Tanning, dust, smog, and exposure to harmful microbes - bacteria and virus - can be the external factors. Your diet, water, or other supplements that you have can play a role as well.

It can also be passed on to you as a hereditary syndrome. But the most common cause is deep inside your head; as the coping mechanism to deal with high levels of turmoil, anxiety, or stress. List down things that relax you Note down the things and activities that help you relax. Do some painting. Play your guitar. Do yoga. Go for a sauna. Read magazines, novels, or books. Watch a movie. Listen to music. Or perhaps take a nap. It will help you curb the anxiety that compels you to start skin picking. The Hate Approach It may sound funny, but try this. Many in the world have found great relief in doing so. Take a large picture/poster of your favorite celebrity and paste it in your room. Take a red marker and draw zits and scars all over their face. Now sit and watch it. Then, using the marker draw a bold and dark cross all over the picture. This will remind you what "NOT" to become. Idle hands are the devil's workshop Quite self-explanatory in this case. Keep your hands occupied. Take a squeeze ball or those popular Chinese Caomaru balls. To prevent biting around your nails, apply a bandage in that area or apply some fancy nail paint (for girls). That way, you will be less tempted to dig on your skin. Another reliable practice is to wear gloves. 

That way your hand remains covered, and your Black Diamond Force grip on any other object to pick skin completely wears away. Inspirations on the go Stick inspirational quotes and sayings everywhere you go. The kitchen (refrigerator) door, toilet door (preferably the inner side), car's dashboard, or cupboards of your room. In this digital age, you rather set the quotes as wallpapers of your laptop and cell phones. This way, wherever you go, you will be reminded "NOT" to do it. Keep loneliness at bay When do you pick ideally? Whenever you are alone doing nothing! So, better we take this "loneliness" out of the scene. Try to remain engaged in something or the other. If you live alone, try to hang out - go to some departmental store, visit your friends, go partying, or go to some fine restaurant and treat yourself with whatever you like. Healthy lifestyle It all boils down to the same fact again and again - "A healthy lifestyle is the key to happy well-being". Do regular exercises - yoga, morning walks, jogs, simple stress-relieving exercises like aerobics, etc. This will refresh you and lower your anxiety level. Avoid eating too much fried junk food and instead go for nutritious food like salads, sprouts, juices, soups, raw vegetables, and fruits. Water is a great detoxified, hence drink plenty of water. This will prevent the growth of acne and other scars on your skin. No acne, no picking! Aromatherapy Who doesn't like the sweet fragrance of flowers? So does your skin. Aromatherapy has emerged as a great way to revitalize your skin and open the blocked pores, thus cleansing your skin. 

▶ Take a vessel filled with hot, boiling water and add 2-3 tablespoons of aromatic herbs or oil in it. ▶ Place a wide towel over your head, covering the bowl and create a steam tent. ▶ Inhale the fragrant steam for about 5-10 minutes. ▶ Finish the process by washing your face with cold water. Tip: Use lavender oil, lemon oil, or apricot oil. For herbs, you may choose chamomile, basil, mint, lavender, or rose petals. Peer Counseling One is always motivated to attain more when the inspiration comes from an alter ego. Try to be friends with fellow chronic skin pickers, and both of you can take it as a challenge to get rid of the disease. Competition, this way, is a healthy practice. Or you can use the social network to join forums where you can interact with people who have overcome a similar condition. Direct motivation from a veteran would do wonders. Keep a track of your progress Make a habit to log and register every bit of your growth as an anti-skin picker/peeler. Starting from day one, note down the frequency of your picking, the most susceptible areas where your pick on, and what ways are you trying to cope up with the urge. After every week, take stock. You will really feel happy and motivated by your progress. Plus, this documentation might come handy for others when you turn a 'Once-a-Picker'. PMS Vs. Pregnancy Symptoms Symptoms of PMS may mimic those that indicate pregnancy, and this makes it difficult to tell the two apart. This Buzzle article discusses PMS vs. pregnancy symptoms. 

