From 1-6 years old i used to suck my two middle fingers but i eventually stopped, but unfortunately....i found another addiction. Picking and biting off dead skin from my lips, hands, cheeks and feet. I did this for a very long time. My parents tried to make me stop but even if i did it would only last for a certain amount of time. When i was around 10-12 years old i started being very nauseous, tired, i slept in class all the time, i developed a rash, my fingers and toes got swollen and i had constant headaches. I was to take pills, but they didn't work. I finally found out that i was Anemic. I stopped picking my skin for about a year and 3/4 but then i started again....Im 14 now and my fingers have developed extra dead skin on the parts i used to bite and still bite help me, i really want help to find out if this is a disorder, an addiction. Please help, is there a name for this?
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It's called dermatophagia, and you're not alone. It's not at all uncommon, it's just not regularly seen/spoken about due to the embarrassment of those who deal with it. While some articles claim it may be a neurological issue such as OCD, most cases/studies have found that this behavior is not so severe as to claim there's anything 'wrong' with you, so much as it being simply an anxiety disorder. They're called 'wolf biters' also because wolves and dogs will also chew on their own paws and skin when they're stressed. Some people grow out of it, some never do, and still lead perfectly healthy normal lives. Here's a couple helpful articles for you check out!
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/dermatophagia-the-psychological-disorder-that-makes-people-bite-their-own-skin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophagia
http://putthatcheeseburgerdown.com/2014/01/15/mental-health-5-signs-that-you-suffer-from-dermatophagia/
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