I am 21 female, I enjoy looking for dandruff and trying to pull it down the hair shaft. I always get the strange strong urge to pick other people's dandruff as well. I don't really have a problem with dandruff myself but my boyfriend does and it drives him nuts. Glad to know I'm not alone out there... :-)
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I had no idea that this was common. I have that problem too, and I'm a teenager. I'll scratch it until I see dandruff. It's a sick habit, I hate it. And now I pick too much that my scalp will start bleeding, and I'll have a sore there. Thank gosh nobody can see it. I also scratch the back of my head. Basically everywhere. And now I'm starting to do it in school, and it probably will start to look like I have bugs in my hair or something. And it sucks, because it makes my hair greesy, so I take a shower almost everyday. What helps a little for me is putting my hair up. I really don't even remember when or how I got into the habit, or "obsession" of doing it. My mom is always like "Stop scratching!" Along with my grandma. My mom thinks that I don't even realize when I'm doing. But the truth is, is that it's just a horrible habit. It's horrible for your hair, and you loose a lot of hair than you do in a day. I'm really trying to stop. If anybody has any good tips, please, tell me! (:
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I'm a 16 y/o male and I had the same problem. Everyday I spent who knows how long picking my scalp and weeding out the dandruff flakes. Like some of the people who've posted before me here, I tried in past to use dandruff shampoos, but they hardly helped and made my hair wiry and dry, but just this year I found a solution. Scalpacin with a follow up of head and shoulders conditioner. I'm not completely flake free, but i'm much better off, and when things take a turn he worse again go back to the scalpacin
I hope this helps those of you who share my problem, it's good to know that we're not alone
I hope this helps those of you who share my problem, it's good to know that we're not alone
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wow I just decided to google head scratching and I'm amazed I'm not the only one who picks constantly at her hair. It's so addictive. I do it while I'm driving mostly and people driving next to me probably think I have lice or something. I get scabs from it and I cannot seem to stop myself from picking scabs so this makes it worse.
I'm going to try to cut my nails as short as possible (without making them hurt) and see if that helps. Keeping my hair in a ponytail and wearing a hat also seems to work for me, so I'll do that more often... anyone else have coping mechanisms?
I'm going to try to cut my nails as short as possible (without making them hurt) and see if that helps. Keeping my hair in a ponytail and wearing a hat also seems to work for me, so I'll do that more often... anyone else have coping mechanisms?
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I often find that I scratch dandruff from my head while I'm working or thinking hard... dandruff has been a big problem for me! I have found that scratching, though oddly satisfying, makes it significantly worse, perhaps by exacerbating my scalp's inflammatory response.
Besides medicated shampoo, Here's what I'm trying to do to deal with the behavioral aspect of the problem...
If I'm reading at the computer, I now have made it a habit to keep my FINGERS INTERLACED and my thumbs pressed against each other. This makes it impossible for me to scratch! Also, if I'm writing with pen and paper, I try to keep my free hand on the page. Basically, I make an effort to stay mindful of where I place my hands and what I do with them as I work.
This approach is similar to improving your posture while working at a desk... as long as you're somewhat mindful of what your body is doing while your brain is occupied, you'll get into the habit of not scatching (or slouching!)
hope this helps...
Besides medicated shampoo, Here's what I'm trying to do to deal with the behavioral aspect of the problem...
If I'm reading at the computer, I now have made it a habit to keep my FINGERS INTERLACED and my thumbs pressed against each other. This makes it impossible for me to scratch! Also, if I'm writing with pen and paper, I try to keep my free hand on the page. Basically, I make an effort to stay mindful of where I place my hands and what I do with them as I work.
This approach is similar to improving your posture while working at a desk... as long as you're somewhat mindful of what your body is doing while your brain is occupied, you'll get into the habit of not scatching (or slouching!)
hope this helps...
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I'm glad to know that I'm not alone.
I'm 39 years old and when I was in 1st grade, I had a friend that liked to pick her dandruff and other people's dandruff. As far as I can remember, ever since then, I've picked my dandruff. There have been times when I've stopped long enough so that the sores could heal enough for me to get my hair cut. Other times, I've gotten my hair cut and just hoped the hairdresser wouldn't say anything.
