YOUNG TISER: Dermatillomania -a secret epidemic

In the goal to get rid of them it includes picking at the skin till it is gone, when the “imperfection” is removed a scab usually forms and the sufferer may pick at the scab, as this is also an “imperfection” so the picking continues and continues to escalate till there is permanent scarring.

I founded Dermatillomania Eduation UK in July 2014 with the mission of reaching out to all mental health services and providers and ensure they are doing work around dermatillomania, raising awareness and educating their staff.'

Too many people are staying silent about their condition, because there is nobody to talk to purely because nobody is educated enough on the subject.

Sadly, sufferers are living with this condition and being told to simply stop, but it isn't as simple as wanting to and actually doing it.

Professionals are turning people away, because they have no knowledge of the condition, and this is a major problem.

As a young person, I have felt the over-riding pressures to be perfect.

I tried to ignore them and say that it didn't affect me, but little did I know, “perfection” was the thing that lead me to spiral out of control.

Dermatillomania was present in my life from around 13 years old.

It started as an innocent “I’m going to pop a few spots” but then I got obsessed and everything I saw on my face I would pick at.

It wasn’t long till the obsession moved onto my arms, legs, back and chest.

My body is covered in scars, scabs and perceived flaws.

For me, it continued to escalate and I wanted to stop and I knew I needed to.

My family would always tell me to stop picking, and my reply was always “I can’t”.

It was physically impossible to beat the urges and sometimes I do it without even realising.

It’s extremely difficult for people to reach recovery from dermatillomania when medical professionals are overlooking it as they don’t have the necessary knowledge on the condition.

Since setting up this campaign I've been contacted by many people who are suffering with dermatillomania and are struggling to access the help and feel ashamed because there's nobody out there talking about it.  

I later set up a petitio, asking the NHS to educate their doctors on dermatillomania and this has more than signatures and many comments from those who have signed up.

One person wrote: “I am signing because i suffer with this and have experienced doctors unsure of the concept or they have never heard of it.

“There are so many people out there with this illness who do not even know it because it is not well known, it makes you feel powerless and affects your day to day life.

“If the NHS are educated further about this, maybe more people will identify it and help us, not just write it off as a 'habit.”

One person said that having a doctor who understanding of the condition had helped with their treatment, writing: “I was lucky enough to have a doctor who knew about Dermatillomania — others don't and that knowledge is key to treating it.”

You can see the petition here;

https://www.change.org/p/nhs-educate-our-doctors-on-dermatillomania.

REBECCA is among the acts performing at a concert organised by a National Citizens Service group at Rotherham Rugby Club this evening (11) at 7pm.

Entry is £5 per person and all proceeds and all proceeds will go to Rotherham Hospice.

by Rebecca Parkin Rotherham Youth Councillor and Healthwatch Ambassador