Neurotic excoriation and acne excoriée
Peer reviewed by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Last updated by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPLast updated 18 Jan 2023
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
Medical Professionals
Professional Reference articles are designed for health professionals to use. They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. You may find one of our health articles more useful.
In this article:
Synonyms: neurodermatitis, psychogenic excoriation, pathological or compulsive skin picking, dermatillomania
See also the separate Acne Vulgaris article.
Continue reading below
What is neurotic excoriation1
Neurotic excoriation (skin-picking), also known as excoriation disorder, psychogenic excoriation, or dermatillomania, is described as recurrent picking of skin, often leading to scarring and inflammation, and significant distress or functional impairment.
Neurotic excoriation epidemiology2
It is seen in about 2% of dermatology clinic patients.
One study using a community-based questionnaire found that 62.7% of 354 respondents confirmed some form of skin picking and 5.4% reported clinical levels of skin picking and associated distress/impact.3
It is more commonly seen in women.
Onset tends to occur between adolescence and early adulthood.
It is the most common factitial skin disease of childhood.4
Continue reading below
Neurotic excoriation symptoms2
There is a history of picking, digging or scraping of the skin. There may or may not be an obvious inciting incident. The patient may be unaware of the self-inflicted trauma at the time and may only notice the resulting lesions.
Picking continues until material can be pulled from the skin.
Nasal ulceration can occur; trigeminal neuralgia can be a predisposing condition.
Psychological comorbidities are common (for example, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic syndrome, eating disorders, kleptomania or borderline personality disorders).
Right-handed patients generally tend to produce lesions on the left side and vice versa. The lesions tend to have angulated borders and consist of erosions and older scars. The number can vary from a few to several hundred.
Consider the diagnosis when lesions do not conform to any other known dermatological condition and are confined to areas which can be reached by the patient.
Neurotic excoriation differential diagnosis1
Renal disease and uraemia.
Lymphoma.
Diabetes mellitus.
Thyroid disease.
Delusions of parasitosis.
Continue reading below
Neurotic excoriation investigations5
These are primarily to exclude other diagnoses and may include:
FBC.
Chemistry profile including fasting glucose.
TFTs.
Tests for cancer if indicated by presentation (eg, CXR for lymphoma).
Tests for food allergy and contact dermatitis.
Skin biopsy.
Neurotic excoriation treatment and management1 2
Underlying psychopathology should be addressed. Cognitive behavioural therapy, habit reversal therapy and hypnosis have been used to good effect.
Topical corticosteroids may help to reduce inflammation.
Medications found useful include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), doxepin, clomipramine, naltrexone and pimozide. Reports suggest that olanzapine (2.5-5 mg daily for 2-4 weeks) may also be helpful.
Pulsed dye laser therapy may be helpful in the management of scarring.6
Neurotic excoriation complications1
Scarring.
Worsening anxiety.
Neurotic excoriation prognosis
This depends on the underlying psychological condition and how responsive it is to treatment. Natural resolution without therapy is unusual.
What is acne excoriée?
Acne excoriée is a type of neurotic or psychogenic excoriation. It can be classified as a factitial skin disease in that it is consciously or subconsciously fabricated by the patient. It is a condition in which patients pick at their acne lesions. Because the condition was first detected in young girls, it was called 'acné excoriée des jeunes filles'.7 The picked lesions become scarred and infected, causing itching which leads to further picking. Sometimes the picking continues long after the original acne has healed. There appear to be two subgroups - patients in whom there are primary acne lesions and those who have virtually no lesions at all.
Acne excoriée epidemiology8
There is no epidemiological information concerning the prevalence of acne excoriée per se but it is thought to be relatively rare, particularly with the advent of more effective forms of acne treatment.
It is more commonly seen in women with late-onset acne.
Acne excoriée symptoms7
Always consider diagnosis in acne not responding to treatment, atypical presentations and where scarring is predominant.
Most of the lesions are excoriated papules with few obvious comedones. Erosions can become frank ulcers.
Lesions occur where the patient can scratch: face, trunk, extensor extremities and upper back.
Scars tends to be:
Round, oval or stellate in shape.
Hypopigmented or hyperpigmented.
With angulated borders.
Approximately the same size and shape.
Acne excoriée differential diagnosis7 9
Delusions of parasitosis.
Acne excoriée treatment and management8
Trial of systemic antibiotics for six months, as for acne vulgaris; however, frequently response is poor.
Medication options are as for neurotic excoriation.
If skin picking is a problem, psychological therapies and psychoactive drugs may be indicated.
Therapies other than the treatment of the underlying acne are often best instituted in conjunction with a specialist.
Acne excoriée complications
As for neurotic excoriation.
Acne excoriée prognosis8
The prognosis is similar to other forms of neurotic excoriation - ie it has a tendency to become chronic, although improvement can occur with treatment of underlying psychological illness.
Further reading and references
- Ghosh S, Behere RV, Sharma P, et al; Relevant issues in pharmacotherapy of psycho-cutaneous disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2013 Jan;58(1):61-4. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.105311.
- Gieler U, Consoli SG, Tomas-Aragones L, et al; Self-inflicted lesions in dermatology: terminology and classification--a position paper from the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP). Acta Derm Venereol. 2013 Jan;93(1):4-12. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1506.
- Maraz A, Hende B, Urban R, et al; Pathological grooming: Evidence for a single factor behind trichotillomania, skin picking and nail biting. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 13;12(9):e0183806. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183806. eCollection 2017.
- Lochner C, Roos A, Stein DJ; Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder: a systematic review of treatment options. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017 Jul 14;13:1867-1872. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S121138. eCollection 2017.
- Wong JW, Nguyen TV, Koo JY; Primary psychiatric conditions: dermatitis artefacta, trichotillomania and neurotic excoriations. Indian J Dermatol. 2013 Jan;58(1):44-8. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.105287.
- Hayes SL, Storch EA, Berlanga L; Skin picking behaviors: An examination of the prevalence and severity in a community sample. J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Apr;23(3):314-9. Epub 2009 Jan 23.
- Shah KN, Fried RG; Factitial dermatoses in children. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2006 Aug;18(4):403-9.
- Balon R et al; Clinical Challenges in the Biopsychosocial Interface: Update on Psychosomatics for the 21st Century, 2015.
- Misery L, Chastaing M, Touboul S, et al; Psychogenic skin excoriations: diagnostic criteria, semiological analysis and psychiatric profiles. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 Mar 1. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1320.
- Acné Excoriée des Jeunes Filles; DermIS (Dermatology Information System)
- Acne excorie; DermNet NZ
- Ashton R et al; Differential Diagnosis in Dermatology, 2005.
Article History
The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Next review due: 22 Dec 2027
18 Jan 2023 | Latest version
![symptom checker](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fxxv4b9mbhlgd%2F1Dz6L58ffaUwLTR9rak3zv%2F36beafd6fb6750c8ff21fe2a4fc4d86a%2FMobile.png&w=3840&q=75)
Feeling unwell?
Assess your symptoms online for free