I get a sense of accoplishment/contentment when I can pull off a really long piece and I like the noise that it makes when it's coming off. Right now I think it's the worse it's ever been. I have two bald spots. One is about the size of a quarter, and the other about the size of a nickel. They look really bad and they are red sores. I have other scabs all over my head, but I haven't abused those areas as much. Since I'm a woman I have more stress trying to keep them covered by teasing my hair and trying to lay it over the spots.
I had a dream the other night that I was touching the hair on top of my head and a whole flap of hair fell off and I had a bald spot about the size of a saucer (used for coffee cups). The dream really scared me and I was going to use it as a wake up call and get myself to stop. But I didn't stop. I think I'm finally going to tell my therapist about it and try to get some professional help.
I'm 39 years old and when I was in 1st grade, I had a friend that liked to pick her dandruff and other people's dandruff. As far as I can remember, ever since then, I've picked my dandruff. There have been times when I've stopped long enough so that the sores could heal enough for me to get my hair cut. Other times, I've gotten my hair cut and just hoped the hairdresser wouldn't say anything.
I get a sense of accoplishment/contentment when I can pull off a really long piece and I like the noise that it makes when it's coming off. Right now I think it's the worse it's ever been. I have two bald spots. One is about the size of a quarter, and the other about the size of a nickel. They look really bad and they are red sores. I have other scabs all over my head, but I haven't abused those areas as much. Since I'm a woman I have more stress trying to keep them covered by teasing my hair and trying to lay it over the spots.
I had a dream the other night that I was touching the hair on top of my head and a whole flap of hair fell off and I had a bald spot about the size of a saucer (used for coffee cups). The dream really scared me and I was going to use it as a wake up call and get myself to stop. But I didn't stop. I think I'm finally going to tell my therapist about it and try to get some professional help.
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Thank Gawddddddd theres other people. I knew i couldn't be the only one. I hate to say that i LOVE llaying down in bed and picking at my scalp but its just so....addicting. ill sit and scratch until it hurts. id actually wait a day and look for dandruff to scrap off.
sad :$
sad :$
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ive been at it for a long time. im so scared of it too, i scratch until theres not an inch of skin left unscathed, my scalp is constanyly bloody and covered in scabs and flakes. i am allergic to medicated shampoo, and i try to moisturize as often as i can.
unfortunately cutting my nails dosent help, but causes more damage as i tend to dig harder into the skin.
im so scared to get my hair cut, or even style it because i knw the spots are clearly visible.
chewing gum helps me, or pretty much chewing anything, a pen, whatever i can really have at without it breaking down too much
im thinking about talking to my councelor about it, i know its from stress, and of course regular dry scalp.
otherwise, i hope i can stop, and maybe find a less harmful habit, im going to stick to chewing gum and such
so glad im not alone
unfortunately cutting my nails dosent help, but causes more damage as i tend to dig harder into the skin.
im so scared to get my hair cut, or even style it because i knw the spots are clearly visible.
chewing gum helps me, or pretty much chewing anything, a pen, whatever i can really have at without it breaking down too much
im thinking about talking to my councelor about it, i know its from stress, and of course regular dry scalp.
otherwise, i hope i can stop, and maybe find a less harmful habit, im going to stick to chewing gum and such
so glad im not alone
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hey everyone - this is not my addiction but i might have a suggestion. my boyfriend is constantly scratching his head also but he has Psoriasis. is it possible any of you have this condition? if not, excessive dandruff can still be taken care of at a doctors. dont have the resources to go see a doctor? my boyfriend has his own little method that keeps the dandruff away until the next morning shower -
he takes a brush to "fluff" the hair so he can get to every part of the problem
he takes a comb (very small, fine, looks like a flea or lice comb) and gets all the flakes out. takes some time though.
he then takes Lubriderm lotion and uses it all over his head and hair.
i hope this works for someone out there.
Good luck all.
he takes a brush to "fluff" the hair so he can get to every part of the problem
he takes a comb (very small, fine, looks like a flea or lice comb) and gets all the flakes out. takes some time though.
he then takes Lubriderm lotion and uses it all over his head and hair.
i hope this works for someone out there.
Good luck all.
