What Is Skin-Picking or Excoriation Disorder?

5. Neurological Causes

Doctors and researchers are not sure what causes excoriation disorder, though there are many theories. Interestingly, when the condition occurs alongside other disorders, motivations for picking change. For example, an excoriation disorder that accompanies obsessive-compulsive disorder often causes a perception of contamination on the skin. Alternatively, when it exists alongside body dysmorphic disorder, it can cause a person to pick at perceived imperfections. Dopamine levels and excoriation appear to have some link between them, leading researchers to believe the disorder could result from reward function issues.