Dermatophagy The habit of biting your own skin

Dermatophagy It is the name given to the psychological disorder in which a person bite his own skin, usually in stress situations.

If you usually have this behavior or know someone who turns to him, it is important to be alert. Which may seem a simple custom could trigger serious physical damage. If you want to know about the Dermatophagy, its possible causes, consequences and treatments, continues to read.

Content

• Dermatophagy, what is?
• In what situations can it occur?
  • 1. Stress and anxiety
  • 2. Discomfort
  • 3. Boredom
• Consequences of dermatophagy
• Dermatophagy treatment
• Leave dermatophagy
  • Sources

Dermatophagy, what is?

As we anticipate before, there is a way to call the psychological disorder that consists of compulsively biting one's skin: Dermatophagy.

Hills Common is that bites occur in the skin of the fingers, mostly close to the nails. However, there are cases in which those who suffer from dermatophagy not only bite their fingers, but also the skin of his lips and inside the mouth.

Bite the skin, as isolated behavior in a particular episode, should not attract attention. However, if occurred recurrently, it is necessary to consider stopping that behavior. This behavior, when becoming a habit, generates the thickening and hardening of the skin in the injured areas. In addition, due to constant injuries, injuries can be generated that could come to bleed and even seriously.

Dermatophagy is associated with stress and anxiety, since it is in situations of tension where it usually manifests itself. If you usually bite your skin at times of tension, this article is for you. Reading will allow you to know whether or not you suffer from dermatophagy, stay here to find out.

In what situations can it occur?

Dermatophagy It occurs regularly in moments of stress. Who uses to bite his own skin in situations of tension seeks to find calm for his anxiety. Bites would have a tranquilizing function. However, there are also cases in which wounds are produced as a self -harm, as a punishment.

Be for the reason to be, dermatophagy can bring serious consequences. Here we will tell you what are the main causes for which a person can turn to injure this way.

1. Stress and anxiety

Stressful situations are displasts and lead who is suffering from trying to relieve the tension they are feeling. In many cases, dermatophagy is an alternative to find calm, who compulsively bites its skin finds a pleasant sensation in this action.

2. Discomfort

Feeling uncomfortable is another possible reason that could bring someone to bite their skin compulsively. Similar to what happens in stress situations, who is uncomfort Relieve tension.

3. Boredom

Many people, when they feel bored, can resort to injury through bites as "a way to spend time".

Generally this behavior is recurrent in nerve personalities or in those who do not tolerate to spend too much time in the same place.

As you will see, dermatophagy is definitely associated with nervousness and stress states. It has qualities of impulse control disorders, in which there are behaviors that the individual fails to control, no matter how aware of their harmful consequences. It also relates to obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by recurring thoughts and fears that end up creating repetitive behaviors, that is, compulsions.

Consequences of dermatophagy

As they can imagine, a custom as aggressive as dermatophagy generates consequences that could be seriously in who has the habit of biting their own skin.

As we have already advanced, this custom can generate the thickening and hardening of the skin in those areas that we hurt, in addition to important bleeding wounds. But its sequelae can reach further. Dermatophagy can cause dental damage due to constant bites. In the parts of the body that are constantly bitten, the skin usually becomes dry, swelling and flusing.

The consequence that is probably more serious of dermatophagy is that in many people This strategy becomes the only possible to face clogging situationss. People who acquire this habit can become dependent on it. If dermatophagy becomes the only way through which someone can face stress and nervousness, it will be necessary to resort to the help of a professional.

Dermatophagy treatment

As we advance, in serious dermatophagy pictures, it can be necessary to go out in search of the help of a professional. In treatments for this type of compulsion, The objective focuses on looking for alternative behaviorsso that, of course, They do not imply self -injuries, To face stress situations. The idea is to make The patient develops really adaptive strategies To be able to face the tension they feel in a rational way.

Within the alternatives that exist to treat dermatophagy, is the Psychoeducation which seeks to provide the patient with. Also in these cases it is sought to identify what situation can cause bites, find the trigger, so that the patient can advance.

Also, to treat this picture, it is usually useful to propose to the patient to perform alternative behaviors with which they can replace bite when feeling tense. Of course, the behavior that seeks to be used as a replacement should avoid patient self -harm, and should be functional, more adaptive.

In more extreme cases, and as a complement, the consumption of psychopharmaceuticals can be chosen to relieve anxiety symptoms, provided that the specialist recommends it.

Leave dermatophagy

In this article they have known about dermatophagy. They can now see that even behaviors that seem to be minor (such as the habit of biting your fingers) can become compulsions of seriousness and generate serious consequences.

It is possible to leave dermatophagy behind and there are adequate treatments to do so, they do not fear the help of a professional, I said goodbye to autolesions.

Sources

• Mitropoulos, p., & Norton, S. TO. (2005). Dermatophagia or dermatodaxia?. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 53(2), 365.
• Obermayer Me. Cheekbiting (Morsicatio Bucarum). Arch Dermatol 1964; 90: 185-90.
• Scott Jr, M. J., & Scott 3rd, M. J. (1997). Dermatophagia: "Wolf-Biter". Skin, 59(1), 19-20.
• Weldon PJ, Demeter BJ, Rosscoe R. A Survey of Shed Skineating (Dermatophagy) in Amphibians and Reptiles. J Herpetol 1993; 27: 219-28.