Publication:

N-acetylcysteine in skin picking disorders

We have come across a selection of case studies referencing the effective use of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in the treatment of skin picking disorder and other impulsive behaviours. NAC’s pivotal roles in modulating oxidative stress, influencing inflammatory pathways and supporting skin barrier function are thought to be contributing factors in resolving skin picking disorders. Skin picking disorder (SPD) is a “repetitive skin manipulation, resulting in visible tissue damage and the impairment of social functioning”. Despite the huge impact of this condition on quality of life, there have been inconsistent results in successfully treating this condition using current therapeutic modalities.