Have you heard before of the term "excoriated acne"? It is a kind of acne caused by all the constant picking / scratching / squeezing of the skin. These actions when done non-stop cause red marks, inflammation, open sores, scabs because of all the irritation. It isn't the usual bumps (papules), pimples (pustules), or cysts.
Usually excoriated acne seems like mild problems to other people. However, the sufferer himself / herself might find it intolerable. People who get excoriated acne have some form of burning desire or fetish to repeatedly pick at their skin to get rid of normal acne lesions even though they know that they shouldn't do that. Women being more beauty conscious, are more susceptible to excoriated acne.
It is a real medical condition that should be accessed by a dermatologist.
At times, excoriated acne begins by acne vulgaris. A sufferer could also pick at imagined acne lesions, or tiny little black / white heads that are very hard to notice originally. The constant picking, scratching causes open sores. When the sores are healing, scabs form and the sufferer would have an even bigger urge to get rid of that ugly thing. Thus, a vicious cycle is formed.
Of course, scarring is NOT out of the question in excoriated acne.
Excoriated acne is treated also with the usual methods of normal acne. However, the root of the problem is the picking, scratching of the skin. It is a psychological problem. At times, a dermatologist will teach a sufferer a "hands-away" rule / policy. It isn't guaranteed to work because often willpower is not the problem. Excoriated acne can also be caused by anxiety disorders, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and many other mood disorders.
The treatment for every individual is custom tailored. Along with standard acne medications, sufferers might also go for psychological counseling, drug therapies etc and perhaps take antidepressants.
