulling off scabs or calluses
  • Popping pimples
  • Preventing cuts or lesions from fully healing
  • Rubbing, lancing, or biting the skin

Diagnostic Criteria

Virtually everyone has engaged in one or several of behaviors listed above, but that doesn’t mean that excoriation disorder is a nearly universal condition.

According to the DSM-5, to be accurately diagnosed with the disorder a person must meet the following criteria:

  • Recurrent skin picking resulting in lesions
  • Repeated attempts to stop or decrease skin picking
  • The behavior causes “significant distress or impairment” at home, at work, in social situations, or in other important areas
  • The behavior is not attributable to the effects of a drug or the result of a medical condition
  • The behavior is not better explained as a symptom of another mental illness

Also, among people who have this condition, skin picking is a compulsion, not a choice. Some people with the disorder spend several hours every day picking at their skin, which can understandably be quite disruptive to their lives.

Is Skin Picking a Form of Self-Harm?

Is skin picking a form of self-harm? It can be, but it isn’t always.

Self-harm, which clinicians refer to as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), refers to a range of behaviors that people undertake for the purpose of damaging their bodies and/or inflicting pain on themselves. 

Examples of Self-Harm

Common examples of NSSI include:

  • Burning, cutting, or scratching their skin
  • Inserting needles under their skin
  • Repeatedly punching themselves
  • Pulling out their hair
  • Hitting their head or other body parts against walls or other hard objects

If a person is picking at their skin in an attempt to cause pain or leave scars, that could qualify as a form of self-harm. But if they’re doing so solely because they have a compulsion such excoriation disorder, then the skin picking would probably not be considered self-harm.

Reasons for Self-Harm

If you have never felt the urge to self-harm, you may find it difficult to understand why anyone would choose to intentionally injure themselves.

While there’s no way to know what has motivated every person who has engaged in NSSI, common causes of this behavior include:

  • They have a mental illness.
  • They are punishing themselves for a perceived flaw, failure, or shortcoming.
  • They feel that they have lost control of their life, and inflicting pain is a misguided attempt to reassert some control.
  • They have been experiencing severe stress, deep regret, or some other type of emotional pain, and are using self-harm as a way of giving physical presence to their psychological turmoil.

Self-Harm & Suicide

One important reason why people may be want to know if skin picking is a form of self-harm is that self-harm has been linked with an increased risk of suicide.

As indicated by the clinical term, nonsuicidal self-harm is not a suicide attempt. However, depending on what type of nonsuicidal self-harm a person engages in, the behavior could accidentally end in death. Also, self-harm can significantly increase their risk of attempting suicide in the near future. 

According to a March 2017 study in The American Journal of Psychiatry, the risk of attempting suicide in the next 12 months is 37 times higher among people who recently engaged in self-harm than among the general public. The risk is particularly elevated among people who chose violent forms of self-harm or who harmed themselves in the previous 30 days.

Suicide Prevention

If you believe that someone in your life is in imminent danger of suicide, do not ignore your suspicions. If you’re not sure what to do or say, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

This free resource, which is available 24/7, is staffed by trained counselors who can discuss the problem with you, recommend appropriate actions, and, if necessary, connect you with relevant resources in your area.

Is Skin Picking a Mental Illness?

Is skin picking a mental illness? As with the question “is skin picking a form of self-harm,” the answer can vary:

  • In the case of excoriation disorder, skin picking is a mental illness.
  • If a person compulsively picks at their skin as a result of another mental health condition, then the behavior would most accurately be described as a symptom, not a distinct mental illness.
  • If a person’s skin picking is a maladaptive coping mechanism or an attempt to cause themselves pain, then it may be classified as a type of NSSI.

In addition to excoriation disorder, other types of mental illnesses that can cause a person to compulsively pick at their skin include:

Regardless of why a person compulsively picks at their skin, they should be evaluated by their doctor or another qualified professional. An evaluation can identify possible causes of the behavior and help the individual understand the scope of the problem they’re facing. The professional who conducts the evaluation should also be able to suggest appropriate treatment options.

Find Treatment for Skin Picking and Self-Harm in Arkansas

If someone in your life has been engaging in skin picking, help is available. When your loved one gets the right type of treatment, they can regain control of their thoughts and behaviors.

Time Wellness Arkansas is a trusted provider of personalized outpatient care for adults with dermatillomania. We treat other mental health concerns and co-occurring substance use disorders (addictions).

Treatment options at our center in Fayetteville, AR, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual (online) program. A member of our team will be happy to discuss the features \ of each of these options with you.

To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.