How Kim Mills Broke Free from Skin Picking: A TikToker's True Story

You know how it starts. Standing in front of the mirror, promising yourself "just one tiny spot." Then suddenly an hour's gone by—and your skin’s worse, not better.

Kimberley Mills knows exactly how that feels. You might know her as Kim on Skin—the brutally honest TikToker with 57,000 followers who actually gets it.

Kim wasn’t always that confident voice on your feed. She started just like you - picking at her skin until it hurt. Real, raw, painful moments that felt impossible to stop.

The Story Behind Her Picking

For Kim, it started young. As a kid, she’d nibble at her nails and pick at her cuticles. No biggie, right? Everyone does that. 

But then puberty hit. Hello, acne! And those after-school mirror sessions? Ugh. You know the ones - where you swear you'll just "check" your skin but end up going full detective and start picking on every tiny bump.

Then something awful happened in her teens. She was sexually assaulted. That's when the picking got real bad. It became her way of feeling in control when everything else felt like it was falling apart. Even when her skin cleared up, she'd find new spots to pick. New places to "fix." Sound familiar?

Finally Getting Real Help

Seven whole years. That's how long Kim kept this secret. Then one day, she cracked and told her doctor everything. 

Turns out, this wasn't just her being "crazy" or having "zero willpower" (ring any bells?). Nope. It has a name: dermatillomania. And get this - about 3% of Americans deal with it too. That's like, millions of people!

Finding Her Happy Place

Here’s where Kim’s story shifts. She didn’t magically wake up cured one day. Instead, she started making small changes—ones that felt doable.

Instead of punishing herself for picking, she leaned into self-care. Wrapping up in her favorite blanket. Watching a funny show. Treating her skin with products that actually helped heal and protect it.

One thing she swears by? Skincare products with hyaluronic acid, like the Zanova Collagen Hand Mask. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid and collagen—a dream team for soothing and healing your hands.

Sandra, another Zanova user, says it best: “This mask seriously saved my hands. Not only did it fix my dry, scaly skin, but it actually helped me stop picking!” 

Bonus? You can still use your phone while wearing it. Perfect for scrolling TikTok or bingeing your favorite Netflix show—anything to keep those hands busy.

Taking Those First Steps

Thinking about trying what worked for Kim? Start small. Here’s how:

  • Remember this is a real condition, not a character flaw
  • Talk to someone who gets it - maybe a therapist or trusted friend
  • Focus on baby steps, not perfect skin overnight
  • Create some feel-good rituals that love your skin up instead of picking it apart

Your Time to Shine

You're not alone in this. Millions of people get it. Your story isn't over - it's just getting to the good part. All it takes is one tiny step forward. Maybe tonight that's putting on a Zanova hand mask and watching your favorite show. You've got this!