Excoriation: Can Ayurveda Help Stop Skin Picking and Heal Damaged Skin Naturally? - #16283

For years, I’ve had this bad habit of picking at my skin. It started with just scratching at small bumps or scabs, but now it’s gotten out of control. I find myself picking at any little imperfection, especially on my arms, face, and shoulders. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I see blood or feel pain. I recently learned that this is called excoriation, and it’s actually a condition where people compulsively pick at their skin. I’ve tried to stop, but it’s like an urge I can’t control. Even when a wound is healing, I feel the need to scratch or pick at it again, which makes it worse. Because of this, my skin is full of scars, dark spots, and small wounds that never seem to heal properly. I’ve used creams and ointments, but they don’t seem to help much because I just keep reopening the skin. I’m now looking into Ayurveda because I want a more natural and holistic way to stop excoriation and heal my skin. Does Ayurveda consider excoriation a type of Vata or Pitta imbalance? Could it be related to anxiety or stress? I read that herbs like Brahmi and Ashwagandha can help calm the mind—would they be useful for controlling this habit? Also, are there Ayurvedic remedies that help speed up the healing of damaged skin? I’ve heard about neem and turmeric for wound healing, but do they work for skin that’s constantly being picked at? And what about scarring—can Ayurveda help reduce the scars left behind by excoriation? Another thing I’ve noticed is that my digestion is often weak, and my skin tends to be dry and itchy. Could there be an internal imbalance causing this urge to pick? Would something like Triphala or Panchakarma be useful to cleanse the system and stop the habit from within? If anyone has successfully controlled excoriation through Ayurveda, what worked for you? Did it help with both the habit and skin healing? I’d love any advice on breaking this cycle naturally.