I obsessively pick my cuticles. Since I have no recollection of how/when this habit developed, it seemed normal; as normal as any other activity in an adult’s life. You play tennis, I rip my cuticles to the point that my husband or colleagues (whoever is subjected to this gory sight) threaten to tie my hands. Most times it happens organically – currently as I write, I have this urge to peel off a little strip of my index finger. But I know better or at least I have taught myself to.
It isn’t as easy as deciding to stop one day. Most of us who fanatically pick at our skin are helpless. We know it isn’t any good. We know it’s going to hurt later. We still do it, promising ourselves we’ll quit one day.
While there are several reasons that can explain his habit, my skin-picking is the worst when I am anxious. More so because I don’t realise until enough damage has been done. I tried everything from therapy to hand creams to even meditation. It would take me less than a week to get back to my self-damaging routine.
Last month, after decades, I made progress. It has been over 35 days I haven’t violently dug into my skin – a respite for my tired fingers.
So, what happened? Well, I have tried to squeeze this self-corrective plan into five simple steps. While there is a chronology to it, feel free to alter it to your picking habits.
1. Identify the triggers
Identifying triggers can take anywhere from a month to year to a decade. It’s important to be aware of what causes the skin-picking. Is it a part of a bigger problem that needs to be addressed, like Skin Picking Disorder? Or is it one of your bad habits that you can’t quit, like smoking? As an active skin-picker, I first clearly saw the problem when I ripped open the side of my index finger while processing a personal crisis. My finger was bloody and yet, persistent, I stuck my nail (also bitten) into the wound to scoop out more. In that moment, I knew I needed to fix this.
2. Try to love your cuticles
Your cuticles are as much a part of your body as your eyes or ears. They have a legit function. Give your cuticles the respect they deserve. The urge of picking them won’t go in a day. However, if you learn to love them a little you may stop after two scratches. That’s a good start for someone trying to save their hands. Remember, the operative keyword is try.
3. Keep a hand cream within reach
My boss got me a hand cream and made me swear I will keep it tied to my hand. It kept my nails hydrated. In fact, I made a little game of it. Every time I would get a craving, I’d apply some lotion. Weirdly enough, I didn’t feel like picking my skin. My cuticles were sufficiently moisturised. I wasn’t a digger on a mission. This was the healthiest I had seen my hand looks in a while.
4. Get a manicure
Manicures, in my experience, are uplifting. It makes you believe that you too can be the proud owner of perfect nails. Even better, get an expensive one. That way, you can learn to appreciate both your cuticles and money. A corrective measure is likely to succeed more if there is twin guilt attached to it. A girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do!
5. Wear fake nails
Don’t dismiss this as one of those things you will never do. I have tried the acrylic nail treatment twice. It is the quickest upgrade for your unfortunate-looking nails. I have gone from manic to ma ma mia! in two hours. When your nails look that pretty, going at your cuticles becomes a conflict of interest. Nobody likes to destroy pretty things, especially if it’s on your own body.
