person picking lips

Tips for Preventing Lip Picking

Many people pick the skin off their lips every once in a while, but those who find themselves doing it often may have developed a skin-picking disorder. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dermatillomania, or excoriation disorder, is when you cannot stop picking at your skin. This may include the lips, whether with your fingers, nails, or tweezers. The health condition affects one’s overall being, as skin picking can cause stress, anxiety, infections, and more, including severe injuries. The condition is related to obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) because it shares similar characteristics, like repetitive behavior, per the International OCD Foundation.

While picking at your skin every now and then is normal, there are some things you can check to see if you have a skin-picking disorder. In addition to compulsively picking at the skin, causing injury to yourself or trying to “correct” a spot or scar are both signs of dermatillomania, according to the National Health Service (NHS). Also, those with the skin-picking disorder may pick their lips and not realize it, or only pick when they feel stressed or anxious.

Caring for your lips

woman putting on chapstick

Typically, the best treatment for the skin-picking disorder is therapy combined with medication, according to Mental Health America (MHA). A doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help control compulsive actions and obsessive thoughts, and therapy will help you understand and change those thoughts. However, there are other steps you can take at home to stop picking your lips. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) reports you shouldn’t lick your lips often — instead, keep your lips hydrated with a non-irritating lip balm to help reduce how dry the skin is. 

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If you want to stop picking your lips, you can also try keeping your hands busy, reports MindBodyGreen. Many people pick their lips when they’re bored or inactive, so ensuring your hands are busy may reduce your likelihood of picking. A stress ball or fidget toy not only keeps your hands busy, but may simulate the same feeling you get when picking your lips. The best course of action you can take for the skin-picking disorder is to reach out to a doctor who specializes in the health condition, or your primary care doctor for additional resources.

Lesa O'Leary
Lesa O'Leary

Lesa is a dynamic member of OzHelp’s Service Delivery Team as the Service Delivery Team Leader and Nurse. She has been with OzHelp for five years and believes in leading by example. Lesa has experience in the not-for-profit sector, as well as many roles throughout different industries and sectors, including as a contractor to the Department of Defence. She has expertise in delivering OzHelp’s health and wellbeing programs and engaging with clients in a relaxed and comfortable manner that aligns with the organisation’s vision and objectives.

Lesa has a Certificate 4 in Nursing from Wodonga Tafe, Certificate 4 in Mental Health from Open Colleges, and is currently undertaking a Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment from Tafe NSW. For the past few months Lesa has been an Education and Memberships committee member of the ACT Branch of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).