leg plucking obsession

Hair Removal Methods Tweezing/Plucking
#41

Much of the information I have suggests strongly (the lawyers make me speak like this) that low serotonin levels, dehydration and minimal, or unbalanced Essential Fatty Acid intake can be to blame for this type of behavior.

If you don’t eat something every 3 hours, don’t drink enough water, don’t get good fats in the proper ratio to your proteins, and don’t get 20 to 30 grams of fiber a day in your diet, then this alone could lead to stuff like this. Of course, I am not allowed to tell you that eating almonds, taking St. John’s Wart, and 5-HTP, or some other source of Tryptophan can do better than zoloft, or that a handful of pistachio or cashew nuts each day is as, or more effective than prozac, with none of the side effects. Oh, did I say that out loud? :confused: Um, ALLEGEDLY, yeah, that’s the ticket, ALLEGEDLY :smirk:

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#42

I have this problem, it is a form of OCD, I thought my ocd had generally got better (I had a serious germ phobia which connected to my now beter acne) but it’s come back with a vengeance in the form of plucking, I just love the feeling of getting a lovely long ingrown hair from my ankle, or my bikini line. It’s so sad to think that these issues plague people, I wish I could just wave a magic wand and make you all better… I’m going to go talk to my GP about this issue and maybe change my medication since I am already on Sertraline.
I can spend hours and hours sitting hunched over studying every single inch of my legs, thighs and bikini line. I get back ache from doing this, but I just cant stop.
It’s like people who binge eat, then feel so sad and guilty that they’ve done it.
I was in a psychiatric ward for 8 months, it was for a number of things, but I never really got actual help for my OCD, apart from meds, and I think I was in denial about my ocd anyway, I always thought it wasn’t bad (I was a hand washer, etc…) I did meet the CBT therapists once, then I never saw them again, I dont know what happened.
Anyway, the best thing I can say is to definately go see a doctor, therapist, or someone who can actually help. I think people tend to pluck when they get bored, so try to fill your time up well. I am only going to allow myself to pluck my eyebrows once in a while, but not obsessively, otherwise I’ll end up with none!
I’ve told my mum about my issue, she’s helping me with it too.
I hope everyone whose posted on here wont let it get them down and will try to seek help, and eventually stop doing it.
Dont dissapoint me!
Dont treat your body and soul this way!
Seek help!

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#43

You “leg pluckers” are truely disturbed. You get enjoyment out of it??? There’s something wrong with that.

I use a Braun Silk Epil 5270 and it gets rid of the hair for 3 weeks.

#44

snorts You pathetic human being. How dare you call us “disturbed” when you came onto this post.
You need sensitivity training. This problem isn’t something to laugh at, it affects everyone single one of us who’ve posted here.
I wonder what’s “wrong” with you.
Hm.

#45

snorts You pathetic human being. How dare you call us “disturbed” when you came onto this post.
You need sensitivity training. This problem isn’t something to laugh at, it affects everyone single one of us who’ve posted here.
I wonder what’s “wrong” with you.
Hm.

You’re right…because I have this insatiable need and urge to pluck my nose hair. I just love to do it…makes me tear up and everything. Nothing better…

[/sarcasm off]

#46

Lincoln, you need to find a new place to post. If this doesn’t apply to you then don’t post, please.
Eve, I think what you said about being boared is very true. I have learned to keep myself busy so that I don’t go in and pluck. I am still at it but, not as much as I used to be. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us could stop now and by summer, our legs might look decent? That would be great. I try to set goals.
Remember, keep shaving those legs so that the hair is not there to pluck.
[color:“green”] Hope everyone has a happy holiday. [/color]

#47

Happy 2007, everybody! It’s a great time to STOP PLUCKING. C’mon everybody we can do this together.
I broke down last night and told my husband about my plucking. I feel SO MUCH BETTER. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> He just listened and didn’t really ask any questions. He gave me a big hug and told me that I wasn’t a “freak”. I told him I’ve been doing it for at least 5 years and that I need help. I’ve asked him to take all of my tweezers away and only give one to me if I need it for my eyebrows. Once my eyebrows are done, he must take them back. I have also promised myself that I will not buy any more tweezers. I also told him that if I disappear into the bathroom (it has the best lighting in the house)for a long time, come check on me.
It was hard to tell him but, I’m so glad I did. I was planning to go “cold turkey” starting today, new years and since telling my hubby, I think I will be strong enough to stop. Hopefully this will be my best year ever and I hope that it is yours too!

#48

Oh, that’s really good news! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
It’s amazing how you feel after telling someone about it, like a massive weight has been lifted. One of the most horrible things in life is to let something bother you so much and tell no-one about it, that’s really crushing.
I haven’t done it for a while, but I guess that I dont notice sometimes because I have other stuff to bother about, which isn’t all that good, but still.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great new year, and will continue with plucking abstinence <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

#49

Hey everyone, happy 2007. I’m really happy I found this board, because like most of you, I thought I was the only one too. Reading all of your posts made me realize that I started plucking in-depth last year, after I moved across the country to attend college (very stressful time). It seems to really be linked to stress like the web articles say. I have scars on the insides of my left leg (easier to reach because I’m right-handed) and the feeling I get from plucking seems to be really theraputic. I never really thought about it before. I love the feeling of digging out an ingrown hair or squeezing with my fingernails until the hair pops out… it sounds so weird to other people, I’m sure. Nobody knows but me and my tweezers.

