Excoriation Disorder Treatment in Utah — Breaking the Picking Cycle
Evidence-based, shame-free treatment for skin-picking disorder in Utah — compassionate care that addresses the urges, triggers, and emotional patterns driving excoriation at any age.
Why Choose NBCG for Excoriation Disorder Treatment
Excoriation disorder — also called skin-picking disorder or dermatillomania — is a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) involving recurrent, compulsive picking at the skin that causes tissue damage and significant distress. It affects approximately 1–5% of the population, yet most people who live with it feel too embarrassed to seek help — or have never been told that effective, specialized treatment exists.
Skin picking is not simply a bad habit or a sign of stress. It is a recognized clinical condition driven by powerful urges, emotional triggers, and deeply ingrained behavioral patterns that respond to the right treatment approach. Our Utah-based team at NBCG offers evidence-based care including specialized CBT, behavioral therapy, and psychiatric medication management — all coordinated under one roof.
Excoriation disorder is driven by urges and emotion — not skin.
The skin damage is visible, but the real problem is invisible — it lies in the urge-relief cycle, the emotional triggers, and the neural patterns that make picking feel impossible to resist without targeted treatment.
Part of the BFRB family
Excoriation disorder belongs to the same family as trichotillomania (hair pulling) and nail biting. BFRBs share overlapping neurological profiles and respond to similar specialized behavioral treatment approaches — but each has distinct features that require tailored care.
Automatic vs. focused picking
Some people pick automatically — without conscious awareness, often during sedentary activities. Others pick in a deliberate, focused way in response to emotional distress or specific sensory triggers. Many experience both styles, and effective treatment addresses each one differently.
The urge-relief cycle
Picking typically provides immediate, temporary relief from tension, anxiety, boredom, or the sensation of an imperfection on the skin. This relief powerfully reinforces the behavior — making it increasingly compulsive over time, regardless of the person's intention to stop.
Shame that sustains the cycle
The visible wounds and scars of excoriation disorder carry significant social stigma. Most people with the condition feel profound shame — which itself becomes a source of emotional distress that fuels further picking. Addressing this secondary shame cycle is a core part of effective treatment.
Two Styles of Skin Picking
Automatic picking
Picking that occurs outside of conscious awareness — often during sedentary or low-stimulation activities. The person may only realize they have been picking when they notice pain, bleeding, or damage already done.
- Picking while watching TV, reading, or on a phone
- Picking during phone calls or while sitting at a desk
- Picking while falling asleep or upon waking
- Little to no emotional trigger immediately preceding the pick
Focused picking
Intentional picking in response to a specific urge, emotional state, or the feel of a perceived skin imperfection. The act of picking brings a temporary sense of relief, satisfaction, or resolution.
- Picking in response to stress, anxiety, or frustration
- Searching for a specific bump, scab, or texture to pick
- Mirror-checking behavior before or during picking
- Strong awareness of the urge and deliberate act of picking
Common Pick Sites
Common Signs of Excoriation Disorder
Excoriation Disorder Treatments We Offer
Psychological & Neuropsychological Testing
A comprehensive evaluation confirms your excoriation disorder diagnosis, distinguishes it from OCD, BDD, or other conditions, and identifies co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD. A precise understanding of what's driving your picking is the essential first step toward lasting change.
Learn More →CBT & Acceptance-Based Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy combined with acceptance-based strategies is the evidence-based psychological treatment for excoriation disorder. Your therapist will help you build awareness of your picking triggers and patterns, develop competing responses that interrupt the urge-pick cycle, and address the emotional drivers and shame that sustain the behavior — at a pace that feels manageable and grounded in respect for your autonomy.
Learn More →Psychiatric Medication Management
While no medication is FDA-approved specifically for excoriation disorder, SSRIs and other evidence-based medications can meaningfully reduce picking urges — particularly when co-occurring anxiety, depression, OCD, or BDD is present. Our board-certified psychiatric providers evaluate each person carefully and monitor response over time.
Learn More →Integrated Care Planning
Excoriation disorder rarely exists in isolation. At NBCG, your therapist and psychiatric provider communicate and coordinate as one clinical team — ensuring that co-occurring BDD, OCD, anxiety, depression, or ADHD are treated alongside the excoriation disorder itself, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Learn More →Ready when you are — for evaluation, therapy, or medication support.
The NBCG Difference
Excoriation disorder requires specialized knowledge and a genuinely shame-free environment. At NBCG, every provider understands that skin picking is not a choice — and every patient is treated accordingly from the very first appointment.
Multiple locations across Northern Utah, serving children, adolescents, and adults
Clinicians trained in BFRB-specific CBT and behavioral treatment for excoriation disorder — not general anxiety approaches that miss the distinct features of skin-picking disorder
Treatment that addresses both automatic and focused picking styles — because the strategies that work for one don't always work for the other
Integrated therapy and psychiatry under one roof — so medication and behavioral treatment are coordinated and not managed by separate providers working in isolation
Judgment-free, compassionate care — our providers know that skin picking is driven by the brain, not by weakness, and your treatment will reflect that understanding at every step
Skip the back-and-forth.
If you're ready to get help, you can schedule your first appointment directly with one of NBCG's expert providers.
Book an Appointment Now →Not quite ready? Fill out our contact form and we'll reach out.
For individuals whose excoriation disorder is accompanied by severe, treatment-resistant anxiety or depression, NBCG also offers advanced outpatient options including ketamine therapy in Utah. Ask your provider whether advanced treatment options may be appropriate alongside your excoriation disorder care.
We Accept Most Insurance
Our NBCG team goes above and beyond to verify your insurance benefits, investigate coverage, and complete prior authorizations — so you'll know your costs upfront and can begin treatment with confidence and affordability.
Request a Consultation
One of our team members will reach out to talk through your options and answer any questions you may have — for yourself or your child — with complete compassion and zero judgment.
To schedule an appointment, please call
(801) 823-3109Locations & Services
Logan, UT 84321
- ABA & Autism Services
- Speech Therapy
South Ogden, UT 84403
- ABA & Autism Services
- Thrive Learning Center
- Speech Therapy
South Ogden, UT 84403
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
Layton, UT 84041
- Mental Health Therapy
Bountiful, UT 84010
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- ABA & Autism Services
- Speech Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- Psych & Neuropsych Testing
- Mental Health Therapy
- Psychiatric Med Management
- TMS, Spravato, & Ketamine
West Jordan, UT 84084
- ABA & Autism Services
- Psychiatric Med Management
Healing begins with one honest conversation.
You have carried this quietly for long enough. Our team is here — without judgment, without shame — to help you find your way through.
Indications for Treatment
The providers at Neurobehavioral Center for Growth (NBCG) offer psychiatric evaluation and treatment in Utah for a range of mental health conditions, including Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder, Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and ADHD. Treatment is determined based on individual psychiatric evaluations and may include specialized behavioral therapy, medications, and coordinated care planning.
Important Safety Information
Psychiatric medications are only available by prescription and should be taken as directed by a healthcare provider. A provider at NBCG can help determine if medication is appropriate for your situation. Patients' responses to medications may vary, and ongoing monitoring is necessary to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Common side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, changes in appetite, or mood fluctuations. It is important to discuss all potential risks and benefits with your provider. Medications for mental health conditions should not be discontinued without consulting a healthcare provider.
If skin picking has caused wounds that show signs of infection — including increased redness, warmth, swelling, or discharge — please seek medical attention promptly. NBCG treatment is outpatient mental health care and is not a substitute for wound care or dermatological treatment.
