Dermatillomania on Caffeine

While there are many potential triggers for skin picking, one that is often overlooked is caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that is commonly found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate. It affects the central nervous system and can increase anxiety and stress levels, which can trigger skin picking.

The effects of caffeine on skin picking are complex. On the one hand, caffeine can increase alertness and concentration, which can help individuals with skin picking maintain focus and avoid picking behavior. On the other hand, caffeine can increase anxiety and stress levels, which can trigger skin picking, especially if you tend to do the behavior automatically and unconsciously.

Additionally, caffeine is a diuretic, which means it can lead to dehydration if consumed in excess. Dehydration can affect the skin's overall health and contribute to dryness, itching, and inflammation, which can exacerbate skin picking.

To reduce the effects of caffeine on skin picking, you can limit your intake of caffeine and monitor your reaction to it. This means avoiding or reducing consumption of coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate, and opting for decaf or caffeine-free options instead.

I recommend you reduce your caffeine intake slowly, as caffeine withdrawal effects can include not only the headache most of us are familiar with, but also depression and cognitive impairment. Research shows the effects of caffeine withdrawal can last nine days!

In addition to limiting caffeine intake, there are other steps you can take to manage your skin picking. Be sure to sign up for my Freedom Kit to find out why you pick your skin and how to finally stop.