I think I’m going to take PP’s advice and TRY to stop tweezing for 07. New years resolution and whatnot.

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#50

I’m really proud of you, Pink_piper…it’s difficult to tell someone (no matter how close they are) for fear of being called a weirdo. I told my boyfriend last summer and cried, but it was a huge relief since now he understands where my insecurity stems from. I encourage all of you to seek out that one person whom you trust because it really does help, but in the meantime I’m glad that this forum is here for support =)

Anyway, an update! As I said in my previous post, I went cold turkey on the plucking last summer but started up again when school resumed. Glad to say though that I managed to stop again in September and haven’t done it since! My legs still look awful though–not as bad as they were when I plucked, but still unsightly compared to other girls’. There are still a gazillion dark spots from where the follicles grow but at least the raised bumps are gone. And I think they’re getting better, though VERY slowly.

I went to the dermatologist today and am disappointed to say that she couldn’t help much. I told her upfront what I had been doing for 4 years–and that I had read online of some treatments, namely Retin A and Glycolic Acid. But stupid me at the time forgot what they were called so I couldn’t ask her for prescriptions! Judging from her expression she had never encountered such a case. When I told her about the plucking she said, “Oh yes, I guess you could have damaged your hair follicles by plucking so that’s why you have those dots.” Her suggestion: “just keep using lotion.” I guess I made enough of a fuss about it that she prescribed me LacHydrin–which is pretty much lotion, only it mosturizes more. I was hoping she’d think of Retin A or Glycolic acid though, but again, I couldn’t remember what they were called while I was there so couldn’t bring it to her attention.

Speaking of, has anyone tried Glycolic acid or Retin A for their legs? I’m seriously considering making another appointment so I can get a prescription for them or at least more info, because somehow I doubt that LacHydrin will be much help.

Oh yeah, the only remedy I could remember the name of was Vitamin K. However she said that there’s never been any conclusive research to back it so I shouldn’t waste the money. But if anyone has different results, please, do tell!

Ok, I will end this essay now. Keep shaving and those tweezers locked up!

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#51

hey…
i was on here looking for some information and came across your forum. Can i start off by saying that plucking hair is not necessarily OCD, so if this is your only issue, you needn’t worry. I have been diagnosed with OCD from when i was young, although ive never had the courage to actually tell the doctors/psychologists about my plucking.
I used to pull out the hair on my head… when i tried to stop doing that, my plucking began. I’ve been plucking my underarms for atleast 10 years now. It drives me insane because it feels so good and relieving but the frustration when i cant get certain ones kills me. i dig out ingrowns with pins, or just break the skin with my tweezers. And the hairs that are thicker than the rest i absolutely cant leave. I will pluck for hours just at one hair that is too short to even see without stretching the skin, it kills me. I do it in public & at work all the time with my fingernails (discreetly), until my nails are so worn down they wont meet each other anymore. And now over the last 3 years i have started on my eyebrows. I have almost none left and horrible scars from digging out the extremely short ones. I do this (eyebrow and underarm) every damn day for hours, and i often get hard lumps under my left arm (not ingrown hairs… just lumps). i recently had one, and about a day before it went away, i got this severe pain in the side of my left breast. does anyone know what this could be? Im worried but too embaressed to see a doctor about it. the pain has lasted about a week so far (but only when reaching or bending or lifting) please help if u can

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#52

Thank you for your encouragement; however, I’m sorry to say that I fell once again. I am still plucking. In fact, I was determined not to use tweezers and since my husband hid them from me, I stupidly used my nail clippers. I know, weird yeah. They actually worked but they didn’t dig like tweezers. I don’t recommend it. I really am trying to be good know though. Aaahhhhhh…But, at least my hubby knows and can try to help. I agree with you, Dorkus, everyone needs to tell at least one person whom they are really close to. It’s like a heavy burden somehow is lifted a little.

I want to say that I have used Retin A. It sounds really familiar. I went to a dermatologist about 5 years ago (did not tell them why I looked this way) and I think he prescribed it to me. If it’s the one I’m thinking of, it is a topical solution in a little bottle that has a rubber dabber thingy on top. In my case, it didn’t work but I was continuing to pluck so, I dunno.

Replying to the last post about underarm lumps; I tried plucking my underarm about a year but found that it hurt more than my legs (I guess it’s a tender spot) and that my neck cramped really bad when I did it. I pretty sure that I did get a few lumps under my skin and that sort of freaked me out but, I found that they went away in a few days. I hope that severe pain went away. Poor thing.

Please tell someone, people. It’s worth it.

