How One Post Catapulted into a Global Movement: Lauren McKeaney’s Journey to Picking Herself over Skin Picking

“I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but my skin is different. And I’m going to start speaking about it.” When Lauren McKeaney shared a Facebook post starting with those words 9 years ago, she had never expected how much her life would transform. From silent sufferer to adamant advocate as the Founder & CEO of Picking Me Foundation, her journey was shaped by vulnerability, community, and empowerment. In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, McKeaney reflects on a past defined by obsessive skin picking, known as Dermatillomania since 2013, with a clear message: “You are not alone.”

With a body riddled with scars and a mind always in fight-or-flight gear, McKeaney was quietly living with pain for more than 20 years. Without self-harm intent and without control, her tissue and ligaments would be damaged, and her skin would frequently lose blood. Though she spent her formative years trying to hide, never letting anyone close enough to see, they noticed: friends, colleagues, school nurses, college counselors, health club managers, and the list goes on.

Drug abuse accusations or being told to leave public gyms became the norm. To understand what was ‘wrong,’ McKeaney spent her adolescence in doctors’ offices, from psychiatrists to dermatologists to behavioral therapists to alternative healers, only to be misdiagnosed and, time after time, left without an explanation. In 2013, her wishes were finally answered when the mysterious life-disruptive condition was officially given a name in the DSM-5: Dermatillomania.

“I wanted to print it all over coffee mugs and T-shirts, plaster it all over my social media, and research everything about it. My ‘bad habits’ were finally more than that; they were a diagnosable disorder. It felt like a shield, and I wanted to find the cure,” she reminisces. But reality eventually set in, and it was sobering. Skin picking was stigmatized, underreported, and underdiagnosed, with not enough research and no remedy.

Her arms and legs kept unexpectedly bleeding through clothes, scabs and scars kept showing up, and she kept on picking. In 2014, for the 6th time, McKeaney was hospitalized from picking an area into an infection. This time, however, it was more severe, and, having contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant type of bacteria, McKeaney was at risk of losing her right leg.

Thankfully, removing a small part of her inner thigh was enough to cease the infection, but the silent suffering continued. And it wasn’t until that Facebook post that McKeaney, for the first time in her life, picked herself instead of her skin. It was almost like sharing her truth was the key to unlocking a long-lost freedom, like McKeaney, with a single spontaneous decision, regained a part of control. And she wanted more.

For this writer, filmmaker, and stand-up comedian, storytelling was second nature. Ignited by a freshly discovered sense of liberty and motivated by overwhelmingly positive responses, she continued sharing skin updates and empowering anecdotes, all adorned with her signature #PickingMe. She rapidly built a community of Dermatillomania sufferers who, inspired by a blend of raw emotions, skin-picking tips, and hopeful messaging, became more empowered and less alone.

In 2016, McKeaney took her efforts to the next level, officially forming the Picking Me Foundation, a first of its kind nonprofit. Her authenticity was needed, and that showed. Since the organization was established, the founder has been invited to multiple keynotes and panels, where she externalized her lived experiences to uplift audiences. Through these events, McKeaney met Dr. Laura Chackes. From the first interaction, the two shared a symbiotic approach to Dermatillomania, fostering a purpose-driven relationship that culminated in a co-authored book, set to launch in late 2025.

From one post that she felt compelled to publish to founding Picking Me Foundation, McKeaney’s voice kept resounding through the sphere, earning her illustrious accolades. These include the Don Gray Scholarship Award for the Most Inspiring Nonprofit Story, the Unstoppable Spirit award for outspoken advocacy from the TLC Foundation, among many others. Her insights have also been published in global news channels and lifestyle magazines such as Dermatology Times, positioning McKeaney as a true advocate and educator for the Dermatillomania community.

And the Picking Me Foundation? Fueled by genuine passion, genuine people, and genuine stories, it hasn’t stopped flourishing since. Beyond audible conversations, it redefines discourse through artistic initiatives like Drawing with Derma and #PickingMe Poetry. As the founder believes, “If it’s hard to talk about it, let’s write it or draw it.” So far, the organization has encouraged more than 400 people to express their stories through artwork, letting pain, shame, isolation, and rediscovered freedom curate a powerful collection of experiences.

The nonprofit also holds its Online Skin Picking Support Group bi-monthly. Led by McKeaney, it’s a safe space for those suffering from Dermatillomania to connect and gain the validation they deserve. Taking place every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00 – 7:30 PM CT, the Support Group has attracted thousands of attendees to date. “There is something special about uniting individuals wounded the same way,” she says. “It’s a level of connection that can’t be explained and a deserving experience.”

Lauren McKeaney

At the Picking Me Foundation, it’s all about showcasing the full picture: the highs, the lows, and the absolute lowest. With no cure developed yet, McKeaney realizes that setting oneself free from Dermatillomania’s shackles is complex and challenging. In 2019, she understood just how true these words were: her hands deteriorated with severe carpal tunnel syndrome from chronic skin picking, leading to her hands slipping off the wheel of a moving car, and McKeaney was hospitalized, leading to double hand surgery.

To amplify her mission and reach more global audiences, McKeaney envisions a busy yet exciting future. On May 16th, Picking Me Foundation will be hosting their annual fundraising initiative for a one-of-a-kind skin care system. McKeaney will also be speaking at the Annual OCD Conference this July.

“There is still so much work that needs to be done: more research, destigmatizing Dermatillomania, normalizing scars and imperfections, and so many others,” she adds. “That’s why every single story matters. Every voice that joins the choir helps me carry a message, and it’s a clear one: You are not alone, and it’s not your fault. Dermatillomania or not, we are all worthy. It’s time to let go of shame, share your truth, and pick yourself over picking your skin. Because, while the picking may not stop completely, the suffering can.”

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider