Keep nails short and smooth
Cover high-risk areas with bandages, hydrocolloid patches, or clothing
Remove mirrors, tweezers, and picking tools from easy reach
Identify triggers such as stress, boredom, fatigue, or anxiety
Track when, where, and how often picking happens
Use a competing response like clenching fists, holding a stress ball, or sitting on hands
Keep hands busy with fidget items, knitting, drawing, or similar activities
Apply moisturizer or barrier ointment to reduce rough spots
Clean and treat skin gently to reduce scabs and bumps
Set specific “no-picking” periods and gradually extend them
Use reminders or notes in common picking areas
Practice urge surfing and delay picking for 5 to 10 minutes
Replace picking with another routine when the urge starts
Reduce stress with sleep, exercise, breathing, or mindfulness
Avoid scanning skin in bright mirrors or under harsh lighting
Seek support from a therapist trained in habit reversal or CBT
Consider treatment for anxiety, OCD, ADHD, or depression if present
Contact a dermatologist for persistent lesions, infection, or scarring
Get immediate medical care for spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, or severe pain