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#53

Navigate through the website. They have articles, forums and actual chat rooms for “hair pullers”. Hope this provides understanding and positive direction for you.

http://lilboh-nfl.dnsalias.com/trich/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=40354

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#54

I used to overpluck my eyebrows (about a year and a half ago) pretty badly as well. i always has red puffy eyebrows etc from doing it so much, trying to get every tiny little dot out etc. then i decided to get electrolysis done primarily to stop that. it worked! (the only problem is that i’m picking my face more which is another condition in the same category…haha…i’m working on stopping doing that too, but it’s just as hard.)

#55

I’m so glad I found this thread, because now I know I’m not alone. I never knew other people did this too. I started plucking my bikini line a year ago, and it was a disaster. I had puffy red bumps, scabs and ingrowns all over. Like all of you, I couldn’t stop. I kept saying “this is my last day” but it never worked. I managed to stop plucking my bikini line once I started plucking my legs, and now my legs are the disaster zone! I haven’t worn shorts or let anyone see my legs in months. The good news is that my bikini line is almost back to normal, which gives me hope that my legs may return to normal too. Every time I managed to pull down the tweezers, I’d look at the damage I had just done to my legs and feel like crying. But I couldn’t stop.

After reading this thread a few weeks ago, I ordered Vita-K for scars and bruises, as well as the Palmer’s Skin Success lotion. I’ve been applying each lotion twice a day (and using tend skin at least once a day) and I’m really happy to say that my legs are starting to look a little bit better. Still covered in red and brown dots, but they really do look better. The small improvement has also helped me pluck less-I still do it, but I no longer dig for ingrown hairs and can convince myself to stop after a few minutes (compared to the hours I could spend before). I’m really hoping that my legs continue to improve, because I’d love to be able to wear skirts again. Anyway, anyone hoping to see improvement in scarring might want to check these two lotions out, and let me know if it works for you! I’ll keep you guys updated.

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#56

What a surprise it was to come across this forum! I have been picking and plucking at myself for years, and like many of you, I have scabby, bumpy legs and spend hours every day searching for hairs to pull. I’ve been telling people it’s just razor irritation, so absolutely no one knows. I had no idea other people even did this.

At any rate, I sure can’t stand this plucking anymore. I love to wear skirts and have even lost some weight so my legs look better, but this problem has me wearing pants in 90-some-degree weather. I, too, began in college; having a single dorm room certainly hasn’t helped, since I don’t have a roommate to see me doing my business and give me strange looks.

What has been the best way for you all to curb the urges to pluck? Keeping your hands busy, and not looking? I’ve been using Neosporin ointment for the last few days in hopes that I could make the scabs get better and feel that my legs really could look pretty. It has been working pretty well.

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#57

there are several other forums on tricholomania where people suffering from this help each other out. you can try google to find them.

#58

[color:#3333FF][/color]Never in a million years did I expect to see anyone else with this obsession. I am 34 yrs old as of last week and sadly enough have been plucking w/ tweezers the hair on my legs and private area since I was around 12 or so.
I don’t even know what started it, I always shaved daily, but one day just did it and couldn’t stop.

Unlike some people, I have told other’s about it. I actually did it even when I was off at school w/ a roomie, she just giggled and said, OUCH, doesn’t that hurt.

I am married and my husband will say, you really need to leave your ‘area’ alone, doesn’t that hurt? He’s nice about it, but it is bumpy. My legs look like crap, red and bumpy and I hate anyone to see them.

This summer I have noticed that if I put tanning lotion with a light color (tan color) on regularly than the hairs are harder to see compared to my lighter skin color. This made it more difficult for me to pull. This is the ONLY thing I have found to cut down the hours I spend plucking, but haven’t found anything that makes me quit.

When I was PG, I would get so MAD because it was so hard to find a way to pluck my legs because of my belly, it would actually really frustrate me.

I have PMDD which is a severe form of PMS (seratonin issues) and I read that, that is part of the problem with hair pullers. I take Prozac (30 mg) and Topamax (50 mg) and that doesn’t help or make it worse.

#59

you may want to consult an OCD center near you. there are programs you can enter to change your behavior by learning what triggers it and how to control it.

#60

Hi there
I have the same problem, I’ve been picking at my legs for years,
they were a mess.
I used to wax then I went on to an epilator. For me I think that caused the problem of ingrown. As when I waxed that removed the top layer of skin the same as shaving but the epilator only removed the hair, so my skin became thick and blocked them from coming through.
I’ve found now when I get the urge to pluck I use a silky mitt and that takes the hair and dead skin away and leaves my legs smooth. My legs are looking heaps better. I will always have some white scars when I get a tan, but that looks better than the ugly red marks.
I also started plucking at my stomach happy trail and made a mess of that realy bad.
6 weeks ago I had laser treatment on that area, and because theres been no hairs growing (i used to use a bright light and dig at the first sign of hair) the area has started to heal and i’ts looking the best it has in years. The brown scaring is begining to fade. The laser was’nt too expensive cause it was a small area.
I’m going to get my legs done a bit at i time now to see how I go with that.
I hope this helps

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