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I have the same feeling, and ill just sit at my desk going for hours.. sometimes it even bleeds. SOMEONE HELP
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Hi everyone,
I have had the same problem for years, and am amazingly shocked at how many people have the same problem. This started for me because my sister always scratched her head so then i started to scratch mine. I am 20 and this started when i was 14. There are times when i do it more but since i can remember i always scratch the flakes out of my head and gather them in a pile. it is so gross and cant believe that i do it. It is something i really dont even realize that i start to do when i do it, and know it is so unhealthy. Putting the hair up is definitely something that helps, and also sorry for the guys-but girls-getting fake nails on helps me. The length and thickness of the nail makes it hard to really get under there and scratch everything to the surface, and when i have them on my hands dont tend to have the habit of putting them on my head and scratching so much. I am noticing certain parts of my hair are so much thinner and i am fearing the bald spots. :-( Also cutting the nails really short helps me to, but it hasnt lately. It is a crazy obsession and must me an addiction for me now, and it is quite embarrassing. I think i am starting to get headaches from it too. Damn i bet i could get things done so much faster if i didnt pick at my head while i do things. It has just become a routine when i am in deep thought or just really bored. I hope to stop soon. I am going to look up more suggestions and try the ones that have been given, but it really helps to know that other ppl are going through the same thing! thanks all, i know i am not crazy now!
I have had the same problem for years, and am amazingly shocked at how many people have the same problem. This started for me because my sister always scratched her head so then i started to scratch mine. I am 20 and this started when i was 14. There are times when i do it more but since i can remember i always scratch the flakes out of my head and gather them in a pile. it is so gross and cant believe that i do it. It is something i really dont even realize that i start to do when i do it, and know it is so unhealthy. Putting the hair up is definitely something that helps, and also sorry for the guys-but girls-getting fake nails on helps me. The length and thickness of the nail makes it hard to really get under there and scratch everything to the surface, and when i have them on my hands dont tend to have the habit of putting them on my head and scratching so much. I am noticing certain parts of my hair are so much thinner and i am fearing the bald spots. :-( Also cutting the nails really short helps me to, but it hasnt lately. It is a crazy obsession and must me an addiction for me now, and it is quite embarrassing. I think i am starting to get headaches from it too. Damn i bet i could get things done so much faster if i didnt pick at my head while i do things. It has just become a routine when i am in deep thought or just really bored. I hope to stop soon. I am going to look up more suggestions and try the ones that have been given, but it really helps to know that other ppl are going through the same thing! thanks all, i know i am not crazy now!
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Hey, I'm a 23 year old Indian girl (living in America) and I have the same problem. My thing isn't just to see the flakes fall (although I do have a set of black pillowcases that I do that on, too). I feel so gross saying this. But I pick at my head, looking for the scabs from over scratching. I pick them off. I just like to find the big ones and take them off as a whole. Gosh, I feel so terrible about it! You guys want to know the only thing that helps me no matter what? When I have acrylic (fake) nails. They are never sharp or thin enough to really get a good scratch, and therefore can't get under the little scalp scab (I guess it's a scab, even though it seems sometimes like it's just dry scalp). No matter if I try to scratch with them or not, I can't get the same effect as with real nails. And once you get acrylics, you end up getting them redone over and over again for months. Actually, I would still have them but I lost my job a couple months ago so I can't afford it right now. But I can't wait to go back and start getting them again, because the need to scratch always goes away after I can't scratch for a while. Also, I think we'd all be doing ourselves a service to cut our nails off, that way we're forced to not scratch!
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I have this habit too. I'm a girl with long black hair which sucks because the flakes are very visible and I always find myself scratching my head if my hands are free. The things that work for me are purposely doing things in a way that keeps both my hands occupied, or telling a friend to point it out to me whenever I start doing it. A double helping of conditioner sometimes helps to stop it itching so much for me too....
I also find if I run my fingertips through my hair and shake the flakes out instead of digging with my nails, it still feels satisfying in a way, but it isn't damaging my scalp quite as much.
I also find if I run my fingertips through my hair and shake the flakes out instead of digging with my nails, it still feels satisfying in a way, but it isn't damaging my scalp quite as much.
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