Skin Picking Disorder Test: Do I Have Dermatillomania?
If you keep picking at your skin and can't seem to stop, a skin picking test, sometimes called a dermatillomania test, gives you a quick read on where you land. I'll walk you through what the test asks and what to do with your score.
By Nathan Peterson, LCSW, OCD and BFRB therapistWhat is a skin picking disorder test?
A skin picking disorder test is a short set of questions about your picking. It helps you see whether what you're dealing with lines up with skin picking disorder, also called dermatillomania or excoriation disorder.
An online test is a screening, not a diagnosis. You don't have to prepare anything or stop picking first. Answer based on how things have been for you lately, not how you wish they'd been.
What the skin picking test asks
The questions cover the main signs of skin picking disorder:
- How often you pick and how long it lasts
- Whether you've tried to cut back and it hasn't stuck
- Sores, scars or marks from picking
- How much you hide it, with makeup, clothes or bandages
- Whether you avoid things because of your skin, like the gym, the beach or being close to someone
- How much it gets in the way of work, school or sleep
Picking at the face is most common, but the test counts picking anywhere, including the scalp, arms, back and the skin around your nails.
What your skin picking test results mean
Your score shows how much picking is taking over right now. A higher score means it's eating more of your time and getting in the way more often.
A score doesn't say anything about you as a person. Skin picking is a body-focused repetitive behavior, or BFRB. It's not a willpower problem. Your brain learned a habit loop, and you can learn to work with it.
What to do after the skin picking disorder test
Talk to someone who treats BFRBs
A therapist who treats body-focused repetitive behaviors can confirm what's going on and walk you through treatment. Some medications are being studied for skin picking, so that's a question for your doctor.
Look at behavioral treatment
The main treatment for skin picking teaches you to notice when and where you pick, change the setup that makes picking easy, and do something else with your hands when the urge shows up. I know, that sounds too simple to work. It isn't easy, which is why it takes practice. More on excoriation disorder treatment.
Take care of your skin
If you have sores that won't heal or signs of infection, a doctor or dermatologist can help with your skin while you work on the picking.
Take the test and see where you land. Then pick one spot where you tend to pick, like the bathroom mirror or the car. I know, one spot sounds way too small to matter. Start there anyway.
Take the free skin picking test
Common questions about skin picking tests
Is there an online test for skin picking disorder?
Yes. The free skin picking test asks how often you pick, how much time it takes, whether you've tried to stop, and how it affects your skin and your day. It takes a few minutes and your answers stay private.
Can a dermatillomania test diagnose me?
No. An online test is a screening. It shows whether your picking lines up with skin picking disorder and how much it's taking over. A therapist who treats BFRBs can tell you for sure.
Do I need to see a dermatologist?
If you have sores that won't heal, signs of infection, or scarring, a doctor or dermatologist can treat your skin. The picking itself is a behavior, so a therapist who treats BFRBs is the one who helps with that part.
What if my score is low but I still pick?
A lower score doesn't mean you have to keep living with it. If picking bothers you, you can still learn the skills that help you pick less.
Is skin picking a form of OCD or anxiety?
Skin picking disorder is grouped with OCD as an OCD-related condition, but it works differently. OCD compulsions are driven by fear and doubt. Picking is usually driven by an urge, tension, or the feel of a rough spot. Anxiety and stress can make picking worse, so skin picking and anxiety often show up together, and some people deal with both OCD and skin picking. More on OCD skin picking and skin picking and anxiety.