Pregnancy Symptoms Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Advertisement When you are trying to conceive, it is extremely vexing to stay patient for the two-week period (between ovulation time and the date your cycle is expected to start) to know whether you are pregnant or not. But, here's the catch. During this waiting period, you may experience certain symptoms which can look identical to PMS. Therefore, women who have never been pregnant before, may find it almost impossible to draw a line between the two (PMS and pregnancy). As most doctors would suggest, the only reliable way to determine a pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test. However, there are some symptoms of PMS, which are not typical of pregnancy. In the following sections, we have listed down the common symptoms of PMS and those of pregnancy, after which we have tried to explain the symptoms which can differentiate one from the other. PMS and its Symptoms Premenstrual syndrome, as the name suggests, occurs before a woman's monthly period (usually during the second half of the menstrual cycle). PMS symptoms refer to various physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that take place in the body. Although this condition affects most women at some point in their lives, those in their late 20s and early 40s have a higher tendency of experiencing it. The physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms which are commonly indicative of PMS include: • Acne• Anxiety• Fatigue• Bloating• Leg pain• Dizziness• Headaches• Migraine• Joint ache• Feeling low• Muscle ache• Tear fullness• Weight gain• Low sex drive• Swollen breasts• Trouble while sleeping• Increased anxiety• 

Abnormal aggression• Low level of alertness• Abdominal discomfort• Tenderness in breasts• Lower back pain, cramps• Changes in sleep pattern• Food cravings (sweet/salty)• Abnormal changes in skin and hair• Increased sensitivity to light and noise• Discharge from nipples when pressed Note: PMS is different for every woman; no two women may have exactly the same symptoms. You may experience the same symptoms every month, or slightly different symptoms with varying intensity. Pregnancy and its Symptoms As it is with PMS, pregnancy too, is different for different women. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that occur during pregnancy. However, unless confirmed by a doctor, these symptoms may not necessarily indicate the same. • Cramps• Bloating• Melasma• Leg pain• Mood swings• Constipation• Missed period• Pregnancy acne• Nipple discharge• Morning sickness• Darkening of areola• Breast tenderness• Shortness of breath• Swelling in breasts• Headaches, backaches• Dizziness or fainting• Sore or tingly breasts• Frequent urge to urinate• Extreme, unexplainable fatigue• Elevated basal body temperature• Spotting or implantation bleeding• Breasts may start feeling heavier or fuller• Food cravings or aversions to certain foods• Vaginal discharge (white/milky in appearance)• Increased sensitivity to non-pleasant and pleasant smells The Difference Symptoms which may help you tell pregnancy from PMS are as outlined below. I. Missed period: This may be considered a reliable sign of pregnancy if experienced by women, who have regular menstrual cycles. II. Spotting or implantation bleeding: It occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself to the linings of the uterus. It usually occurs 6-12 days after fertilization of the egg. 

Bleeding is shorter, lighter, and blood appears pink or brownish (which is not normal). Also, not all women experience implantation bleeding. III. Frequent urination: Pregnancy causes the uterus to grow and push against the urinary bladder. This triggers a frequent urge to urinate. IV. Increased sensitivity to smell: Pregnant women may develop extreme aversions not only to certain odors but also to smells, which they may have found pleasant before. V. Morning sickness: Almost 90% pregnant women experience it. It refers to a feeling of nausea. Although called so, it can occur at any time of the day. VI. Elevated basal body temperature: If this persists for 18 days or more post ovulation, it is most likely a sign of pregnancy. VII. Shortness of breath: Pregnant women may feel that they are short of breath. This can be explained by the extra need of oxygen for the growing embryo. Experts suggest that if this symptom occurs suddenly, is accompanied by pain, or gets worse when lying down, then it must be reported to a doctor immediately. VIII. Darkening of the areola: Elevated estrogen levels in the mother's body increase the size of the areola, which becomes darker as the pregnancy progresses. IX. Melasma: Also known as the mask of pregnancy, melasma is darkening of skin areas that are mostly exposed to the sun. It resolves once the pregnancy ends.